For years I had a personal fight with myself about meditating, wanting to do it and never getting around to it.

Of course, I had 101 reasons why I couldn’t fit it in! But deep down I knew this was simply resistance.

I used to envy those that had a daily practice and never understood how they made this happen.

The fight with myself continued over 10 years … you know the one where you want to do something and then you don’t do it and then you beat yourself up for not doing it and then you do the same process all over again.  And then I just let go….

A few years later an invitation to a course arrived in my inbox from Sadhguru who I had been following for a while and he was coming to the UK.

Not even realising what I would be doing on the course I signed up inspired to be in his presence.

It was a really tough course I can’t say I particularly enjoyed it. What followed was an invitation to practice an instructional meditation process twice a day for 40 days omg I thought how the hell was I going to do this I can’t even manage once a day once a week consistently.

Yes, it was tough but I kept going as I felt I had made a promise to Sadhguru…. Little did I know this would completely change my life, relationships, and mental wellbeing.

For the past 2 years I have been meditating daily and now it is like an automatic response. Likened to not leaving the house without brushing your teeth. It would now be weird not to… a place I never thought I would get to!

Much research has been done to prove scientifically the benefits of meditation:

  • Changes Structures in the Brain.
  • Regulation stress.
  • Improve Focus and Concentration.
  • Age reversal
  • Reduce effects of depression and anxiety
  • Releases endorphins invoking more happiness and calm

My personal reflections of what I have noticed that has changed for me have been profound:

Patience and less reactive

A change in how I react to things, pausing more before I respond to others or myself even when I may feel triggered by something someone may say or do. Taking a much more considered approach.  And when I do lose my patience, I catch myself in myself in the act and change tact.

Calm and less stressed

There is an inner calm, I feel more connected to which brings more peace and when things don’t go the way I would like them to it doesn’t feel so stressful as it once did.

Go with the flow

I tend to be more relaxed about things releasing previous expectations and when directions change (as they do in life) or plans change I tend not to want to control things and enjoy going with the flow much more.

Mood Stabiliser

Of course, I am happy, sad, angry and scared at times but it just seems my response to those feelings are much more accepting which allows them to come and go naturally as a pose to getting stuck in the lows and craving the highs- it feels steady (I used to call this boring – and now I love it).

Healthy Habits & De-aging

I seem to be more conscious of what my body likes and dislikes and am now making more healthy choices that serve my body and mind. I feel healthier and perhaps younger (I’ll let you be the judge of that 😊) with my skin feeling smoother and softer.

Inspiration & Productivity

With more pause and reflection Ideas seem to flow more effortlessly, or solutions to problems come to me helping me to get things done more productivity.

More connected me

The gap between thoughts and thinker has widened allowing for previous unhelpful conditioning from childhood to release more effortlessly and a stronger connection to who I am to arise.

I love spending that 25 minutes with myself connecting with me it is absolutely not a chore (which is how I used to see it) it’s a pleasure and a joyous way to start my day – it sets me up!  (I don’t always do it in the morning although that is one of the best times to meditate).

I can’t recommend the integration of some form of a meditation practice in to your daily life enough – even just for 5 minutes – this could make a huge difference!