Meditation FAQ

Why do people meditate?

There are many reasons to meditate. The most common reasons are to relax, reduce stress, and feel happier. Other common reasons to meditate are to improve focus, concentration, and energy.

What is meditation?

Meditation is the act of turning your attention to something, and intentionally staying there.

What is mindfulness?

Mindfulness is a way of paying attention. When you are mindful, you notice what‘s happening around you, and how you feel.

Do I have to be religious to meditate?

No! Meditation can be a spiritual experience, but does not need to be religious in any way.

Is meditation for me?

The answer is different for everyone. There’s really nothing to lose, so you might as well give it a try. Reach out to us and tell us what you find!

Few reasons to meditate:

1. Understanding your pain

2. Lower your stress

3. Connect better

4. Improve focus

5. Reduce brain chatter

Mindfulness Meditation for Teens

Life is a lot more complicated for teenagers as they are not yet adults but adults. Many teenagers are balancing schoolwork, part-time jobs or projects, sports, and an active social life. They are budding adults performing as adults mentally and emotionally so teens are even more stressed out than adults. And it’s a growing problem.

Statistics show that there is a higher percentage of teenagers who experience stress, anxiety, depression, and suicidal thoughts than in the past. There are many different theories on why this is happening but regardless of the reason, it’s important that teenagers learn ways to effectively handle stress and anxiety. One of the most effective ways they can do this is through mindfulness meditation.

What is mindfulness meditation?

Practicing mindfulness means purposefully or intentionally filling the mind with something. You are choosing to focus on something. It could be your breathing, a phrase, a body part, or an image. The important part is that what you are focusing on is something that is going to help you relax along with calming your mind and body.

Mindfulness works because it helps you replace your stressful thoughts and anxiety with something positive. For example, if a teenager is stressed out about an upcoming test at school they may be able to think of little else. That means they may lose sleep over it, have a more difficult time studying, and lose enjoyment in other areas of their life.

Their mind is consumed with anxiety and stress over the test. You can tell them not to think about it, but that’s easier said than done. If they spend some time practicing mindfulness meditation they purposefully choose something calming to think about. Instead of trying “not” to think about something they purposefully think about something, which is much easier to do.

Here’s another example, if I tell you not to think about a big pink elephant with a green hat, what are you thinking about? A big pink elephant with a green hat. But, if you decide to think about a blue monkey instead, your mind will think about what you are choosing to focus on. The elephant might try to enter your mind, but you continue to think about the blue monkey which pushes out the thought of the elephant. That’s mindfulness in a sense.

Why Should Teenagers Learn Mindfulness Meditation?

While life is already complicated for teenagers, it’s not going to get easier on its own. As they go to bigger years of education it may feel like a challenge, but what follows tends to be more of a challenge. Students either transition to college or the workforce both of which include new environments, social settings, and responsibilities. Learning how to get stress and anxiety under control as a teenager will help set them up to make these transitions into adult life much smoother and easier than continuing on the path they are on.

Benefits of Mindfulness

• Improved sleep habits – Mindfulness can help students put their minds at rest and get a better night’s sleep.

• Improved attention span – Practicing mindfulness on a regular basis can help students improve their attention span. This helps them to pay attention better in class which can lead to improved grades.

• Reduced levels of anxiety – Learning to turn from negative thoughts and stress help students to lower their anxiety levels.

• Lowers the chance of substance abuse. Many teens with anxiety disorder turn to substances like alcohol and drugs in an effort to numb the stress that they are feeling. When they know healthy ways to handle anxiety, stress, and depression it reduces the chances of falling into this.

• Helps to regulate emotions – They are dealing with a new influx of hormones and it can make them feel like they are out of control along with other growing challenges. When they practice mindfulness they learn how to connect with themselves on a deeper level and gain control of their thoughts, emotions, and behaviours.

How to guide your Teen towards Mindfulness Meditation?

There are a few ways to encourage your teen to try practicing mindfulness. The first is to simply talk to them about it and the benefits that it offers. Get them in touch with our teen group so they interact and learn from the group on how they have benefited.

Don’t Wait for There to Be a Problem

Preventative measures are always better than waiting until there is a problem. Even if you don’t think that your teenager is dealing with stress, anxiety, or depression you should still guide them to learn to practice mindfulness meditation. Teens are dealing with more than we think they are, and many teens aren’t going to talk to their parents about what they are going through. So, don’t wait until you know there is a problem to teach them this effective tool that can help them navigate through the difficulties they face. And, if you feel that your teen is struggling, reach out to therapist @ Inner Light Wellness.