“Meditation is a process of lightening up, of trusting the basic goodness of what we have and who we are, and of realizing that any wisdom that exists, exists in what we already have. We can lead our life so as to become more awake to who we are and what we’re doing rather than trying to improve or change or get rid of who we are or what we’re doing. The key is to wake up, to become more alert, more inquisitive and curious about ourselves.” ~Pema Chodron
What do you do when you wake up in the morning? Let me guess. You probably get up because your obnoxious alarm went off. After snoozing it a couple of times until you finally get up and frantically get ready. The entire time you’re getting ready you’re probably on autopilot and dreading having to do anything.
Does this sound familiar? Well, don’t feel too bad. The truth is most people are guilty of following this routine day after day. Even I have fallen victim to just getting up and going through the motions.
The problem with this is that it doesn’t set your day up for success. The mindset you have in the morning is the key to taking charge of your day. If you’re not intentionally setting yourself up to have a good day you’re going to be stuck on autopilot even after the morning is over.
So what can you do help shift your attitude and become more intentional about your day?
The answer is simple. Meditate! Meditation isn’t just some trendy thing that celebrities practice.
The benefits of meditating are real, and if you don’t believe me just take a look at these 3 ways meditation can improve your life.
Say “Bye” to stress
It’s easy to fall into the trap of being stressed out, especially when you’re about to start your day. There’s so much to do, it’s easy to get caught up in the go, go, go.
What a lot of people don’t realize is that stress can be completely avoided when you make meditation a part of your morning ritual. By taking a little time out to focus and reflect you remind yourself that life isn’t that serious.
Put things in perspective
When you meditate you start to look at the world differently. The little things that used to worry you suddenly seem small. You develop more of an appreciation for life and begin to see things through the eyes of an observer.
Having this perspective will come in handy when something unexpected comes up or you’re trying to understand a situation. You will have an easier time navigating the ups and downs of life and stay grounded
by meditating when you wake up.
Increase your self-awareness
By improving your self-awareness you can develop a deeper understanding of yourself so you can identify your needs and desires. This is the basis of any kind of self-improvement.
When you’re able to reflect on yourself you can actually set goals and achieve them because you have a clear vision of what you want. Self-awareness will also improve your interactions with others and change how the world sees you since you’ll be more confident and secure.
So are you convinced yet? And remember, these are just 3 perks in a long list of benefits that meditation has to offer. Just taking 5 minutes in the morning to meditate is all you need. Try it for yourself and see what a difference it can make.
