The simple fact is that the human brain is a very, very busy little organ. Its primary job is to keep you safe and alive, and that means being alert at all times and paying attention to a million things at once. As a result, focusing on only one thing at a time, as you typically do in meditation, is an extremely tough ask.
But it’s also why meditation is so valuable to our wellbeing, especially in terms of reducing stress levels. Because the brain is working so hard all the time, we don’t tend to process things in the most efficient way. For some of us, this means we simply don’t take in information, and perhaps forget to do important things as a result.
We also get caught in mental traps and habits, and we end up massively overthinking things. If you’ve ever found yourself replaying a conversation in your head over and over again, then you know how exhausting and anxiety inducing it is when you can’t let go of worries.
All of this is a very tiring process for the brain, and the body, and we end up feeling anxious and stressed, even when there’s no immediate reason to be.
The power of meditation is that it helps create some much needed peace and quiet in our minds, and encourages us to focus on something other than our recurring worries. And while it’s definitely not easy, it can be extremely beneficial.