Meditation: Does it Really Work?

If you are interested in meditating on a daily basis, you have probably done the research and learned about the reported benefits including that it supposedly reduces stress, increases tolerance and that it can reduce headaches. Many articles explain that it can make you feel better and have a positive effect on your life. Learning about the benefits is a great way to start, but are the reported benefits actually true? My personal experience with meditation may be able to answer some of your questions.

Starting

When I started meditating, I was able to slip into it easily; others can have a more difficult time. There is no right way to start; it is about what works for you. Some meditate to birds chirping outside, others use chants or calming music. Personally, I close my eyes and listen to my breathing as I sit cross-legged with my back against a wall. For free meditation music, visit YouTube.com.

Decrease in Stress

After doing meditation twice a day for a few days, I started to feel less tense. My shoulders felt more relaxed and overall I felt more at ease. Occasionally during the day, if I was out somewhere and needed to meditate, I would take a couple of minutes and more often than not, I was relaxed in minutes.

Headaches

I used to get frequent awful headaches and migraines. I believe that they decreased due to less stress. I now get them quite infrequently. Even my intake of medication has severely decreased.

Racing Thoughts

I would constantly have racing thoughts; they never seemed to slow down and my brain was constantly working. It was exhausting to constantly be thinking of twenty things at a time that I needed to do. After I started meditating, I was able to process things better and accomplish more. Instead of having a scattered mind, I was able to focus and concentrate on one task at a time.

Attitude

After starting meditation, I had a more calm and relaxed attitude about life. I stopped worrying about the little things more than ever before and I felt calm in situations that I would normally stress over. I was happier overall and other people noticed my increase of happiness and reduction of stress.

Meditation may or may not work for you; however, it could be beneficial to try it. If you are having a problem meditating on your own, there are plenty of classes you can take that may be able to help you.

Disclaimer: These are only my personal experiences, but they may not be yours. Always consult a medical professional if you notice any unusual changes to your body. I am not a medical professional and this is not advice how to treat illnesses. Meditation is not a substitute for professional medical care.

Source:

Personal Experience

Additional reading:

http://www.aolhealth.com/conditions/tension-headaches/treatment-overview

http://www.ineedmotivation.com/blog/2008/05/100-benefits-of-meditation/