As a life and career coach for women, my first and foremost responsibility is to provide a safe, confidential, and judgment-free space for my clients so they can unpack what’s going on for them without holding back anything. If you have ever had a session with me, you know that’s what you will hear from me before we get to the nitty-gritty of the session.
It might seem like a standard line, but it requires clarity of mind and emotional resilience.
My commitment to becoming a Master Coach carries a responsibility to ensure that these words are not just words but come from a place of deep practice and understanding of what it takes to create a safe and confidential space for my clients.
I learned that through my coaching training, sitting with other women in circles where the space was held for me, and daily meditation.
I recently reached 1,000 consecutive days of meditation, and even though I’ve been practising meditation for over 14 years ( and have done 2 10-day silent Vipassana retreats), these consecutive days have accumulated some great, life-changing benefits that can turn into significant benefits for the work I do with my clients and life in general.
Greater Emotional Resilience
Looking back on all my years of meditating, I recognise that I am definitely calmer and can keep my emotions in check when it comes to processing my feelings. I can also hold challenging emotions for my clients and those around me. This means that my clients open up as much as they need to access what creates challenges for them and stops them from moving forward with their lives.
Meditation works by lowering cortisol levels, the hormone responsible for stress. As a result, even in challenging situations, I’ve noticed that I’m more capable of staying calm and composed. It doesn’t mean that stressors disappear, but my response to them has changed. I’m no longer as easily overwhelmed by external circumstances. I can approach problems with a clearer mind and a more balanced perspective: I can step back and observe situations without a meltdown.
I can not only manage but also regulate my emotions better, and lower blood pressure benefits my heart, too. Meditation gave me a great sense of stillness and helped me calm my nervous system. This benefit rubs off on my clients.
Clarity of Thinking
Meditation doesn’t mean trying to get rid of your thoughts, and there is no such thing as perfect meditation. Meditation is the ability to sit with whatever is going on in your head and let go of any attachment to that.
Over the years of practice, my mind ( and senses) have sharpened, and I find it easier to see situations and challenges without getting attached to the outcome or having an emotional reaction to my thoughts or the fact that they keep coming back. What that means is that when my clients don’t have my own agenda, I meet them where they are and am their thinking partner. I help them figure out what’s happening for them without any expectations, getting to their truth and what truly matters to them.
Meditation is an invaluable practice for anyone looking to build emotional strength and stability. It offers a way to develop a deeper understanding of one’s emotions and equips one with the tools needed to handle whatever life throws one’s way.
Boosted Creativity
Daily meditation also had a profound impact on my creativity, opening up new pathways for innovative thinking and problem-solving. I’ve always been an out-of-the-box thinker, but meditation highlights my ability to see challenges from different perspectives and find solutions off the beaten path.
Meditation allows thought to flow more freely and intuitively by quieting the mind and reducing the mental clutter that often stifles creativity. Over time, this practice helped me tap into deeper levels of consciousness where unique and original ideas reside.
It significantly enhanced my creative abilities, helping me support my clients in navigating their personal and professional lives by asking better questions.
It creates a mental space where inspiration can flourish, leading to more imaginative solutions and a greater ability to approach challenges from fresh perspectives.
The journey of 1,000 days of daily meditation has been nothing short of transformative. Reducing stress, enhancing focus, and increasing emotional resilience are just some life-changing benefits I’ve experienced. While the journey hasn’t always been easy, the rewards have been worthwhile.
If you’re considering starting a meditation practice or looking to deepen an existing one, I encourage you to take that step. The benefits go far beyond the time spent sitting in silence—they bring greater peace, clarity, and resilience to every aspect of your life.
Do you have comments or questions about mediation?
Drop them under this post.
So true! This inspired me to make time to re-start my meditation practice.
Thanks for sharing Anna, I’d love to try some meditation with you next time we meet, the boosted creativity especially appeals!