“Watch your thoughts, they become your words; watch your words, they become your actions; watch your actions, they become your habits; watch your habits, they become your character; watch your character, it becomes your destiny.”
– Lao Tzu
Over 2,500 years ago, the great Lao Tzu encouraged us to take a step back and watch our lives so that we may understand how deeply our beliefs affect our destiny. Yet, how many of us take time every day to be silent and look within? I have seen significant improvement in my quality of life from regular meditation, and more and more of my clients are finding it to be life changing as well. Instead of running away from our troubling thoughts and emotions, meditation empowers us to ride out the wave until the storm subsides.
The effects of mediation on one’s mental health come, in large part, from it’s dual focus on presence and transcendence. The value of presence cannot be understated. Presence is the opposite of worry and rumination which are highly associated with anxiety and depression. One cannot ruminate about the past or worry about the future while meditating. We also realize that the brain is like a muscle in that the more you practice, the stronger your ability to live in the moment. Studies show that 15 minutes of meditation a day is all it takes to improve focus and reduce anxiety. In addition, meditation is linked to transcendence. Transcendence is defined as the existence or experience beyond the normal or physical level. Experts in deep meditation practices, particularly transcendental meditation, achieve out of body experiences and long lasting sensations of ecstasy that are not accessible by other means.
Mediation also helps us in our everyday lives and responsibilities. Have you ever been frustrated by an inability to concentrate? I know that there have been times in my life where I feel like I am unable to complete full thoughts and process information. This is highly distressing. Prominent medical narratives could lead someone in this situation to believe that they have an attention deficit disorder. For me, meditation proved successful in honing my ability to concentrate. Studies show that meditation reduces activity in the Default Mode Network (DMN). This area of the brain is associated with mind-wandering and rumination which is highly correlated with the suffering I was experiencing. Mediation was the key for me to be able to gain more control over my biological and conscious mind.
The DMN is also considered the “me” center because it is responsible for self-referential thoughts. Not unexpected then, that psychologist Robert Wright, in his groundbreaking book “Why Buddhism is True” lays out how mindfulness meditation leads one to the deep and liberating realization that the buddhist principles of non-self are true. Simplified, non-self is the notion that what we think of as “ourself” is simply a concept, and that our true essence of consciousness lies beyond that. We have written about the latest research in neuroscience by Lisa Feldman Barret that also supports this. Through meditation, we learn that thoughts and emotions are tied to identity, and that all of this is completely malleable. Since learning about developmental psychology and meditation I have completely reinvented myself and my emotional experience. Through my coaching practice, I hope to bring these life changing experiences to others.
In this upcoming series on meditation, we will focus on 4 unique styles of meditation that can improve your life to a great degree. They are:
- Body Scan Meditation
- Mindfulness Meditation (with a focus on chronic pain)
- Transcendental Meditation
- Loving-Kindness Meditation
We will tell you about the history and philosophy of each style, what makes it unique, its benefits, and step-by-step instructions on how you can incorporate it into your life.
If you are looking to improve your mental health, concentration levels, and connection with your body and sense of spirituality, then meditation is a great vehicle to take you there. Read up on our other blogs on emotion and psychology and don’t hesitate to reach out to Greg@adaptiveedgecoaching to begin your journey of personal transformation today.