Why would anyone want to meditate? I've been meditating and also guiding meditation for more than 15 years. It seems that there are two main reasons why people meditate!
First, people meditate in order to deal with their stress so that they become happier.
Whether you say you suffer from anxiety, anger issues, depression, negative thoughts, or frustrations, they are simply a different name for stress! When you can't really handle your stress, you can't be truly happy either.
Others might say that they want to improve their focus and concentration or want to be more present. Again, what stops us from being focused or being present? Simply thoughts in our mind, in this case, carrying unnecessary thoughts. Having these irrelevant thoughts as to what you are doing at that moment is called stress!
Through meditation, you actively remove those thoughts as well as the cause of those minds. There you will be able to deal with your stress much more effectively and have a calm mind, which means you can focus better and be more present in what you are doing.
The second most common reason that people meditate is to find answers within.
The answers to the core questions such as: Who am I? Why do I exist? What is this life about?
As we live, we become curious about who we really are and the reason and purpose of our existence at some point in our lives. When we were young, we may even attempt to create the answers by doing something or achieving things and think, "Yes! This is who I am!" But everything fades out with time. Whether it is fame or success, things change and when it is no longer how it once used to be, again, you are back to point zero.
Also, it is inevitable to experience someone's death or face our own aging issues as well as our own death. No matter how well you have been living, when someone close to you passes away or when you yourself have to face your own illness or death, you cannot not wonder what this life is about.
Why is there so much pain and suffering?
What is the point of putting in all these efforts only to die in the end?
is this all there is?
If there is heaven at the end, then, why don't we just die now and get to heaven quickly?
Whether you are consciously aware of these questions or push them aside as you feel you can't find the answers, they are the core questions we want to find answers to. Not knowing the answers is actually a huge stress as well.
So, for these reasons, people meditate and for these reasons, people must meditate!
Because there is no one who doesn't want to be happy. In order to be happy, we must be able to deal with our stress.
Also, we must find answers to who we are and what this life is about. Only then can live a life true to ourselves and live with a true purpose!
If you happen to come across this writing and it resonates with you, then, please share the post with your friends and families. If you are not sure where to start, please check the video and the article below to find the meditation centres near you!
Thank you!