Our day-to-day existence is filled with problems. We may be struggling financially, trying to make ends meet. A day finally comes when we get a raise, only to find our car has broken down, and the extra money must go for repairs or for new car payments. When we settle that problem, someone in our family may fall ill. After a while, we begin to wonder if there will be a time in life when we can be free of problems. We may think we alone have been singled out for misfortune. But if we ask those around us, we find that everyone’s life is also filled with difficulties. It seems there is no end to problems.
We find that people undergo anxiety, fear, depression and phobias. Offices of psychiatrists, psychologists and therapists are filled with normal, everyday people who cannot cope with life’s struggles. They are unable to deal with their problems.
Stresses and tensions do not just affect our mind and emotions. Research has shown a connection between our mind and our body. Our mental state can cause stress-related illnesses. Studies have shown that when we are angry or emotionally upset, hormones are released in our body that prepare it for “fight or flight”. Since the norms in our society dictate that we deal with problems calmly and rationally, we tend not to “fight or take flight”, but face the situation, keeping our feelings bottled up inside. The result is that the hormones act on our physical body, causing stress-related diseases such as high blood pressure, heart disease, breathing problems, digestive disorders, headaches, muscle pain, skin rashes and other related problems. The solution is not necessarily to let out our anger in the form of fighting back or running away, for those reactions can create more problems for us in our relationships. We need to find some acceptable way to prevent the mental, emotional and physical effects of stress that are making us ill.
People are turning to meditation as a solution for the emotional and mental strains of life. Meditation has numerous benefits for our physical and mental well-being. It is safe, effective, and does not cost anything. The meditation process helps us on two levels. First, it helps us by bringing about physical relaxation. Second, it puts us in a state where we are absorbed in an enjoyable, blissful experience, and we become oblivious to the problems of the outer world. Through meditation, we can learn the art of life which can help us overcome life’s stresses and strains. We can discover a way to enjoy relaxation and tranquillity.
