The Power of Healing Through Meditation

My earliest memory of meditation was in the form of a gift from my Aunt Maureen. She was on a visit back East from Arizona and brought me a homemade tape recording of a rainbow meditation made by her friend. I remember laying in bed with my headphones on, pressing play, closing my eyes and becoming completely entranced by the experience. I was probably around 11 years old at the time and it completely changed me. The ability to disconnect from the world, go inward, focus on pulling the colors from the rainbow one by one from a ball of light and letting each color wash over my body was like the ultimate escape, and it calmed me. I used this meditation so often as a young person. I still think of it to this day, even at this stage in my practice. 

It’s such a beautiful thing to step back and appreciate these moments from our past that inform our life. I keep digging for these moments like little treasures so I can understand myself better and follow the messages. Being guided towards meditation was clear, only I didn’t fully realize it until recently. 

Meditation has helped me though the best times in my life and through the most difficult. Lately I’ve been healing some parts of my past that revealed themselves to me as necessary to work through and let go of. When these types of memories come up they can be extremely challenging to sit through without numbing. But as we know, numbing doesn’t work, it only delays what needs attention. So what do we do? Accept them, face them, process them and release them with love so we can be more free. 

In a world that often pulls us in many directions & distracts us, meditation offers a way to come back home to ourselves. It is more than just a practice of stillness - it is truly a gateway to our healing, a way to reset the nervous system, process emotions, and listen to your inner knowing. When we meditate, we create space for our minds and bodies to repair, restoring balance in ways we may not even realize. 

How Meditation Heals:

Regulates the Nervous System

Chronic stress keeps us in fight-or flight mode, depleting our energy and weakening our immune system. Meditation activates the parasympathetic nervous system, shifting us into rest-and-digest mode, where deep healing occurs. 

Releases Stored Emotions 

Unprocessed emotions can get trapped in the body, manifesting as tension, anxiety, or even physical pain. Through meditation, we create a safe space for these emotions to surface, allowing us to feel and release them with compassion.

Reduces Inflammation and Supports Physical Healing

Scientific studies show that meditation lowers cortisol levels, reduces inflammation, and even enhances cellular repair. When we slow down and breathe deeply, we send signals to our body that it is safe, allowing natural healing mechanisms to take over. 

Shifts Negative Thought Pattens

Many of us operate on autopilot, replaying limiting beliefs and anxious thoughts. Meditation helps us observe these patterns with awareness, creating space to reframe and rewire our mindset toward clarity and self-compassion. 

Deepens Intuition and Self-Trust 

When we quiet the external noise, we hear the whispers of our soul and own inner wisdom. Meditation connects us to our intuition, helping us navigate life from a place of trust and alignment. 

This practice has transformed me and propelled the healing of my heart and made space for more of the life I want. If you are curious to go deeper with yourself in this way, I encourage you to do so. It can be small and still be profoundly impactful. The most important thing is to maintain consistency - whether that’s 2 minutes per day or 10 or 20. It’s never too late to begin!

I am eternally grateful to my Aunt for providing me the key to exploring my inner being in this way when I was a kid. Looking back now, she was a special guide for me in many ways. She signified independence, knew about the finer things in life, traveled internationally and had an incredible way with people. I was drawn to how big her world seemed in relation to my suburban upbringing. I have since discovered that the true way to have a big life is to go deep within our vast inner resources and create one from that place. That is where we can find the real magic. 

If you are looking for some guidance to begin a meditation practice of your own, here are some simple ways to start. 

1. Start Small

Begin with just 2-5 minutes a day. You can increase the time as you get comfortable or feel a desire to go longer. 

2. Choose a Quiet Space

Find a calm, comfortable spot where you won’t be distracted or disturbed. This could be a cozy corner in your home or a peaceful outdoor setting. 

3. Focus on Your Breath

A simple way to meditate is to pay attention to your breath - inhale deeply, exhale slowly, and observe the rhythm of your breathing. When you find yourself getting lost in thought, simply come back to the breath without judgement. 

4. Use a Guided Meditation 

Apps or YouTube videos can help guide you, especially if you find it overwhelming to sit without the guidance. I love Insight Timer and the Waking Up App. 

5. Incorporate Meditation Into Your Routine

Link meditation to an existing habit, like after waking up or following your morning cup of coffee. This will help keep you consistent and make meditating become automatic. 

6. Ritualize It

Before or after meditating, light a candle, burn some palo santo, or take a moment to tap into simple gratitudes or set intentions for the day. Make it feel good.