DE-STRESSING THE MIND THROUGH MEDITATION: USING AN ANCIENT ART TO LIVE A BETTER, MODERN LIFE

Ogieriakhi Favour Etinosa
STRESS, that six lettered word, happens to the best of us, to the solemn priest ushering in the very words of God, or the seemingly all-knowing bibliophile. The burden is heavier even with anxiety, and many are bedridden by panic attacks, depression, worrisome thoughts, and cluttered minds. Dr. Olabode Shabi, chairman of the Society of Family Physicians of Nigeria, Ado-Ekiti, stated in a lecture that about seven million Nigerians suffer from mental health problems due to the immense distress that accompanies just being a Nigerian whether it be the six digit earner, or the Nigerian student bubbling with dreams.
Stress is the body’s natural response to demanding situations. You become more alert, active, and engaged when stressed out. This is normal and often helpful in keeping up with deadlines, or as a protective measure in times of danger. But when stress levels linger on for hours, days, and even months due to more pressing situations, it becomes an emotional and physical burden that could breed fatal ailments such as depression, diabetes, and high blood pressure.
It is no doubt that public tertiary education in Nigeria is underfunded, and merely teeters on past success. As a Nigerian student, your admittance into a tertiary institution is a fierce battle, and afterwards, if the heavens smile upon you, comes the struggle with strike actions, poor hostel conditions, heartbreaking results, and tight deadlines. Being a student in Nigeria is stressful, now add the UI factor. The future after university life is uncertain, and many students slip into despair.
Fortunately for us, though stress pervades every essence of our lives as students, there are many ways we can attempt to blot out, if not entirely, the shackles of such an emotional and physical predicament. One of such means is meditation.
Meditation is an ancient practice that originated in India thousands of years ago in many ancient religious traditions. The word, thanks to Hollywood, conjures many images: a Buddhist secluded in some distant cave, a bald-headed, levitating mind-reader, or some religious zealot caught in an eternal fast. Though many religions such as Buddhism, Judaism, and Christianity infuse meditation into their practices, it has developed independently of them, and can be practiced by anyone, anywhere, for the sake of its immense health benefits. A simple five minute meditation at the start and end of your day can reduce brain chatter, improve focus, and ultimately lower your stress. In fact, many therapeutic programs, such as the Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) program, employ meditative techniques for the treatment of diverse mental and physical ailments. This proves just how useful this art can be.
Meditating involves awareness and focused attention. During the bustle of daily life, we are often caught unawares by the myriad of events that occur, with our lives simply happening to us. An unreasonably low test score can cast us into a terrifying fit of rage, or an impending examination, overwhelm us with fear. These emotions, these thoughts, place stress on our mental and physical health that so often we complain of body aches, sleep problems, muscle pains, chest pains, and tackle demons which may not even exist. Studying in such conditions is often impossible and many students perform below their potential. However, with meditation, you can put your mind under control, and learn to be aware of your emotions, and ultimately ‘de-stress’. Barrie Davenport, in her book, Declutter Your Mind states that by meditating at intervals throughout her day, she has been able to relax, and better manage stressful situations. Meditation has also helped her become more focused and productive in her work. By following the simple steps outlined below, you, just like Barrie, can learn to do the same.
- Take a seat in a quiet spot, and ensure you’re comfortable.
- Become conscious of your breathing. Listen to it; feel it.
- Keep your mind focused on this act of breathing, and ensure it is done slowly and peacefully.
- You are gathering your stressed and disturbed mind and teaching it to be calm.
- Your mind may wander. You may stumble upon some thoughts you find disturbing, but instead of playing judge, you simply guide your mind from this chatter of thoughts, calm it down, and focus on your breathing.
This simple act practiced daily, has been proven by the University of Washington to increase productivity, promote focus, and boost mental health. Similar studies published in Brain Research Bulletin also claim that meditation can decrease stress. You could repeat a mantra – a prayer if you are religious, or a random word if you are not. You could also meditate by lying down, sitting, walking, or while listening to music. With whatever technique or style, you choose, you can enjoy the therapeutic benefits of meditation, and lower the impact of that six lettered word in your daily life.
So, Dear Student, are you stressed out? Overwhelmed? Or just plain old exhausted? Well, just sit back, relax, and breathe. It’s that easy.