In recent years, meditation has gained popularity. It has somewhat become a sign of a person “taking care of themselves” and their mental health and rightfully so. With on-growing connectivity and constant digital reach, our traditional boundaries of ‘working hours’ have become blurred. With no sense of working hours and stretched responsibility, many of us find ourselves anxious and confused at times. Thus, our stress response, one of our innate physiological mechanisms that should only be triggered in life-threatening situations, is triggered constantly and we find ourselves in constant despair. In today’s time, on-standing traditional fears have been replaced with fear of traffic jams, lagging behind or never-ending pending work piles.
It may come as a surprise to some but the WHO predicts burnout will become a global pandemic within a decade and suffering through one, we can all assess the severity of this prediction. In a world where ‘off’ or a ‘pause’ button has ceased to exist, meditation can act as a circuit breaker for this non-stop lifestyle, giving the mind and the body a chance to recharge. Meditation is the practice of thinking deeply or focusing on one’s mind for some time. This can be done in silence or with the help of chanting and is done for several reasons. The primary aim of this practice is to attain mental peace and calmness. Different forms of meditation gives everybody a chance to choose what works for them and is suited to their aim and desires. Here are few of the meditation techniques:
Guided Meditation: It is also called guided imagery or visualisation. With this method of meditation, you form mental images of places or situations you find relaxing. You try to imagine yourself in a situation or a time that is particularly relaxing to you, it can be some smell that is pleasant to you or a sound or a place you associate with happier times. Anything that brings you joy. You may be led through this process by a guide or teacher.
Mantra Meditation: You silently repeat a calming word, thought or phrase to prevent distracting thoughts. ‘Om’ is a common mantra people recite over and over. The idea is to let the outer vibration beat within and find oneness with body and mind.
Mindfulness Meditation: This type of meditation is based on being mindful or having an increased awareness and acceptance of living in the present moment. You broaden your conscious awareness and focus on what you experience during meditation such as the flow of your breath. You can observe your thoughts and emotions, but let them pass without judgment.
Yoga: In today’s time, everyone is familiar with yoga. As you move through poses that require balance and concentration, you’re encouraged to focus less on your busy day and more on the moment.
It is a common reluctance or misconception about meditation that its effect is short reached but that is simply not true. Meditation, at its very core, is a practice of conquering or rather composing your mental being in a way that no sudden seen or unseen actions can rattle you easily. The benefits don’t end when your meditation session ends. Meditation can help carry you more calmly through your day and may help you manage symptoms of certain medical conditions. When you meditate, you clear away the information overload that builds up every day and contributes to stress. The many benefits of meditation include:
• Attaining a positive perspective
• Gaining tools to manage stress
• Heightened self-awareness
• Present becomes priority
• Helps to navigate negative thoughts
• Increasing patience and tolerance
As modern life becomes more and more entangled with exaggerated details of success, meditation can be the branch you need to hold on to in this raging current of development. The fiercely competitive environment coupled with the pressure to meet deadlines may keep people on their toes but only through meditation can we regain proper footing in this world.
The writer is an author & digital marketer.