Can Meditation Help Cure Mental Health?
You may call me a dreamer… am I the only one?
I generally don’t feel comfortable making guarantees when it comes to cures. I am 100% confident, however, that anything is possible when you are open to alternatives and focused on solutions. And in this case, I have a personal track record of success and a sound knowledge base to draw upon.
Meditation is one of the most accessible and straightforward tools that I know of that does both; offering a well-being alternative and providing a solution, while still being complementary to the majority of treatments and modalities. It does take practise and an open mind to perfect however… and that’s when the fun and improvement can really begin!
According to the medical definition of meditation on thefreedictionary.com, “Meditation is a practice of concentrated focus upon a sound, object, visualization, the breath, movement, or attention itself in order to increase awareness of the present moment, reduce stress, promote relaxation, and enhance personal and spiritual growth.”
So, that’s already quite a lot of benefits, don’t you think?
Even today, many of Western culture perceive meditation as doing nothing, wasting time that they believe they don’t have, something that is too woo-woo for them to do, or it’s some kind of a cult. And while it may have its roots in more spiritual doctrines and more modernly within the concept of mindfulness, meditation is very much a practical non-secular tool, that can and does support a sense of an easier and more fulfilled life in the real and busy world of today. It’s definitely, in my opinion, worth finding the time for.
“Half an hour’s meditation each day is essential, except when you are busy. Then a full hour is needed.” – Saint Francis de Sales
I feel meditation is a type of ‘Feng-Shui’ for the body, mind, and soul.
It helps to create a peaceful, calm and beneficial balance that creates a harmonious environment on the inside and outside. Many people only think of their health from a physical aspect. However, research now shows the link between body and mind. Consequently, it’s important to find a healthy ‘all-in-one’ body-mind-soul balance. Like meditation for instance!
The wonder of meditation, in my experience, is that it hones your focus inwards, and shuts out the distractions and business of outside world, often affording the body to still and experience a deep state of relaxation and awareness.
It’s an opportunity to experience and understand what the ‘no-thing’ is, and gives the brain a “timeout” actually allowing it to organise and integrate all of those daily thoughts.
It can also result in major improvements in people’s health, moods, vitality, and ability to heal. Not bad for ‘no-thing’ happening right? Quite the contrary, in fact!
Medical research recognizes stress as a major contributor, in some way or another, to most major modern diseases and mental health issues. Consequently, when you learn to contain, reduce and even eliminate the negative impact of stress in your life, this enables you to live healthier and calmer, physically and mentally.
In addition to the benefits already mentioned, regular meditation as a stand-alone practise offers extensive ways to improve and cultivate healing of the body, mind and soul in the following ways:
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improved memory and concentration.
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better and more positive moods.
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optimal immune system function.
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reduced blood pressure.
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better sleep and quality of sleep.
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increased creativity.
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soothes mental and emotional processes.
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affords the time for deeper subliminal integration of physical and mental processes.
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ability to visualise.
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less stress and more physical and emotional calmness.
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physical improvement of symptoms of fibromyalgia and psoriasis, HIV, etc.
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less reactive both mentally and emotionally.
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deepens your connection to yourself and intuition.
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relaxes, rejuvenates, and tones body and mind.
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enables easier access to deeper personal wisdom.
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activates an expansion of consciousness… and much more.
The paradox about meditation is that the experience itself is a state that lies beyond the linear mind. So, when it comes to healing or improving mental health, it’s important to not enter into meditation pushing towards getting over the issue at hand. Instead, enter a space of mindfulness and observing what is already there, without trying to change it… and then allow other possibilities to manifest.
Using the technique of visualisation, in this case, can be beneficial, as you are meditating with the awareness, images, and sensations of being healthy. This practice floods the subconscious with positive vibes of good health and well-being. The brain also has the time to only focus on one thing at a time and assesses everything as if it is happens. The ability to experience strong positive health and well-being, objectively, in a meditative state, is extremely powerful and the body and mind responds positively and organically.
A word of caution, however, when it comes to curing disease and the notion of healing. As humans, we have a physical body and usually focus on this more than the more invisible aspects of the psyche, emotions, and the soul. The ego-mind will have an image of what the resulting ‘cure’ looks like. However, on a soul-level, the solution that is ‘the cure’, can be quite a different kettle of fish, and also beyond any limits set by physical parameters. And sometimes, in the grand scheme of things, a cure does come in the form of death, when the body and soul are released from the dis-ease and physical, mental, and emotional pain.
Meditation is very effective in helping the ill to transition gracefully with the mental strength to accept their fate, making the transition more peaceful for all parties concerned, proving to be a calming force also when dealing with grief.
Meditation, in my experience, is about cultivating what I call the art of conscious detachment. It does so in a way that allows you to cure yourself of the burden of judgement and polarity thinking – regardless if something is right/wrong, good/bad, healthy/unhealthy etc. – living the experience fully and richly, whatever it may be. It’s what can make all the difference when it comes to living a great life, simply because it’s the one we have been given and we have the wisdom to know the difference.
You may call me a dreamer, and I’m not the only one! Meditation has helped me improve and fortify my mental health around issues of imperfection, impatience, and not feeling enough, time and time again, helping me become stronger, calmer, healthier and happier.
It has shown me that in the ‘no-thing’ there is ‘wholeness.’ That there is always a solution and cure – more often than not, it comes down to gaining access. In more ways than even acknowledged today by mainstream media, meditation can offer access to a world of infinite possibilities and well-being.
Don’t be led astray by misleading information and give it a go for yourself. As long-term meditation teaches, practise is perfection. And from where I stand, as far as cures go, that’s priceless and a valuable return on investment in your health and well-being. If it wasn’t for a long practice of meditation in my life, I would probably not have overcome my own mental health issues and be here to write about this amazing and natural ability.
Could meditation be a cure to mental health? Even if you don’t like the word – call it whatever you want, but give it a go for a while. Then you decide!
Here’s to your health and healing.
p.s. If you’re looking for a meditation audio to support your mental health, why not try this one I did -> I AM Alighment Meditation
Trilby Johnson is a Breakthrough Mentor and Medical Intuitive, Best-Selling Author and Speaker. Her clients hire her to stop struggling and feeling stuck in body, mind, emotion and soul and move beyond limitation into wisdom in their lives, relationships, finances, emotions, health, mindset and soul connection. Trilby assists in creating new energetic pathways that empowers and assists in resolving core issues.
Contact Trilby for a Breakthrough Assessment if you are ready for breakthrough beyond limitation into wisdom!
©Trilby Johnson. All Rights Reserved. Copyright Prohibited. Please share any part of this article with reference to this original blog.Disclaimer: Any information shared here is not a substitute or replacement of any medical, psychological, legal or financial advice.