Meditation - Why Should I Meditate?

By Vicki Schneider, RYT 500

​We hear a lot about meditation and mindfulness these days.  What is all the chatter about?  Why should I meditate?

First of all, what is meditation?  Let’s define it. 
One of the best definitions I’ve heard that describes meditation in an easy to understand way is this one by Deepak Chopra, a medical doctor and director of the Chopra Center.  

He says, meditation is the “Progressive quieting of the mind until it reaches the source of the mind.”  He further explains that in “spiritual traditions, the source of the mind is the soul or the spirit.”  So meditation is a process of bringing you to your source.  ​

​Why should someone meditate?

According to Chopra, the process of meditation is “the most effective way to manage stress.” Stress is epidemic in today’s culture.  And when the body is stressed there are a whole host of other ailments that are triggered like poor sleep, compromised immune system, and increase in blood pressure.  When you meditate, all of these conditions improve.   So basically, if you meditate you will feel better!

Meditation can also open the door to your spiritual life.  It opens us up so we can experience the divine truths of kindness, love, joy, equanimity, compassion and deep peace.  Chopra considers the spirit to be a field of infinite possibilities and God as the source of all creativity.  Imagine unlocking your ability to be creative in a profound way.

Did you know that even though meditation is part of many spiritual traditions around the world, the practice and process of meditation really has nothing to do with religion, belief or doctrine.  It is a simple technique to bring you to your source.

Now let’s talk about another word we hear a lot these days – Mindfulness.  Mindfulness is a particular type of meditation.  It is best described by Jon Kabot Zinn; professor emeritus of medicine and the creator of the Stress Reduction Clinic and the Center for Mindfulness in Medicine, Health Care, and Society at the University of Massachusetts Medical School.  He says mindfulness is “paying attention in a particular way: on purpose, in the present moment, and nonjudgmentally.”

Mindfulness is usually done by bringing your attention or awareness back to the present moment.  Noticing what is present in this moment, rather than worrying about the future or dwelling on the past will leave you feeling content and peaceful.

When you live mindfully, paying attention to the here and now, you make conscious choices rather than living in a habitual fashion, and this is life changing.  If you just stop for a moment, give yourself some space and time, you will make better life decisions, enjoy life more and make new memories.  Memories are made by experiencing moments, one after the other.  You can’t make a new memory when you are busy being in the past or the future. 

So why meditate?  To improve your overall physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being.  Life is better when you meditate.