Blog: Meditation for Mental Clarity
Most of us know we ‘should’ meditate…just like we should do more exercise, we should drink less coffee, we should get more sleep etc. But why should we meditate? What makes this simple, but not often easy, practice so beneficial?
Jack Canfield, a world-renowned transformational speaker and trainer, and highly successful businessman, explains:
“Learning how to meditate can help you to achieve success faster, because when your mind is clear and focused, and your body is relaxed and calm, you can access information, both internal and external, that can help you make better decisions.”
The issue we are facing (a problem especially faced by entrepreneurs & high growth business leaders) is that our minds are massively over stimulated. This over stimulation is a natural result of our busy, modern lives: diaries packed with meetings and deadlines, constant travel and ongoing pressure to succeed, in all areas of life. The result is our nervous systems are often overwhelmed which can lead to brain fog, decision fatigue, a narrowing of focus, lack of creative thinking…the list goes on.
“Too much stimulation of the nervous system causes stress, and the stress hormone cortisol kills brain cells and leads to cognitive decline.”
How do we remedy this situation? We need to find a way to reduce the over stimulation, and stress, by calming and quieting the mental processes, the racing thoughts and the constant demand of To-Do Lists. This is where meditation comes in.
During meditation you are focusing on one thing, so everything else starts to drop away. You create a little more space between each thought, you relax your body, and relax your thinking mind, allowing a feeling of peace and calm to develop.
Some of the benefits of meditation, according to the evidence-based website Healthline.com, are:
- Reduces stress
- Enhances self-awareness
- Lengthens attention span
- Improves sleep
- Controls anxiety
All the above benefits can clearly lead to increased mental clarity, and therefore increased effectiveness and success at work. However, many people still have a lot of resistance when it comes to committing to a meditation practice. Some think it’s a bit ‘woo-woo’ and others find it very challenging to develop the concentration required to meditate and get put off.
Like all new habits, start small and build up slowly. We recommend starting with a 2 – 5 minute guided meditation on a daily basis, it’s easy to fit into your schedule and doesn’t feel too overwhelming. Over time you can build up to 10 and then 15 minutes per day, ideally first thing in the morning and/ or last thing at night. Guided meditations help you to learn how to meditate, and once you feel confident to try it on your own a simple and effective method is: to sit upright on a chair or on the floor, close your eyes, bring your awareness to your breath and each time your mind wanders off, bring it back to focus on the inhale & exhale of your breath.
Peter, President of Global Sales, shares his experience with meditation at The London Meditation Centre:
“As a fully paid up member of the ‘cynics club’ I have to admit that I didn’t know what to expect, but loved the fact…(that) meditation can become an essential part of people’s busy and demanding lives. Overall, I am more productive in both my home and work life.”
You have absolutely nothing to lose by making meditation part of your essential morning routine, and a huge amount to gain, including maximising your mental clarity at work.
Published Oct 8th 2019
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