Role Of Meditation In Personal Development

Should you include the practice of meditation in your quest for personal development? Absolutely!

So, what is meditation? Meditation is a form of mental exercise that produces mental clarity and emotional calm; improves physical health and contributes to overall well-being.

The practice of meditation (in various forms) is as old as humanity itself. Significant developments and refinements in the theory and practice of meditation have been made in ancient China, India and other countries. Meditation may involve speech, motion, mindfulness, vision, sound (as in vibrating sound). It may have internal or external focus. Even though each of the forms of meditation has its own focus and distinctive benefits, all of them are based on controlled breathing which has a calming and comforting effect. Eventually, the practice of meditation spread and today it is embraced by alternative medicine practitioners as well as psychology, psychiatry and yes, gradually other medical specialties in the United States and worldwide.

Modern science has confirmed the impact of the practice of meditation on human brain: it does, in fact, change neurophysiological functions in a positive way. There is more, the seemingly simple act of meditating has the power to change the body’s chemistry: lower cortisol levels and boost serotonin!

The practice of meditation is credited with:

• Stress reduction
• Pain reduction
• Decrease in inflammation
• Symptom-relief of stress-related and inflammation-related conditions
• Better emotional health
• Better mood
• Anxiety control
• Improved ability to focus
• Lengthened attention span
• Improved memory
• Enhanced self-awareness

Meditation can be spiritual or secular. There are numerous schools of thought and techniques of meditation. The one thing they all have in common is the aim to help the practitioner achieve a non-reflexive state, a state in which one doesn’t automatically react to external stimuli but remains unmoved by them and able to maintain his or her internal harmony, regardless.

In the reflexive state, you are at the mercy of everything and everyone: like a leaf in the wind. In the state of just being, you are the source of power, resilience and good health: like a strong tree. Click To Tweet

In everyday life we’re always thinking, feeling and doing, often times simultaneously. There is no time for being. Quite frankly, we’re so distracted by sensory input, people, events and activities that we lost the ability to be, for the sake of being. There is too much external and internal turmoil and noise. We are unable to experience true tranquility or pure consciousness. Even when we have time and are not doing anything, our minds work at full speed be it worrying, problem-solving or engaging in an internal dialog which is often self-defeating, gloomy or cruel. There is no peace or harmony within us. The essence of being has been silenced. That’s quite a handicap considering the fact that the only person you can’t live without – and can always depend on – is you and most of us are disconnected from our power center.

Scarier yet, our time scarcity notwithstanding, many make time for the gym…. I don’t know about you, but personally, I don’t foresee situations when your body will be called upon to wrestle a bear or outrun a tiger. I can however imagine countless situations when your life might depend on your sound judgment, for instance. And to keep our most precious capacities in working condition most people do… nothing.

When was the last time you felt serene and connected to YOUR power? Perhaps it’s time to consider meditation.

Meditation – its history, techniques and philosophies that contributed to its development – is fascinating. Exploring meditation is an adventure and if you are not familiar with meditation at all, the topic itself can be both, compelling and overwhelming. Such a venture however is learning and it’s distinctly different from the practice itself. Learning has its rewards. The benefits of practice are different and more immediate.

Don’t let superficial associations discourage you! Meditating won’t make you a hippie, New Age-weirdo or self-indulgent. The practice of meditation doesn’t have to be linked to a belief system, tradition or even follow a specific technique – as long as it incorporates the prerequisite elements – to produce desired results. Anyone can start practicing meditation, right now. There are classes, many of them free. (Your local library might host some!) There are books and CDs that can help you get started. Find the program that works for you and start meditating. Your health, mind and emotions will change for the better.

Personal development is about improving life skills and effectiveness, creating and sustaining relationships, setting and achieving goals. In short, it’s about developing power, success and happiness. Personal development is dynamic. Why include meditation which by its very name suggests passivity? Apart from its obvious health benefits, meditation provides a good foundation for personal development. The main obstacles in self-improvement are external and internal distractions. (They provide nice excuses. It’s easy to blame lack of progress on time shortage or self-doubt.) Meditation limits the impact of external and internal distractions and helps facilitate and accelerate progress. Give meditation a try!