Why Meditation Matters More Than Ever (and How It Can Change Your Life)
In today’s world, stress is constant. Many of us feel overwhelmed, restless, and disconnected from ourselves. Meditation offers a way back — a simple but profound practice that helps us feel more centred, content, and resilient.
🎧 Listen now: “Why Meditation Matters More Than Ever (and How It Can Change Your Life)”
Meditation has fascinated me for as long as I can remember. Especially the way that meditators from different religious backgrounds often described similar experiences. (I even dreamed of studying comparative religion.)
What finally got me started with my regular meditation practice was my travels in Asia. I was deeply impressed by how rituals and beliefs were woven seamlessly into daily life. So, I set my heart on Buddhist meditation. I loved the idea of mental stillness — and the strictness of sitting still for a long time.
But that was only as long as it was all in my head.
Because once I actually started, I was in agony after a couple of minutes. Sounds familiar?
Luckily, persistence is one of my qualities, and I was determined to succeed.
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Around that time, a colleague and friend wanted to try Yoga and asked me to join her for company and courage. Although this wasn’t exactly what I had in mind, I gave in.
You might guess where we ended up: yes, exactly, the Yoga school that eventually set me onto my path.
Apart from the physical side of Yoga, which was a godsend for my aching back, they also offered group meditation. It was slightly different from my original idea of meditation — not silent sitting, but chanting in a group environment. In my eyes, it wasn’t the "real deal." It took me quite a while to get over that.
Back then, I never thought about the aim of meditation; I just needed to do it, and it seemed to make people happier and more content. I had no idea about the depth of the subconscious mind, how behavioural patterns formed in childhood guide how we live as adults, or about energy and how we can raise it through meditation.
The philosophy of Yoga helped me to understand these deeper aspects. And although you don’t need to know the "why" to benefit from meditation, I found it deeply helpful.
Chitta vritti nirodha" — Yoga is when the mental activities cease. (Yoga Sutras I.1)
These mental activities — following likes and dislikes, unconscious behaviour patterns — stir the mind: we want this, dislike that, dwell on the past, wonder why life treats us unfairly, while others seem to sail through.
Meditation doesn’t mean "not thinking."
Most people I know expect that once they sit down to meditate, their mind will immediately become still. When it doesn't, they get frustrated and disheartened.
But it’s a little like telling a child not to throw a ball against a window. What do they do immediately? Exactly, throw the ball against the window.
Telling your mind not to think makes it think even more.
Observing this thought influx is the beginning of awareness.
In yoga, awareness means cultivating a sensitivity to what’s happening in the present moment — noticing thoughts, emotions, and physical sensations without judgment.
It's about becoming the kind and curious witness to your own experience, rather than trying to control it. By observing the breath, the body, and the mind without rushing to label anything as good or bad, we begin to understand ourselves more deeply, and over time, we build a quieter, steadier mind.
Meditation raises your awareness.
It shows you what’s happening inside your mind, consciously and subconsciously. It helps you see your patterns and learn to discern whether they are helpful or not.
How Meditation Works
To build awareness, we draw the senses inward. Why do we usually close our eyes during meditation?
Because our senses constantly connect us to the outside world. What we see or hear gives rise to memories and judgments, and pulls our attention away from the present moment.
By closing the eyes, we quiet the visual input. To stop the mind from wandering, we give it a focus: observing the breath, chanting a mantra, listening to a guided meditation, or walking mindfully.
Focus is essential because the mind moves so quickly that we don't even notice it has left the present moment.
Why We Need Meditation Today
So why should we go through this seemingly difficult process?
Because the aim of Yoga is stillness. Contentment. Clear decision-making. Feeling at one with ourselves.
A large meta-analysis of meditation research found that regular meditation practice, across different styles, including mantra, breath-based, and loving-kindness techniques, can significantly reduce anxiety, support emotional resilience, and enhance overall psychological well-being. (Sedlmeier et al., 2012).
In today’s world, stress levels are tremendous. Many people can’t sleep, digestion is disrupted, menstrual cycles are irregular, fertility is affected, and relationships suffer.
Most people are not happy with themselves or content with their lives.
Why?
Because there is too much input, especially unfiltered input, through the senses.
Constant screen usage brings endless stimulation through the eyes and ears. Our sense of taste is bombarded with instant gratification foods. We’re constantly chasing validation and distraction rather than tuning in to what we truly need.
We can’t turn back time. But we can learn to live wisely within the world we have created, and find real happiness and resilience within it.
Over 2000 years ago, Patanjali described this challenge in the Yoga Sutras, so it’s not a recent development.
He outlined eight limbs of yoga as a path toward lasting contentment:
Yamas (social, ethical disciplines): non-violence (ahimsa), truthfulness (satya), non-stealing (asteya), moderation (brahmacharya), and non-possessiveness (aparigraha).
Niyamas (self-disciplines): purity (saucha), contentment (santosha), self-discipline (tapas), self-study (svadhyaya), and surrender to a higher wisdom (Ishvarapranidhana).
Then follow asana (physical postures), pranayama (breath regulation), pratyahara (withdrawal of the senses), dharana (concentration), dhyana (meditation), and samadhi (absorption or oneness).
It’s not necessarily a linear path. All aspects can weave together into our lives at the same time.
While Patanjali mapped out a full eightfold path, the Bhagavad Gita offers an entire chapter on the transformative power of meditation itself — a path we can walk even amid busy modern lives
Meditation in the Bhagavad Gita
In Chapter 6, Krishna teaches Arjuna the importance of mastering the mind through meditation. He explains that true success in yoga comes from action and a deep, steady inner discipline. The real yogi acts without selfish attachment, sees all beings with compassion and equality, and remains balanced through success and failure.
Krishna describes meditation as a practice of steady focus: sitting quietly, in a clean place, with the body and mind still, the gaze gently focused, and thoughts directed toward the Divine. A person who practices regularly, without extremes of eating, sleeping, working, or even religious austerity, gradually quiets the restless mind and enters a state of peace.
Importantly, Krishna reassures Arjuna that even small efforts toward meditation are never wasted. Progress made in one life continues into the next. And among all yogis, Krishna says, the one devoted to him with a heart full of faith and love is the highest.
At its heart, Chapter 6 teaches that meditation is not about escaping the world, but about mastering oneself and living with compassion, balance, and inner freedom — no matter what life brings.
At its heart, Chapter 6 teaches that meditation is not about escaping the world, but about mastering oneself, living with compassion, balance, and inner freedom, no matter what life brings.
Befriending the Mind
Many of us know that meditation can quieten the mind and bring peace, but the Bhagavad Gita explains why it is essential.
Krishna reminds us:
Let people lift themselves by their own mind; let them not lower themselves. For the mind alone is the friend of the self, and the mind alone is the enemy of the self. (6.5)
Meditation is about befriending the mind, training it to uplift rather than sabotage us.
And yet, even the great Arjuna admitted how challenging it feels:
O Krishna, the system of yoga which You have described seems impractical and unattainable to me, because the mind is restless and unsteady. (6.33)
The mind is very restless, turbulent, strong, and stubborn, O Krishna. It seems to me that subduing it is more difficult than controlling the wind. (6.34)
Have you ever felt too distracted to sit quietly? You are not alone.
Meditation asks for patience, practice, and kindness toward ourselves. And in return, it offers deep inner freedom, a freedom no external achievement can match, because it doesn’t depend on external factors.
You might think, I don’t want to know all that about myself, I want to feel better.
And that’s absolutely okay.
Even Krishna acknowledges this in verse 6.44, saying that even a person who simply wants to learn and try Yoga gains clarity and growth, far beyond those who just go through the motions.
Finding Your Way In
A regular meditation practice has long been valued for its mental health benefits, from reducing stress to building emotional resilience and inner calm.
It brings natural contentment without spending money or chasing external validation.
The unhappiness and stresses of modern life often come from being pulled in every direction, disconnected from our own needs, desires, and inner knowing.
My teacher, Shri Balaji Tambe, used to say: "Be your own best friend. Enjoy your own company."
Circling back to the beginning:
I started my true meditation practice by listening to the chants of my teacher, learning to pronounce them, and learning to chant Aum. Over time, I realised it wasn’t a sing-along.
This meditation worked on my subconscious mind. It helped dissolve unhelpful patterns, taught me to accept myself, flaws and all, reminded me that I already have everything I need, raised my energy, answered my questions, made me more patient, and smoothed out the ups and downs of life.
Meditation helps us become better human beings.
P.S.:
If you are unsure where to start with meditation, try this one.
It’s my daily practice and the one we use at the end of our yoga sessions.
Refined over decades by my teacher to fit beautifully into our busy modern lives, it takes just 12 minutes.
You can listen to it here.
Now, I’d love to hear from you: Are you meditating? What’s your experience? Let’s chat in the comments!
Let’s start a conversation. Leave a message on Instagram, Facebook, or even a good old email OR comment below :)
I love hearing from you!
Katja x
P.S. Did you know that healthy eating habits are extremely beneficial for your progress in meditation?
