When we think of meditation, it’s not hard to think of the extremes. We might think of the yogi sitting still for hours on his boulder overlooking a great canyon. We might think our local yoga studio. We might think of hippies. We might not think this practice has any relevance to our life and the way we choose to live it.
But that’s not necessarily true. Take two versions of the same man, one who commits to getting in cardiovascular shape at the gym, and one who cares little for physical fitness. Perhaps they both have the same intrinsic worth, but we know who we’d think is actualizing themselves the most. The same goes for meditation.
Meditation is both a shower and workout for your mind. It is also something you have the potential to achieve at all hours of the day. Not only that, but aside from taking time from your day – it can actually add time. Meditation is worth it for men up and down the country, no matter their race, religion, creed, age, career, bank account balance, romantic success, or beard growth potential.
Let us consider why:
Meditation Takes Many Forms
We quite often think of meditation as something you can only achieve well should you have a shaved head, be sat in orange robes and have some kind of membership to a calming temple. While most of us would like to try that life for a few weeks to get away from everything, it’s not a practical reality for most of us. Luckily, meditation actually takes many forms, and to that extent you have many tools at your fingertips here.
For example, it might be that going for long walks, without listening to content on headphones, can help you zone in on the sounds of the park, and your mind will wander. It is a meditative activity through and through. It counts. Pay attention to your breath, and you’ll find yourself coming out of the walk feeling refreshed, now both physically AND mentally.
However, it might be that you wish to be a little more static in your meditation, perhaps a little more appreciative of the world around you. It could be that fishing is your main activity. Not only can this help you bond with people you fish with, but using excellent fishing flies, a comfortable chair, and nothing but your patience, you can find this to be the most comforting and meditative experience around. Those who say an experience like this, conducted regularly, isn’t character building simply hasn’t tried to experience it to begin with.
Meditation Reduces Stress
We all know that it’s a dog-eat-dog world out there. If you don’t know how to defend yourself and keep true to yourself, you can often find yourself being at the mercy of other people, even in little ways. This can also come if you’re regularly worn down, or unable to summon the energy to better yourself each day. This is where stress can be a real enemy. Stress not only leaves us feeling vulnerable, but ruins our sleep and positive outlook. If you do not feel positive, you have little to defend from an emotional perspective, and you’ll more easily have trouble.
Meditation is worthwhile for any man because it helps them melt their stresses. You have a healthy output to express your emotional baggage. Come out of a session of meditation, and you’ll feel more peaceful, and more connected to who you are. It will reduce brain fog, and also help you reflect on your situation quite considerably. This can all have a major positive effect on your general daily experience, and also help you become a much more likeable person – because you’ll be dealing with your stresses away from the social scene.
It Gives You Time
We stated earlier that meditation gives you time, and doesn’t take it away. When you hear of people taking part in half hour sessions of meditation each morning, you might wonder just how this is true. Well, perceptually, you will be more focused and observant. This can leave you feeling much more ‘aware’ in the everyday moment, allowing you to feel as though hours are longer and you feel less tired as they progress. In this manner, you’ll find that a meditative session in the morning actually helps you make the most of each and every day. Not much else, aside from exercise, can give you that.
With these tips, you’ll be much more interested in keeping a reliable meditation practice.
