Like most parents, there’s a good chance you’ve experienced something similar to what we described in a previous article here on ParentWonder. While being a parent can be a wonderful thing, it’s also stressful, especially due to the fact you’re most likely handling numerous responsibilities on a daily basis.
With that in mind, it’s not surprising that various forms of relaxation techniques are becoming popular among parents. Transcendental meditation is one popular trend being lauded as a solution to help you regain your peace of mind and take back control over your wellbeing.
WebMD defined transcendental meditation, sometimes referred to as simply TM, as the practice in which a person silently utters a mantra repeatedly within a certain time period, while keeping their eyes closed. According to practitioners, this helps you achieve proper focus, while learning how to achieve stillness and stability.
There is increasing empirical evidence that TM can actually result in a variety of health benefits. An article on the Huffington Post talks about some of the effects, which includes lower blood pressure, increased insulin resistance, and a lower risk of having a heart attack or stroke. The practice has also been proven to bring about several psychological benefits too, including reduced stress and anxiety, better management of emotions, improved memory, and even aiding self-realisation.
Due to its numerous benefits, TM attracts all sorts of practitioners from all walks of life. The most notable of which are high profile actors and actresses who find that TM helps provide balance to their hectic lifestyle. Take for instance David Lynch who is known for his surrealist films. The American director even created the David Lynch Foundation to support the teachings of transcendental meditation to anyone who is compelled to try TM for the first time.
In an interview with Los Angeles Times, the filmmaker attributed stress as the culprit behind a variety of illnesses and problems, and explained that TM can actually help manage the condition so you become calmer and more open to new experiences. He even said that transcendental meditation can help unlock creativity. The director stated, “You want more ideas, you want more energy to do the work and more happiness in the doing – where are all of these things? They are within… I think ideas are out there and you catch them like how you catch fish.” He continued, “The more consciousness you have, the deeper you can catch those ideas.”
Heather Graham, who was introduced to TM by Lynch when they were working on Twin Peaks, credited the meditation technique for helping her manage her anxiety. She admitted in a Today interview that she suffers from anxiety, and credited TM for helping her keep her thoughts in check. She said, “I’m kinda high-strung, so it’s easy to get anxious. But TM calms you down. It helps you find that peaceful place inside yourself – so whenever your life is going a bit crazy, it reminds you how to be really centred.” The starlet, who is the new face of the popular online community Foxy Bingo, pairs TM with yoga to help her manage her stress and allow her to balance both her personal and professional activities more effectively.
While it can be difficult to squeeze meditation into your busy schedule, it’s crucial that you take the time to do it or another similar ritual for your own peace of mind and wellbeing. In another article here on ParentWonder, we talked about the importance of spending time by yourself to help you de-stress and replenish your vitality so you can provide better care for your loved ones, too. If your schedule is full to the brim, remember what we said in ’38 Life Lessons I’ve Learned in 38 Years’: any activity can be a form of meditation if we focus on the things we are doing at the moment, instead of getting distracted about what happened in the past or the prospects of the future.
