Meditation and Mental Health

We’ve heard the saying where the mind goes, the body follows. There’s been numerous research on mental health causing more health issues and more complications in our personal lives and in our professional lives as well. Less tolerance for minor problems, greater stress, less productivity or less motivation. 

When our thinking becomes contorted, it affects many areas in our lives. It’s hard to have clarity of thought when we have an overactive mind or when we have obsessive compulsive problems. 

Anxiety can be described as an overactive mind. You may be focused on many concerns in your life or perhaps you’re obsessing over one particular concern. Depression is focusing on a number of different problems or it can be focusing and dreading one particular problem. Either way anxiety, depression and OCD is an overactive mind. 

What is the opposite of an overactive mind? Stillness, tranquility, and inner peace. How do you achieve this state of mind? By doing the opposite of what you’re currently doing. You’re overthinking, so stop thinking so much, and give your brain a break by quieting your mind. 

Go someplace quiet if possible, close your eyes, sit or lie down and try to think of nothing. Focus on your breath. If some thoughts come and they probably will in the beginning of a meditation practice, let them drift and don’t try to fix anything. Let them be, don’t fight it, and let them run their course. In time you’ll think of those thoughts and they won’t cause you great concern. 

There’s a time for contemplation and trying to solve problems, but if you do this all day long without a break, your mind will become exhausted. That’s what causes mental health challenges. 

Try to aim for at least 15 minutes of meditation, but even 10 minutes or 5 minutes can make a difference. Perhaps with time, you’ll work your way up to 15 minutes or 20 minutes. Reflect on this statement, why is sleep so beneficial? Because your mind is at rest, and your brain recuperates. Why is meditation so beneficial? Because your mind is at rest, and your brain recuperates. The only difference is that in meditation your mind is awake, however, your mind still benefits from this practice. 

Try not to compare yourself to others because if you do, you risk not completing the task or quitting all together. I meditate 20 minutes every day, but if I thought because Deepak Chopra wakes up every morning at 4am and meditates for 2 hours, I should do the same, I probably wouldn’t stick to it nor would I want to. 

Assess your needs and determine what’s best for you. You may feel 5 minutes or 10 minutes is plenty to release some resistance and get on with your day. Find what works for you. There should be no comparison, just focus on improving you.