Opinion: Does Meditation Actually Work?

What is Meditation?

Meditation, an ancient practice dating back thousands of years, initially aimed to delve into the mysteries of life’s sacred and mystical aspects. Nowadays, it predominantly serves as a tool for relaxation and stress reduction. Engaging in meditations fosters a profound sense of tranquillity, serenity, and equilibrium, nurturing both emotional stability and overall health. 

By directing focus towards calming elements, individuals can effectively manage stress and unwind. The practice facilitates the cultivation of inner peace and emotional resilience. Additionally, meditation boasts a plethora of benefits, including enhancing emotional and physical well-being and alleviating stress-related medical conditions like anxiety. 

Types of Meditation

• Guided meditation (guided imagery or visualisation): Mental images of calming places or objects to induce relaxation, engaging multiple senses, often led by a teacher. 
• Mantra meditation: Repetition of a calming word, phrase, or thought to prevent instructive thoughts. 
• Mindfulness meditation: Focusing on present awareness, typically on the breath, observing thoughts and emotions without judgement. 
• Qigong: A practice rooted in Chinese medicine. It integrates meditation, relaxation, movement, and breathing exercises to restore balance. 
• Tai chi (TIE-CHEE): Gentle martial arts practice with slow, graceful movements and deep breathing to enhance balance and focus. 
• Yoga: Controlled breathing with postures to promote physical flexibility and mental tranquillity, fostering concentration on the present moment.

Pause Practice

Embracing the concept of “Practice the Pause,” popularised by American author Lori Deschene, entails a valuable skill in momentarily halting reactions, speech, or actions. It’s a deliberate pause amid life’s events, allowing for reflection before responding. 

Amidst the normal stress of daily life, our minds become inundated with emotions, disrupting focus and including pressure. Taking a pause reinstates a sense of calm, restoring control over the situation. However, mastering the art of pausing isn’t always easy; it’s akin to briefly stepping off a fast-moving train before resuming its pace. 

While the pause may offer fleeting moments of stability, maintaining its effects requires ongoing mindfulness and practice.

Does it Actually Work?

As a nursing student, we are prepped for the hyper-dynamic environment of different clinical settings. In our main lab for learning skills within our scope of practice, we have a pause practice in the first 5 minutes of class. In this pause practice, our teacher guides us through a mindful meditation session where we all stop moving and pay attention to our breathing, cast away our thoughts, and pay attention to the sensations we are experiencing. This practice helps us to center ourselves amidst the hustle and bustle of rigorous academic pursuits. Intuitively, I found the idea of pausing and mediating silly. Closing my eyes for meditation evoked a sense of giggly discomfort. However, as I persisted, I began to appreciate the significance of this daily pause. 

It serves as a deliberate interruption from the intensity of note-taking and studying, allowing me to recalibrate and approach lab tasks with renewed clarity and focus. Moreover, it acts as a refreshing interlude, cleansing my mental palate and preparing me to absorb the new knowledge presented in each class.

These moments of stillness provide a sanctuary in the midst of our demanding curriculum, fostering resilience and enhancing our ability to provide compassionate care in the future.