So you’re a meditator (or you’re considering trying)? It’s helpful to know what the benefits of meditation are so you know where to look. We want to highlight how meditation is a practical exercise that helps us navigate life with ease. The practice and its benefits are available for all.
When we meditate, we become more conscious of thought. (The mind likes to think when we choose to sit in silence and do nothing.)
As meditators, we notice the thoughts that arise: memories, desires, worries, to-do lists, drama.
We also notice that we can let thoughts go.
Some thoughts are easy to let go. We wonder if there are enough eggs for breakfast… then we remember that egg-toss game back in 7th grade and… oops, I’m thinking. Drop the dialog. Go back to feeling the sensations of breathing.
Other thoughts are more sticky: anxieties, what that person said, thoughts about ourselves.
With sticky thoughts, we meet the moment with the same meditation technique. We drop the dialog and go back to feeling the sensations of breathing. We notice the flavor of the moment: sadness, anger, fear. The sensation can be there without dialog. Keep breathing. It feels like this.
And the thought passes. You’re thinking about eggs again.
Suffering is part of life. Meditation helps us realize that we don’t have to twist the knife with unnecessary thinking.
When we experience something we don’t like, we often make it more difficult with incessant negative thoughts.
Meditation gives our mind the discipline to prevent our minds from spiraling down into complaining and self-pity.
Meditation gives us the ability to sit with difficulty – to recognize a situation for what it is without trying to make it bigger or smaller. We also realize difficulties are only temporary. Everything is always changing and passing.
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We want to help you do both.
Join our FREE Simplify Money Workshop to learn the fundamentals of growing wealth. Because when you can spend less than you earn, your money has no choice but to grow. You will build your savings and pay down debt.
What’s more? We’ve got a bunch of free money-hacks to share with you:
This workshop has everything you need to accomplish the cardinal rule of personal finance: keep your income over your expenses.
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When you let go of thought spirals, you become more aware of your surroundings.
As you sit and breathe, you will recognize things you may have overlooked, such as the warmth of the sun on your skin, the smell of flowers, birds singing, the silence between sounds.
Meditation teaches you to let go of unnecessary thoughts and notice these simple miracles. This is called being present, and it can be a source of abundant joy.
In an age of 24/7 news cycles harping on how terrible things are, (on top of the difficult circumstances that arise in our personal lives) is it any wonder we spend so much time worrying?
Excessive worrying is unproductive and unhealthy. Because generally, this moment is fine. Incessant worrying (thinking) causes us to miss it.
Meditation, however, shows us that we don’t have to let our minds spin off in endless thoughts of worry. We can come back to present-moment sensations (sights, sounds, and breathing).
Noticing what is happening now allows us to break free from troubling thoughts and unnecessary anxiety. What a relief.
As you embrace meditation more, you can learn more about, as well as discover ways to better handle stress and anxiety, with audiobook on Audible.
With Audible, you have all the books you could ever want to listen to on your devices (not on your shelf) at the click of a button.
Sign up for a FREE 30-Day Audible trial and receive 1 audiobook credit (2 credits for Prime members) and access to the Audible Plus Catalog of podcasts and audiobooks.
Meditation is present moment training. We practice noticing and letting go of thoughts while sitting so we can notice and let go of thoughts throughout the day.
We have so many unnecessary, unproductive, harmful thoughts. It is clear that letting go of these thoughts leads to an improved attitude and increased happiness, and an ability to navigate life’s challenges with greater ease.
Happy practicing.
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Be sure to follow us on Pinterest for more money-saving life hacks!
The post 5 Surprising Benefits of Meditation appeared first on Budgeting Couple.
1. Awareness of Your Thoughts
When we meditate, we become more conscious of thought. (The mind likes to think when we choose to sit in silence and do nothing.)
As meditators, we notice the thoughts that arise: memories, desires, worries, to-do lists, drama.
We also notice that we can let thoughts go.
Some thoughts are easy to let go. We wonder if there are enough eggs for breakfast… then we remember that egg-toss game back in 7th grade and… oops, I’m thinking. Drop the dialog. Go back to feeling the sensations of breathing.
Other thoughts are more sticky: anxieties, what that person said, thoughts about ourselves.
With sticky thoughts, we meet the moment with the same meditation technique. We drop the dialog and go back to feeling the sensations of breathing. We notice the flavor of the moment: sadness, anger, fear. The sensation can be there without dialog. Keep breathing. It feels like this.
And the thought passes. You’re thinking about eggs again.
Suffering is part of life. Meditation helps us realize that we don’t have to twist the knife with unnecessary thinking.
2. Increased Ability to Be with Difficulty
When we experience something we don’t like, we often make it more difficult with incessant negative thoughts.
Meditation gives our mind the discipline to prevent our minds from spiraling down into complaining and self-pity.
Meditation gives us the ability to sit with difficulty – to recognize a situation for what it is without trying to make it bigger or smaller. We also realize difficulties are only temporary. Everything is always changing and passing.
Free Workshop – Join our free Simplify Money Workshop
The *only* way to save money is to spend less than you earn. That means you need to decrease your expenses or increase your income.
We want to help you do both.
Join our FREE Simplify Money Workshop to learn the fundamentals of growing wealth. Because when you can spend less than you earn, your money has no choice but to grow. You will build your savings and pay down debt.
What’s more? We’ve got a bunch of free money-hacks to share with you:
- Hacks to lower your monthly bills
- Hacks to spend less on debt
- Hacks to start investing
- Hacks to increase your income by $20/month (with no extra effort)
This workshop has everything you need to accomplish the cardinal rule of personal finance: keep your income over your expenses.
Join our free 5-day Simplify Money Workshop, and start growing your wealth today.
3. Enjoyment of the Simple Things
When you let go of thought spirals, you become more aware of your surroundings.
As you sit and breathe, you will recognize things you may have overlooked, such as the warmth of the sun on your skin, the smell of flowers, birds singing, the silence between sounds.
Meditation teaches you to let go of unnecessary thoughts and notice these simple miracles. This is called being present, and it can be a source of abundant joy.
- Related: 12 Tips to Create a Warm, Cozy Home
4. Less Fear, Stress, and Anxiety
In an age of 24/7 news cycles harping on how terrible things are, (on top of the difficult circumstances that arise in our personal lives) is it any wonder we spend so much time worrying?
Excessive worrying is unproductive and unhealthy. Because generally, this moment is fine. Incessant worrying (thinking) causes us to miss it.
Meditation, however, shows us that we don’t have to let our minds spin off in endless thoughts of worry. We can come back to present-moment sensations (sights, sounds, and breathing).
Noticing what is happening now allows us to break free from troubling thoughts and unnecessary anxiety. What a relief.
Learn How to Better Handle Stress and Anxiety with Audiobooks from Audible
As you embrace meditation more, you can learn more about, as well as discover ways to better handle stress and anxiety, with audiobook on Audible.
With Audible, you have all the books you could ever want to listen to on your devices (not on your shelf) at the click of a button.
Sign up for a FREE 30-Day Audible trial and receive 1 audiobook credit (2 credits for Prime members) and access to the Audible Plus Catalog of podcasts and audiobooks.
5. In the Now
Meditation is present moment training. We practice noticing and letting go of thoughts while sitting so we can notice and let go of thoughts throughout the day.
We have so many unnecessary, unproductive, harmful thoughts. It is clear that letting go of these thoughts leads to an improved attitude and increased happiness, and an ability to navigate life’s challenges with greater ease.
Happy practicing.
UP NEXT: 8 Life Hacks to Make Your Life Easier
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SAVE MORE MONEY! READ THESE NEXT…
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Want to save these tips for later? Click here to pin this post!
Be sure to follow us on Pinterest for more money-saving life hacks!
The post 5 Surprising Benefits of Meditation appeared first on Budgeting Couple.