My journey with meditation began in a time of great pain. In 2015, I was going through a divorce and mourning the loss of my step-father, who had been a father figure since I was seven.  

To add to that, I was feeling deeply frustrated with my career and moving back to Brazil after four years abroad, which felt quite overwhelming.

My life seemed to be crumbling in every aspect, and I reached such a level of despair that I felt completely numb.

It was during this turbulent time that my therapist recommended meditation as a way of coping with all these problems and losses, and it turned out to be one of the best suggestions she could have made.

Initially, I started with guided meditation because I was too anxious and distressed to sit in silence. I created a daily ritual, choosing the same room and time each day to make it easier for my mind to adapt.

Within a month, I became comfortable enough with the practice that I transitioned from relaxing music to complete silence.

That was such a relief!

For the first time, I found moments of peace and a sense of emotional safety, despite the chaos in my life.

From that point on, meditation became an integral part of my routine.

Over the past nine years, this practice has profoundly reshaped my life in ways I can hardly articulate.  I feel as though I am a different person now (in a positive way).

Now, instead of outlining the benefits I’ve gained, I’d like to share the things I’ve lost that have contributed to my growth.

Here’s what I mean:

1. **Hyper-focus on the external world** – Before meditation, I was constantly jumping between tasks and over-consuming social media content.

2. **The habit of neglecting my feelings, thoughts, and needs** – Meditation increased my awareness, allowing me to reconnect with my inner self and foster a much healthier relationship with it.

3. **A hyperractive mind** – As I practiced over the years, I found that the gaps between my thoughts expanded significantly—sometimes I even experience moments of not thinking at all. Initially unsettling, this empty mind now feels wonderfully relaxing.

4.**Self-diminishing thoughts** – With meditation, I came to recognize the harsh voice in my head. I began to actively challenge and deny these negative thoughts, eventually eliminating them after years of effort.

5. **Constant fearful ideas** – Meditation and other practices helped me let go of these fears.

6. **Creativity blocks** – The more I meditate, the better and faster I think and create things. It’s as if new areas of my brain have activated, providing me with increased energy and resources for my ideas.

7. **Brain fogginess** – Before meditation, my anxiety and racing thoughts overloaded me daily. Now, my thoughts are clearer and fewer, allowing me to end my days still feeling good.

8. **Sleeping problems** – My anxious mind used to rob me of restful sleep. Whenever I was worried about something (which happened all the time), it would keep me awake during the night, messing up with my following day.

Fortunately, these days of insomnia almost don’t happen anymore because I use deep breath techniques and positive inner dialogue to calm myself when I’m too focused on something during sleeping time.

9. **Low concentration** – As for creativity, my capacity to concentrate on something has considerably increased over time, and I can spend hours doing the same things as before I would have to take breaks every 20 min otherwise my mind would just disperse.

10. **Excessive emotional attachment** – One lesson I’ve learned after years of meditation is to recognize the dysfunctional nature of many of my thoughts and emotions. When a negative idea appears, I swiftly dismiss it to prevent it from turning into a habit or belief.

I won’t say that meditation alone created these benefits, as taking specific actions to address my issues was vital too.

However, this practice was the key that opened my eyes to the inner workings of my mind, making my moments of silence incredibly impactful for fostering positive change.

I highly recommend meditation to anyone seeking to improve their well-being or manage mental health challenges, like anxiety and depression, to give meditation a try.

*If you find it difficult to sit in silence due to anxiety or the weight of pain, start with guided meditation and transition to silent practice as you grow more comfortable.

Remember, meditating is simply about sitting quietly and observing your thoughts and feelings.

It does NOT mean you have to stop thinking.

Many people give up on meditation because they feel overwhelmed by racing thoughts. Don’t fall into that trap!

Achieving a quieter mind took me years, and that’s perfectly fine.  

The core benefits of meditation lie in “awareness” and “peace of mind.” You don’t need to have an empty mind to experience these.

So, approach it with patience and an open heart, and if you cultivate it as a daily habit, the transformation it brings will truly astonish you!

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