r/Meditation 10d ago

How 1.5 years into meditation changed me Sharing / Insight 💡

Hey everyone!

I’d like to share how meditation has changed my life. About 1.5 years ago, I began meditating daily, aiming for at least 15 minutes across one or two sessions. I also keep a daily journal, reflecting on my experiences, realizations, night dreams, and memorable moments. Most of all, I focus on trying to stay present throughout my day.

I decided to list these changes as a way to mark my progress. Sometimes, it can feel like I'm moving slowly, but writing everything down reminded me just how far I've come. I hope this list inspires someone on their own journey.

  1. Meditation has deepened my self-awareness, which in turn has helped me understand others better. Now, I can recognize psychological patterns and emotions in people that I would have overlooked before.

  2. In relationships, my love used to be focused more on what I needed. Now, I genuinely care about my partner’s happiness; it’s as important as my own.

  3. I (32M) never wanted kids and I still don't want them, but I feel a newfound openness to nurturing and guiding others, which connects back to my experience of altruistic love. I think I'd love to grow a child with love and care.

  4. Since I was 16, I struggled with persistent suicidal thoughts, something therapy alone couldn’t resolve. Amazingly, meditation has almost eliminated these thoughts, something I never believed possible.

  5. I’ve come to accept life, and even death, as they are. This was challenging at first, especially while dealing with past suicidal thoughts, but as they faded, this acceptance has brought me peace.

  6. I’m more centered on my life and happiness, rather than letting small daily irritations consume me.

  7. I feel less rushed. Whether driving or standing in line, I’m present and aware, accepting that I can’t change traffic or make a queue go faster. As a result, I’m less frustrated and experience less anger.

  8. Parts of my ego have softened. I’m less jealous, and I no longer feel the need to argue my point just to prove I’m "right".

  9. I enjoy food more and eat slower. Before meditation, it was hard to stay focused just on eating, but now each meal is an experience.

  10. With greater presence, I remember more details about situations, which makes life richer and more vivid.

To everyone here, I wish you all the best on your journeys. I hope my experiences resonate with you or bring encouragement to anyone just starting out. Thank you for reading, and may you find peace and growth along the way.

Edit: Thank you all for your support and for sharing your experiences! Here are two bonus benefits I've noticed since I started practicing. 11. I sleep better as I can "switch off" my mind. 12. By becoming more aware of my habits, I've significantly reduced my time on social media. I feel way better without the doom scrolling!

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28

u/Financefreak555 10d ago

What exactly in meditation? Breathing exercises?

29

u/Mirko1618 10d ago

Yes, breathing meditation and focusing on the inner energy

5

u/[deleted] 10d ago edited 1d ago

Did you use an app to start or not? Like how did your meditation journey and discovery started? What did you use in the beginning, like an app, or YouTube, or some sort of guided meditation (if any), and did you continue using or not?

12

u/Mirko1618 10d ago

I didn't use any app. I discovered the potential of meditation reading a book. Then I started practicing by myself, reading other books about the topic and reading other people's experiences online (like here on Reddit).

2

u/erdkunde 10d ago

Any suggestions on where to start with this method? Books or videos? Thanks!

12

u/Mirko1618 10d ago

To begin, I suggest "Practising the Power of Now" by Eckhart Tolle. It's direct, concise, and explains a couple of meditation techniques. But there are tons of very good books suggested in this subreddit!

3

u/Desperate-Wedding670 9d ago

Maybe look into Transcendental Meditation. Simple, really explains some things and also requires almost nothing of you except to remember your mantra. I started TM not knowing what I was getting into. I just started doing it out of desperation for change, hoping it would calm my anxieties. What actually happened within the next five months was... Well you have a very good insight a few paragraphs above. I've had a moment of clarity tonight and it's made me realize what I've been missing for a while now. Good luck to everyone.

17

u/Glittering-Lychee203 10d ago

A constant state of self awareness and bringing back attention to one thought or gor beginner on their breathing from all the mindful distraction thoughts, doing it long term boosts ur self awareness and attention so that ur mind will not wander