Does Meditation Really Work?

To relax is to meditate. The state of relaxation, along with the ability to relax, is one of the most sought after mental states of mind in men and women today.  Now more than ever, individuals are seeking that wonderful state of relaxation that has eluded them for so long in this busy, intense, “everything now” society.  

 Meditation is a practice of concentrated focus upon a sound, object, visualization, the breath, movement, or attention itself in order to increase awareness of the present moment, reduce so much of that daily added and most unnecessary stress, promote relaxation, and enhance personal and spiritual growth. Meditation benefits people with or without acute medical illness or stress. People who meditate regularly have been shown to feel less anxiety and depression. They also report that they experience more enjoyment and appreciation of life and that their relationships with others are improved.

 Meditation produces a state of deep relaxation and a sense of balance or equanimity. Last night I had this conversation with a man. He is a motivational speaker and has a balance of life as well as a love for life. You can feel it as well as hear it in his voice when he speaks. He is driven and smart and meditates daily. I'll keep you posted because I think I can learn a lot from this man. They say that God puts certain people in our lives for a reason,...so what if I were meant to meet him for this reason...my life gets stressful, and as a single mother of 13 years and having raised 2 kids now 28 and 26, dealt with cancer 5 out of the last 10 years, and hit every other wall humanly possible...perhaps this is my warning sign to slow down and enjoy life? Could it be time for my reality check?

For most people, meditation is a simple way to get connected spiritually, manage stress and create a more peaceful way of living. But there are also other benefits that come along with a daily meditation practice, one of which is stronger self-confidence. There are many ways that meditation can help strengthen your confidence, but probably the most important is the way it connects you with a deeper part of yourself. 

Most of us are used to connecting with our thoughts more than anything else and it’s easy to forget that there is more to us than that. Regular meditation helps you transcend your thoughts and connect to your true inner essence, whether you want to call it your spirit, your soul, your higher self, or even divinity. The more you connect with this inner core, the more you tend to live your life from a calmer, deeper perspective.

As a result, you are less likely to engage in negative self-talk or be overly critical of yourself. 

You live each moment with the awareness that you are valuable because of who you are, rather than anything you do. Before you know it, your confidence grows and you find yourself feeling more courageous, willing to take bigger risks and overcome perceived failure. Your very sense of self is no longer tied up in a false perception of who you think you are, but the very core of your being.Though much of this process happens automatically through regular meditation, there are also a few things you can do if you want to help it along:

Build yourself up with positive self-talk

Before, during or after your meditation sessions, spend a few minutes speaking positively to and about yourself. It’s best to say things that you won’t have trouble believing because your subconscious mind is more likely to accept them.

Try statements like these:

“I am proud of my past accomplishments. I am capable of becoming great at anything I choose to do. I believe in myself and my capabilities. I give myself permission to be confident and successful. I thrive on challenges. I am unstoppable. I have faith in my dreams.”

Envision empowerment

Visualization is a perfect complement to meditation and can dramatically improve your results. Spend a few minutes a day imagining yourself feeling completely strong and confident in whatever you do. What would it feel like to be super strong and purposeful every day? Generate some mental pictures of yourself doing just that, and allow yourself to feel that way. The more you imagine yourself feeling and acting confidently, the easier you’ll find it to do in your day to day experiences.

Redefine failure

One common cause of low self-confidence is pervasive memories of past failures. However, the problem lies not in the failed attempts themselves, but what you concluded from them. You convinced yourself that failure was the end, that you would never be successful – but does that have to be true? What if you began to see “failure” as an opportunity to try again? 

Use your meditation sessions to affirm and visualize that you can be successful regardless of how many times you’ve failed in the past. Imagine yourself encouraging others by sharing stories of your past failures – and eventual success! Imagine yourself saying to them, “Do you know how many times I failed before I succeeded? If I can do it, so can you!” If you change your perception of failure into something more positive and empowering, your confidence will skyrocket. You’ll find yourself eager to try again and again until you succeed.

You have nothing to lose, so give it a try.... you may find yourself doing it soon on a daily basis. 

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