There are volumes of scientific research boasting all the reasons meditation is a game-changer. I’m sure they are quite thorough and convincing, too.

However today, I want to share from my heart and experience how meditation has and continues to change my life for the better.

This post is for all you fellow perfectionists, control freaks, planners, cardio-lovers, results-oriented, make-it-happen folks who feel 20 minutes of meditation sounds like a large helping of time-suck.

Oh, I know you…

About five years ago, I began noticing an overarching intense physical discomfort out of nowhere (or so I thought). My throat and jaw locked up. My mid-back twisted in a knot. It became difficult to sing and speak, even in sessions with clients. Sleep became a distant wish.

As a health-conscious, avid exerciser who’d done her fair share of work in therapy throughout the years, I felt discouraged—and powerless.

After seeking out every alternative healing modality I could find, I noticed a subtle common theme emerge from accupunturist, chiropractor, voice coach, energy healer, and therapist alike. Quite simply, their sage voices all harmonized in a singular chord. It was in the key of...RELAX.

I wasn’t depressed or anything. In fact, I was quite content. Yet I’d been running so hard on a treadmill of survival mode that had become my norm. My body, brain, and emotions formed a strike, actively rebelling against the grueling pace I’d had them on for decades.

Meditation has been my vehicle into this new world of rest, yet interestingly enough, has also opened up my life in a new way, allowing for increased willingness and opportunities. Funny how that works. I firmly believe we all need to develop some type of mindfulness practice, now more than ever.

Here are the three big reasons I think we should all be meditating:

(1) We build more self-awareness and self-acceptance.
Self-awareness is the biggest indicator of success in life, relationships, and work. However, we’re so busy (and often stressed) we don’t carve out the time to practice the stillness required to grow that necessary muscle of self-awareness.

In my experience, I’d over-developed the muscle of self-criticism and judgment instead. Practicing meditation or other mindfulness exercises allows space to unlearn that harsh inner critic and grow the safe, neutral observer needed to bake-in healthy self-awareness, compassion, and positive sustained change.

(2) We release tension and toxins in our bodies that create long-term negative health effects. It was a lightbulb moment the day I made the connection between disease in our minds and bodies with literal “dis-ease” and tension we hold tightly within. This stress, or contraction, will eventually exacerbate, causing much bigger health concerns down the road unless we learn how to release it.

Practicing meditation trains our bodies and minds to slow down and release that arthritic grip we unconsciously develop over time. Added bonuses include better sleep, mood, energy, and creativity that crop up as a result.

(3) We begin to connect to our essence—or true self—as we become aware of our unconscious habits. As we move from the false self (or ego) to the true self (or essence), we experience deep spiritual transformation. It’s letting go of fear in order to embrace openness to something greater than ourselves. We simply can’t do that if we are living on autopilot out of our blind spots. 

Over time, as we commit to a meditation practice, a natural byproduct becomes this relaxation of old programming and an exploration of the love and curiosity that’s been there from day one. 

We were born loving, open beings. We learned fear to help us survive. Yet, lasting positive change is rarely built on fear. We must create the precious space in our days to excavate that little person inside that desperately longs to be seen and known. She’s honest and wise beyond her years, too. 

Some people swear practicing meditation over time slows down aging. I can’t speak to that, however, I believe connecting to the most loving and true parts of us inevitably lends a softer lens to whatever we may be facing in life. In this sense, we do recover that childlike part of us that sees more beauty in everything.

P.S. If you or someone you know is interested in developing a mindfulness practice, stay tuned for lots of tools to add to your toolkit!