Meditation promotes happiness and self-connectedness, and anyone can do it. (Photo by Jared Jones).Jared Jones - Staff Writerjrdjones@uab.edu
I can guess what you’re thinking: meditation is the thing your friend picked up one summer in Malaysia while on a yogic journey where he also began making his own granola bars (which, by the way, are really tasty). However, meditation is much simpler and more accessible than you may think. It’s a practice that promotes happiness and self-connectedness, and anyone can do it.
In the same way that yoga can be a spiritual practice as well as physical practice, meditation is what you put into it.
There are a multiple different forms of meditation, which means more opportunities to find the one that fits you.
And that’s great because there are many benefits to a daily meditation practice that encourage a more centered you. For homework, read Huffington Post’s “8 Ways Meditation Can Improve Your Life.”
As a Type A person who wears stress on his sleeves, I can benefit from slowing my mind down with guided practices. In fact, a Stanford study showed that meditation and mindfulness actually rewires the brain to handle stress better. College students rejoice!
One of my biggest draws to meditation is the ability to be my own leader. I set my intention and I set my goal – if I even choose to have a goal. It’s up to me. I decide the outcome.
However, meditation is not something you pick up lightly. To truly reap the benefits, you need to develop a practice. Think of meditation as exercise for the brain. You don’t blindly walk into a gym, run on the treadmill for a few minutes and conclude with the thought that you’re in shape. You can’t try it once and expect inner peace.
Meditation builds your mind-body connection where you learn to be mindful of who you are. It teaches you to be aware of yourself in ways that looking in the mirror won’t suffice.
There is a wealth of literature on meditation and its many forms from anecdotal short stories to scientific research noting the benefits of the practice. I suggest researching what form of meditation speaks to you and then finding material on the form. Live and Dare, a “meditation blog and non-sectarian spirituality,” published a comprehensive list of meditation types and how to try each approach. This blog can serve as a launchpad to further information about the practice.
If you’re pressed for time, I suggest Headspace. It’s a free app that offers a series of meditations called “Take 10,” where the user is guided through ten 10-minute sessions in order to introduce the mind to being in the moment. And if you feel inclined, you can sign up for their subscription and have access to so much more content. According to Headspace, meditation combats stress, promotes creativity, decreases anxiety and amps up focus. Headspace is leading the pack on making meditation accessible and easy for busy people. They back up their claims with scientific studies and even have arguably cute graphics to inspire users to breathe more.
So while you might be worried about staying in shape, you owe it to yourself to show your mind some love, too. Next time you’re faced with writing a 10-page paper due the next day, you might find yourself calmer, able to tackle the assignment effectively and efficiently.
