Meditation and Stress Relief

Have you thought about establishing a meditation practice, but haven't because you feel you don't have enough time? Meditation is worth the time required because it is an incredibly effective stress management tool, one that costs nothing but time and can be done anywhere.

If you establish a regular meditation practice, you will inherently learn coping skills that apply to stress management. You’ll learn how to control your physical reactions such that you will be able to breathe through a stressful encounter during a work meeting or a highly emotional time with your family. During your meditation sessions you will learn how discipline your body's fight or flight adrenaline response, all of which will help you make good choices and respond calmly in the heat of the moment.

When you meditate, you process through existing stress. This daily purging of stress will help you face stressful issues head on, accepting what you cannot change and making wise decisions regarding the things you have the ability to change. You will find yourself grounded and centered as you face problems. If you've meditated, you'll be more emotionally prepared to find solutions and move on from past stress.

Meditation will enable you to fall asleep quicker and sleep more soundly. If you are relaxed, you can sleep better, which results in a healthier you.

Meditation enhances your quality of life. As you process your stress and then interact with colleagues and family members, you’ll be more calm and able to diminish drama. Since most people who are stressed out tend to create even more drama (because they are unable to handle interactions well, being as they are so stressed out), they compound the problem. You, on the other hand, will be relaxed and able to handle difficult things as they come your way, especially if your meditation practice includes a moral or principle such as acceptance or loving kindness.

Meditation is an easy to learn and easy to transport stress management tool. If you devote yourself to your practice, you will learn things about yourself you didn't expect to learn.