The Transformative Power of Meditation

Image by Gary Chan

Are you constantly feeling overwhelmed and stressed at work? Maybe you’re not sleeping well or your mood is frequently in the gutter. Or, you’re getting sick a lot more than usual. As life ramps up and priorities shift, people tend to ignore their body’s distress signals. We often push things under the rug – hoping if we act like there’s not a problem then suddenly the problem will disappear. But, as much as time is healing, sometimes our mind, body, and soul need a little more TLC than that. 

Well, there is a unique and beneficial option to help manage all those problems: Meditation.

Over the last decade, meditation has gained significant popularity in the United States. But, the mindful act has been practiced for thousands of years by a multitude of communities such as the Hindu, Buddhist, Zen, and Taoist communities. Around the world, meditation is becoming a cornerstone in many cultures for fostering mental clarity, emotional well-being, and spiritual connection.

Getting started with meditation is more than just taking deep breaths – although, that is a highly incorporated practice amongst varieties of meditation. Well-known thought leader in the mindfulness and consciousness space, Jaya Jaya Myra, notes that it is important to find a meditation or mindfulness practice that is compatible with your primary elemental type. Each element is connected to one of your five senses. For example, if you have a lot of fire element in your constitution, you’ll likely have a very easy time with a meditation practice that incorporates visualization, since fire is connected to sight.

“The mind can be a wastebasket that accumulates trash and becomes toxic to your environment, or the projector of your reality. If you don’t empty the wastebasket frequently, it’ll start causing problems with your health and well-being—not just mental, but physical too,” says Jaya Jaya Myra. “Meditation is how we empty that wastebasket.”

Any form of mindfulness or meditation practice is part of overall conscious character development, a phrase coined by Jaya Jaya Myra to emphasize the decisions we all make that help us become better versions of ourselves. By cultivating strong inner discernment and assessing your beliefs and feelings, you can begin to grow and better yourself. Meditation peels back your layers in a manner that isn’t subjected to personal selection, making it a great companion to other mindfulness practices. You don’t choose what meditation addresses – whether your mind, soul, or body, it tackles what is most pressing at the moment.

The effectiveness of meditation is not speculative or wishful thinking, the benefits of the practice are scientifically proven. The University of California, Davis conducted a study to assess the advantages of meditation. They recognized a variety of perks associated with meditation and narrowed their conclusion to the 10 health benefits that meditation provides. These benefits include, but are not limited to: reducing stress, increasing attention, boosting memory, and improving sleep habits.

According to a survey conducted by Jaya Jaya Myra, 36.5% of people meditate at least three times a week.

“Meditation is the most powerful tool a person has at their disposal to deal with accumulated thought forms. It’s the way you heal your past and make room in the present, mentally and emotionally, to build the life you want… It’s central for a successful, healthy life,” contends Jaya Jaya Myra.

Meditation offers a pathway to greater well-being, but like any other practice, it requires commitment and consistency. The more you commit to the practice, the more you’ll see the benefits. Mastering the art of meditation takes time so don’t be discouraged if you struggle to quiet your mind the first few times you try. Keep at it! Through patience and dedication, you’ll uncover the transformative power of mindfulness in your everyday life.