Meditating Every Day Changed My Life | Meditation for Beginners

Summary

In this video, Vihan Chelliah shares his experience with meditation after initially being skeptical about its benefits. He highlights how incorporating a 15-minute meditation practice each morning helped him reduce stress, improve focus, and enhance his productivity. Despite challenges, Vihan emphasizes the importance of consistency, finding comfort during practice, and focusing on breath. He also mentions the neuroplastic benefits of meditation, including improved gray matter in areas of the brain responsible for self-discipline, learning, and empathy. Ultimately, Vihan views meditation as a powerful tool for personal growth and productivity, encouraging others to try it out.

Takeaways

• 😀 Meditation can be a game-changer, even for those who don’t initially believe in its benefits.
• 😀 Starting the day with meditation, even for just 15 minutes, can make you feel lighter and reduce stress and anxiety.
• 😀 Regular meditation improves focus, decision-making, and productivity, helping you make better choices throughout the day.
• 😀 Guided meditation apps like Headspace, Calm, and Waking Up with Sam Harris are great for beginners.
• 😀 The concern about losing drive or focus due to meditation can be mitigated by the grounding effect it provides.
• 😀 Meditation helps reduce anxiety and restlessness, fostering emotional stability and enhancing performance.
• 😀 Similar to training a muscle, meditation strengthens mental resilience, enabling better responses to emotional triggers.
• 😀 It’s normal for beginners to struggle with a wandering mind, but practice makes it easier to focus over time.
• 😀 Focusing on your breath during meditation is a useful technique to quiet the mind and center your thoughts.
• 😀 Comfort is key during meditation—sitting on a chair or couch is perfectly fine if sitting cross-legged doesn’t work for you.
• 😀 Meditation physically changes the brain, increasing grey matter in areas responsible for self-discipline, memory, and empathy, which boosts overall brain function.

Q & A

What was Vihan Chelliah's initial stance on meditation?

Vihan initially had a strong internal locus of control and felt he could manage everything without needing meditation. He didn't consider it beneficial for him, seeing it as something mainly for Vedics and hippies.

Why did Vihan decide to try meditation despite his previous doubts?

Vihan decided to give meditation a try because he wondered if he could sit still for a period of time and do nothing. He aimed to see if it would positively impact his life, especially his productivity and stress levels.

How did Vihan structure his daily meditation practice?

Vihan meditated every morning for 15 minutes after brushing his teeth, avoiding his phone beforehand to keep his mind clear. He also liked to light incense for a calming atmosphere.

What was one of the unexpected benefits Vihan experienced from meditating?

Vihan found that his performance improved, as he was able to make better decisions and maintain better focus, leading to increased productivity despite spending time doing nothing.

Which meditation apps did Vihan recommend for beginners?

Vihan recommended several apps, including Headspace, Calm, and Waking Up with Sam Harris. These apps provide guided sessions, instrumental music, and timers to help users integrate meditation into their routines.

What was Vihan's concern about meditation affecting his drive or edge?

Vihan was concerned that meditation might reduce his drive to accomplish his goals, especially because he has a lot of things he wants to achieve. However, he soon realized that meditation helped him to manage anxiety and restlessness.

How did Vihan describe the benefits of meditation in terms of emotional reaction?

Vihan viewed meditation as a way to train himself to be less emotionally reactive to triggers, comparing it to physical exercise. Meditation helped him handle more and respond better to situations, improving his emotional regulation.

What was Vihan's approach to dealing with a wandering mind during meditation?

Vihan acknowledged that his mind would often wander, thinking about tasks or past events. However, he learned that with practice, it became easier to focus, and one helpful technique was concentrating on his breath.

Why did Vihan suggest that people don't have to meditate on the floor?

Vihan shared that he found sitting on a chair or couch more comfortable than meditating on the floor in a cross-legged position. He emphasized that comfort and sitting upright were the most important aspects of meditation.

What scientific evidence supports the benefits of meditation that Vihan mentioned?

Vihan referenced a study by Sara Lazar from Harvard University that showed regular meditation can increase gray matter in the brain, particularly in areas responsible for self-discipline, memory, learning, empathy, and perspective.

What long-term benefits did Vihan hope to achieve from meditation?

Vihan hoped that meditation would help him become more productive and focused, allowing him to channel his energy toward essential tasks. He also aimed to continue his practice, eventually extending his sessions to see if longer sessions would make a bigger difference.

How does Vihan view meditation in relation to productivity?

Vihan views meditation as an essential component of productivity. By grounding and centering himself through meditation, he believes it helps him focus on what truly matters, which in turn saves time and energy.