Why Meditate?

What is the point of meditation and how is it going to help me? These are questions I frequently asked myself. It seems somewhat counterintuitive to the linear mind to sit in silence doing seemingly nothing. When a person is stressed it makes much more sense to make lists and get into action, and fullfil the mind’s need to fix whatever is causing that stress. But for those of us on a spiritual path, those of us who are working on recovering from addiction and dealing with trauma, meditation offers profound support.

There are countless positive effects meditation has on the body, as well as the mind. From lowering blood pressure, to improving sleep quality, to reducing inflammation due to psychological stress. This intentional daily practice can improve our quality of life in unimaginable ways. But as always, consistency is key.

I will be forever grateful to my teacher, Alan Finger, who basically told me that meditation was a non negotiable. During this time I was just getting sober and embarking on my yoga training. He would say that not meditating was kind of like not showering or brushing your teeth. I felt a little embarrassed, and thought: “well, I don’t wanna be walking around with a funky mind!”, so I incorporated it into my daily practice. I’m so grateful I did, because it helped me realize that meditation really is cleansing.

Scientists recently discovered the glymphatic system, which is a waste clearance path system within the brain. This glymphatic network drains away soluble waste proteins and metabolic products, but it diminishes drastically with age. Studies are now showing that meditation-based approaches can have a positive effect on the functioning of the glymphatic system. It quite literally cleanses the brain.

One day Alan and I were shoveling snow together. We were creating paths to walk. Alan then told me that the mind has well run paths of habitual patterns, that our conscious will fall back on, to make sense of whatever is happening in our lives. But that meditation is like the sun. The warmth, light and stillness within meditation melt away those paths, and with them the habitual patterns. That metaphor always stuck with me.

There was one day when my kids were little, Ian couldn’t have been older than 3, and I was having a day. Everything and everyone was bugging me and I was aggravated and raising my vice. My little baby Ian just looked up at me with his big tear soaked eyes and said: “Mommy, did you meditate today?”. I love telling this story, because he was right! Anytime I would skip meditation, it was like signing up for a bad day. I’d be less patient and more fearful. More restless, irritable and discontented. In the 12 Steps they always refer back to “HALT”. This stands for never letting yourself get too hungry, angry, lonely or tired.

Even just a single meditation session has proven to be effective in anger reduction. A 2016 study shows clear physiological evidence of relaxation on participants who received meditation training prior to anger induction. And the beauty is that the effects were beneficial for both novice and experienced meditators. It has positive effects on anyone who practices.

Meditation has become more and more like food for me. At times it has been my literal nourishment. If I didn’t meditate first thing in the morning I would tend to eat more than usual, as if I were trying to fill myself with something, seeking the nourishment I had deprived myself of.

One of the hardest things with mediation is just having the consistency to see the difference between when you meditate and when you don’t. Meditation is the most valuable gift to cultivate in the self care department, if you ask me. It helps not only you, but everyone around you. What’s important to remember is that there is no one right way to do it, there are many. But whatever way you choose, make sure to stick with that technique for at east 90 days to see the change that happens. I’ve been doing a meditation practice for 35 years.

The Native elders of the last Sierra de Santa Marta in Colombia, shared this beautiful wisdom with me. They say that our thoughts are sacred, our words are sacred, and our actions are sacred. What that means is that they’re powerful and affect not only us, but our relationships as well. When we meditate, and basically take a shower from the inside out, we come from a pure, clean, clear, calm and serene place. That’s the energy that we spread out into the world, and how we bless everything and everyone around us. The trail and track we leave beind us is something beautiful, and more elevated. Meditation is the purification practice that drops us into our essence.