Why is Meditation Mind Set different from T.V Mind Set?
Taking time to go within supports us on so many levels, and yet sometimes it triggers feelings of guilt for people. The idea of taking time to sit in stillness to meditate can, in our goal orientated society carry with it inherent messages that its not important or it is not achieving anything and of course we always feel there is so much to do. Yet we ache for that feeling of personal connection and being quenched from the inside out
We are good at showing up to external relationships and commitments and yet struggle to gift ourselves time to meditate and connect with the relationship to ourselves or for some the Universal Life force too.
I have heard it say that T.V is just as relaxing and prompts the same brain waves. So why not just watch T.V?
Unfortunately sitting down and watching T.V does not count I’m afraid! Although this passive activity can be relaxing, depending on the chosen entertainment, it is stimulating our brains visual cortex. The body might feel relaxed and we might like the passive somewhat zoned out feelings, but the often complex narratives, trigger what’s called the “orientating response” which is linked to our survival instinct. This over stimulates the brain whilst also having numbing effect on our sense of vitality. After turning the T.V off there is a depletion of energy and concentration, albeit you may have some extra firings of endorphins been released.
Research has shown that reading, meditating, or gentle exercise does the opposite. These are known to encourage “Active Rest”. They increase your concentration and sense of mental clarity as well as allowing the brain to relax, without the stimulation caused by sharply edited visuals and stimulating sound effects that further trigger chemical releases from the brain and into the body.
Meditation deepens your relaxation state because the eyes are closed, breathing becomes deeper and the mind is being guided to hold a gentle focus on the essence of you, in each moment. This produces very palpable results afterwards of feeling disentangled from overthinking, calm and present with your energy.
Don’t get me wrong, I love a good cuddle up on the sofa with some T.V, just to relax and switch off, but I know that it won’t restore and calm me the same way meditation does. The intention behind sitting in stillness and recalibrating my breathing and mental focus, genuinely nourishes all other elements in my life, and improves my sleep.
It offers a very clear pathway for self-soothing and de-stressing whilst actively supporting the immune system. Meditation opens up and harnesses the connective highway between our brain and body, making us better equipped and resilient to life’s ups and downs, how we respond to them and how we approach things.
Join me on Mondays for a guided meditation and body relaxation of about 45 minutes and check out my schedule here. You can drop in whenever you feel like it as long as you have Zoom on your device you’re good to go.
Much Love
Charlotte Jane