Welcome to the series “I encourage you to” which basically means— there’s lots of reasons why I wish I could tell you you SHOULD or NEED to do this, but that’s not how autonomy works, so instead I will just politely (with capitalization for strong emphasis) encourage you to do some skill. In this post we’re discussing meditation.

How Meditation Helps You Stay Emotionally Stable and Boosts Your Physical Health

In today’s fast-paced world, emotional stability can feel like a distant goal. But what if there were a simple practice that could help you stay calm, manage stress, and even improve your physical health? THERE IS!!! It’s called meditation. Or mindfulness. Or breathwork.

Meditation for Emotional Stability

1. Mindfulness Boosts Self-Awareness

Meditation is all about mindfulness—being fully present in the moment and observing your thoughts and emotions without judgment. This helps you become more aware of your feelings as they arise, giving you the chance to address them before they spiral out of control. Over time, this practice makes it easier to manage emotions like anger, stress, or sadness. Basically you start by slowing down enough that you actually realize what thoughts you have, then you practice putting space in between a situation, your thoughts, and the reaction you have outwardly.

2. Regulates Emotions

Regular meditation helps train your brain to handle emotional ups and downs with more ease. Meditation has been shown to reduce the activity in the amygdala, the part of your brain that triggers the fight-or-flight response. When you meditate, you improve your ability to stay calm, even when things get stressful, making it easier to stay emotionally balanced. Meditation has really helped me realize that when I get overwhelmed I need to literally take a deep breath in and hold it and think long enough that I can decide what my next move is going to be. Hopefully it’s doing more breathing, or switching activities, or doing a guided meditation, or calmly responding, but of course that is not always the case.

3. Reduces Stress and Anxiety

Meditation helps lower the levels of cortisol (cortisol is meant to be higher at certain times of the day- I know people are on the bandwagon right now that we need to lower our cortisol at all times, but that is too simplistic of an answer), the body’s primary stress hormone. This leads to a reduction in stress and anxiety, helping you feel more relaxed and at ease. Over time, consistent meditation practice can lower the frequency and intensity of anxiety or stress, making you feel more grounded and stable. And as some of my favorite meditation teachers have stated “your breath is the one thing that is always with you” and I love skills/tools that are accessible anywhere anytime for anyone, at least as much as possible.

4. Increases Compassion

Meditation encourages self-compassion and empathy, both of which are key to emotional stability. When you’re kind to yourself, you’re less likely to get overwhelmed by negative emotions like guilt or self-doubt. Additionally, meditation helps you relate better to others, strengthening relationships and providing emotional support in tough times. A client of mine previously told me that meditation helped them in areas that they didn’t necessarily know they needed help in, including increased body acceptance. I repeat: when I am able to be reminded or to remind myself to pause and be mindful and breathe. I am a much better human.

Physical Health Benefits of Meditation

1. Lowers Blood Pressure

Meditation has been shown to help lower blood pressure by calming the body’s stress response. With regular practice, you can help reduce strain on your heart and improve cardiovascular health, which also leads to better emotional well-being. Most people know that having a healthy blood pressure level is important, whether your blood pressure is high situationally or genetically or because of lifestyle. It is still extremely important to keep at a healthy level. And if someone can help me get this message across to my husband, so he will meditate, that would be great. 🤣

2. Boosts Immune Function

Stress weakens the immune system, making you more prone to illness. Meditation helps reduce stress, which in turn strengthens your immune system, helping you stay healthy and better able to handle emotional challenges. We’re just going to have to believe the science on this one.

3. Improves Sleep

Stress and anxiety can make it hard to sleep, which then affects your mood and emotional stability. Meditation helps calm your mind and prepare your body for rest, improving the quality of your sleep and contributing to a more balanced emotional state. Some people love to meditate in the morning. They find it energizes them, however, for the last 3+ years I have meditated nightly before bed and it is a staple for me now. I think it’s what tells my mind “OK remember the rest of the day is over now”. I do meditate in the mornings or afternoons or evening in addition to nightly, but that is not my regular routine.

4. Reduces Pain

Chronic pain can lead to emotional stress, but meditation can help by reducing the perception of pain. Studies show that mindfulness and meditation can lower the intensity of pain, allowing you to manage discomfort without letting it take an emotional toll. Meditations often include body scans, and that can be very helpful in identifying where you actually have pain and if there’s something you can do about it- like change your body mechanics, etc.. Meditation also helps with radical acceptance in that if you have chronic pain, you will be in pain no matter what, so you might as well do something to take your mind off of it instead of just sitting there ruminating.

5. Boosts Brain Health

Meditation helps promote neuroplasticity, which is the brain’s ability to form new neural connections. This leads to improvements in memory, decision-making, and emotional regulation—helping you stay mentally sharp and emotionally stable as you age. Neuroplastic city is something that we want to continue until the day we die.

Conclusion: A Simple Way to Improve Your Life

Meditation isn’t just for relaxation—it’s a powerful tool for building emotional resilience and improving physical health. By helping you manage stress, regulate your emotions, and stay connected to your body, meditation can lead to a more balanced, healthy life. Whether you’re new to the practice or have been meditating for years, it’s a simple yet effective way to boost your overall well-being, one breath at a time.

I use Peloton meditation each night because I like guided meditations as they help me stay focused and also are kind of like manifestations at the same time. If I feel upset, I will choose a meditation that is calming or acceptance, etc. so that I can try and bring that to fruition.

I also use the quantum method membership during the day when I’m out on walks, or if I need something while I ride on the elevator, something like that because there’s a lot of quick ones there.