How does Meditation = Happiness?

How does Meditation = Happiness?

That big H word is all the hype these days. I’ve read copious amounts of articles with various titles such as:

How to achieve Happiness

What happy people do everyday

Do these 10 things and you will be happy….. Really? It’s that easy? Happiness these days seems to come with an instruction book!

The word meditation is floating around loads as well, but this one I can vouch for. It’s effective. It deals with what’s real, what’s happening NOW. It strengthens the team effort between your mind & body, the best ‘business’ partners you will ever encounter. When we live in the past it brings on depression, the future brings on feelings of anxiety and stress, the present equates PEACE. I think it’s a no brainer as to where we all want to be….

Happiness is a work in progress, a life long journey that is sometimes present and sometimes not. Meditation teaches us to sit with that. Meditation allows us to sit with whatever we are feeling and to feel that emotion and every layer of it with open arms. I’m big on using visualization techniques, when I ‘sit’ I like to pretend I’m an astronaut discovering my ‘inner space’.

So how can meditation make you feel happier?

I’ve been meditating pretty regularly for 8 years now. On average I do 30 minutes / day. In saying all of this please keep in mind that everyone’s experiences are different. That’s what makes us who we are. That’s what makes us feel happy. Being true to you. Not striving for perfection, but honouring honesty. Connecting with who we are, how we feel and what we believe in. We follow all of those things to be sure we are living a life that sets our soul on fire, that feeds our passion.

Meditation heightens your instincts & helps you find more security within yourself and what you want for yourself. It makes you feel calm because you’ve given the mind & body some time to listen to what they’re saying & how they’re feeling. No distractions. Through meditation we discover ourselves by developing this intimate relationship between your mind & body. The breath is all about that connection. If there’s no breath there’s no relationship.

I was dumbfounded when researching the effects the mind has on our whole lives that Western science has only JUST starting studying the effects of the mind on the body 50 years ago. Ayurveda ( based on the idea Hindu tradition of balance in bodily systems and uses diet, herbal treatment, and yogic breathing) started their studies with the mind thousands of years ago. These ancient traditions stand strong & wise.

Many people have all of these ideals around the whole subject of meditation. All it’s about is being PRESENT. Sitting & committing to some silence and listening. Listening to all things PRESENT cause that’s where we find PEACE. You listen to the sounds around you, to your breath & to your body. You sit and LISTEN as if you were with your best mate. Ears wide open. This is a mindful meditation technique which is more practical and grounded, it’s very useful in our everyday lives. Most people’s lives have become so busy, so unconnected with the use of social media and the focus on where we’re going as opposed to where we are. The mindful meditation practice allows us to observe where we are and to learn to flow through life’s waves, finding a balance between the action & the stillness. The ironic thing in my experience of teaching meditation is that people find it the hardest thing to do, when all they have to do is NOTHING.

You can do 5 minutes/day, you can do it while waiting in a que. Make your time work for you. It’s part of the self care we need in this day & age. I can’t sell this technique, you have to find the courage to stick through the unravelling of the mind and come out the other end with more space & freedom. It has to be tried & tested.

“There’s so much noise in the world today that we’ve forgotten to hear the beautiful sound of silence”

 Presence brings peace….what are you choosing?

Thanks for taking the time to read, all the knowledge in the world means nuthin without practice….

Shanti, Shanti

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*Meditation mornings will be starting up @Lily Agius Gallery this coming Spring.

 For further information please email me: info@michellebartoloyoga.com