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Meditation Stinks! So the headline read and I was intrigued. Isabella went on to talk about an article she found on Yahoo! which stated that meditation won’t boost health. To balance things out, there was an article written a few days later stating a bit of the opposite.

The original article on MoriTherapy caught my attention because I’m involved in an organization that is trying to get 1% of the world population to meditate. The theory is that when one percent of the population meditates, violent crime decreases, and there is a marked sense of peace.

So the question that seems to be lurking out there is: Does meditation work?

My first inclination is to say, “Does it really matter?” However, that won’t make a really good post, so I thought I’d share the major benefits I get from meditation.

Better Decision Making - Meditating gives me the mental clarity to make better decisions. Somehow emptying my mind for those 30 minutes in the morning, lasts a lot longer. I am able to get a better sense of the big picture and the full implication of my options. The result is that I am quicker and clearer in my decision making.

Increased Sense of Well-Being - I’ve written in the past about being in Love. Establishing that daily connection with Spirit flows well into my day. In the beginning, it would last until I walk into my office. Some days, I can have 24 hours of feeling enfolded in joy, in love, and in peace. It really helps to put all of life in perspective.

Mindfully Eating - The place where meditation has made the most external difference is in my eating. Last year when I started meditating, I also made the decision to eat consciously. I haven’t really changed what I eat. I have changed how and when I eat. I only eat when hungry and until full. No emotional eating. It’s helped me to face the gunk that I was attempting to cover up with food. It’s made a difference in my waistline as well.

I’d add to this list poise, calm, the ability to diffuse tense situations, and being more aware of my surroundings. The benefits that you experience from establishing a meditation practice may be quite different, but you will see some benefit from it.

In Spirit,
Nneka

This article is part of the Meditation Question and Answer Series. For other articles in the series, you can visit the introduction post.