The Power of Meditation
11 Changes I acutely noticed after 11 straight days of 11 minutes of Meditation
11) Letting go - We have thousands of thoughts, good, bad, and indifferent every day. The thoughts we cling to have power over us and our emotions and actions. I have been able to acknowledge the thoughts and let them flow in and out like waves on a beach. The freedom to let go of these thoughts has been powerful.
10) Better Sleep - After a few days into a consistent program of meditation, I profoundly discovered a deeper sense of sleep throughout the evening and without disturbance. Vivid dreams accompanied my sleep with an overwhelming sense of lucidity. I began to awake from sleep feeling refreshed and energized.
09) Improved Breathing - Breathing is something we take for granted. With meditation it was very apparent after a few days that my cadence and flow of breath was slowed and deeper even under the stress of doing activities such as driving in traffic, speaking in public, and exercising.
08) Heightened Creativity - The imagination and creation of new ideas happened spontaneously with a heightened awareness of what could be achieved by being open to these opportunities.
07) Enhanced Connection to Family - My 11 year old daughter spontaneously said to me, "Dad. You're pretty cool. Sometimes lame. And I love you. Thanks for listening to me."
06) A Reduction of Pain and Inflammation - We are tethered to a constant set of biological inflammatory responses that affect our bodies in many ways. This could be in the form of headaches, joint or back pain, or abdominal distress. For me the excruciating sharp pain from long-term osteoarthritis in my hip has subsided to the point where I no longer need to take Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications such as Advil. I can stand longer and sit cross-legged on the floor for the first time, COMFORTABLY, in years.
05) Motivation to Exercise - My energy levels have increased and the motivation to exercise such as lifting weights, a yoga class, riding the peloton bike or treadmill is something I look forward to.
04) An Enlightened Sense of Being Present - I was on an early morning walk with my three dogs on the mountain trails after a snowy evening. The stillness, the quiet, the sound of the snow crunching under my dogs' paws, and the feeling of being present with nature enlightened my senses and I absorbed the presence of the moment. I appreciated the beauty of the moment.
03) Calm and Focus - After a few days of meditating a heightened level of calm enveloped my actions with an intense focus on prioritizing what was truly important and to be a virtuous person.
02) Acceptance of what I can and cannot control - The Universe sends out stimuli that may impact us in many ways. What we can control is within our power to take action. What we can't control is not fully within our power to change the event, yet with 10 days of meditation, I realized that I can control my reactions and emotions that give me the influence of how I react to uncontrollable circumstances. You can't always control the event, but you can control your reaction to it.
01) Exstasia - An awakening that I have rarely experienced in my lifetime, except when practicing consistent meditation. This is an emotional release defined by the surge of dopamine and serotonin that flood the brain and create a brief sense of bliss and inner peace. The benefit of exstasia is being scientifically studied and there may be a correlation with a strengthening of one's immune system when this experience happens. Very few people attain this experience. It requires presence of mind, stillness and discipline.
