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I have struggled to put myself first all my life and ensure that my needs are being met before I could help another person. When I served 20 years in the Air Force—the moto was service before self. It may have served a lot of people and especially the Air Force’s mission in grand style, but I have had to re-wire my brain to realize I am no good to anyone if I am not living a healthy and balanced life. These days, a lot of people depend on me and I am sure, that you may also have a lot of people depending on you, too.
When I was standing up to my workplace bullying and discrimination, six years ago, I was guilty of working too hard and not taking care of me. I paid a very high price for it too! I lost my balance and had to depend on the care of anti-anxiety and anti-depressant medicine, along with mental health expert support. I had no one to blame, but myself, but I learned quickly that it does not take long before you aren’t living your best life when you neglect your self-care.
So, I am a huge believer in the benefits of meditation. It’s one of the most relaxing modalities I use for my own self-care.
Here are some of the benefits of meditation:
1. Reduces Stress
Stress reduction is one of the most common reasons people try meditation. Normally, mental and physical stress cause increased levels of the stress hormone cortisol. This produces many of the harmful effects of stress, such as the release of inflammation-promoting chemicals called cytokines. These effects can disrupt sleep, promote depression and anxiety, increase blood pressure and contribute to fatigue and cloudy thinking.
https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/12-benefits-of-meditation#section13
2. Better sleep
I know that when I can relax and let go of the day’s stressors, that I have a more sound and deeper sleep. When I struggle to fall asleep or stay asleep—I knew I had not meditated that day. What a difference it can make to help you unwind.
3. Intuitive insights
I have never received the best insights or intuition when I am running around like a chicken with its head cut off. My intuition comes to me when I slow down and go within. In fact, it has never been wrong. Every single time that I received intuitive “hits”, they have been very accurate.
Because I was meditating.
Your mind can’t be racing with tons of thoughts about your day going wrong or about an unpleasant event that may be coming up for you. I encourage you to honor your well-being and self-care, by finding a modality like meditation to maintain balance and to feel well every day. It’s very addictive to feel good and we all deserve to be well!
For more information on well-being and workplace solutions, check out the blue box below.
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