How Meditation Will Change Your Life

Notice how I said “WILL” change your life—not can.

I haven’t missed a single day of meditation in six months. In the last nine months, I’ve spent 86 hours of my life meditating. That’s almost four whole days sitting with my eyes closed, paying attention to my breath and all that. Once, I even did five formal meditation sessions in one day. Another time, I sat for over an hour in complete silence.

One day, I hope to attend a multi-day or even week-long meditation retreat—the kind where you meditate all day, immerse yourself in nature, and, well, you know the ones. We’ve all heard about them.

But here’s the thing—none of this happened by accident.

Starting to meditate—like actually meditate—committing to a daily practice, and sitting for longer than three to five minutes has single-handedly (well, along with my therapist) changed my entire life for the better. And that's why I'll never stop.

Hitting Rock Bottom

Back in May 2024, I hit rock bottom.

Like, truly hit rock bottom.

I had been forced to quit my job a few months earlier. My mental health was in shambles, making it impossible to find a new one. I decided to sit for a board exam—and failed. On top of that, I began processing deep-seated childhood trauma, moved back in with my parents, and was suddenly in a long-distance relationship with my boyfriend.

Maybe that doesn’t sound that bad to some people. But to me, it felt like my entire world was collapsing.

I reached a point where my depression was so bad I couldn’t even lift my pinkie. My anxiety was so crippling I couldn’t be left alone.

But this isn’t a sob story. This isn’t about that one time I went through something hard.

This is about how meditation pulled me out of it—and how it will change your life too.

How Meditation Changed My Life

 It started with silencing the external noise and allowing me to actually listen to myself.

I stopped obsessing over the things that had consumed me for years:

• What’s the latest fashion trend?

• What do I need to buy next?

• Did I say something awkward in that conversation?

• What if I fail at work?

• What if he doesn’t like me anymore?

• How am I going to handle this next challenge?

Meditation quieted all of it down.

It forced me to step back and see just how unimportant most of these worries are in the grand scheme of life. I started to see myself as part of something bigger—part of a greater collective.

Or, if you will, part of the Universe itself.

When you create even a little bit of separation between yourself and your thoughts, you start to realize:

Nothing matters enough to panic over.

Wouldn’t that be an incredible feeling?

To wake up and know that you don’t need to worry about that thing because—no matter what—you are capable of handling anything life throws at you. Nothing is off-limits.

Meditation teaches you that no matter what has happened in the past, what’s happening now, or what may happen in the future—you will be okay.

You will be okay because, as humans, we were gifted with the ability to access our own inner peace.

It doesn’t matter if we are “good” or “bad”, “smart” or “dumb”, “rich” or “poor”.

We all have the ability to sit down, close our eyes, and practice quieting our mind and body.

And in my opinion?

It’s the most valuable skill on this earth—and it doesn’t even cost a single penny.

Ever wondered what it would feel like to be truly calm, even in life’s most stressful moments?

Try meditating regularly for just a couple of months.

I guarantee you’ll see the difference.

Now, don’t get me wrong—meditation won’t turn you into a monk or make you immortal.

But it does give you something that truly feels like a superpower.

The power to choose how you act and react to every situation in life.

Wouldn’t that be delightful?

Meditation Creates Space for Self-Discovery

Once I had my mental health more under control, something incredible happened:

Meditation created space—space for me to figure out who I really was and what I truly wanted in life. (See my post here to read more about "finding yourself".)

Without the constant noise of external pressures and worries, I was finally able to:

• Find my passions

• Build deeper, more meaningful relationships

• Move my life in a direction that felt right

I’m no psychologist (yet), but I would bet my life that if you commit to meditating regularly, you will:

• Discover who you truly are

• Handle life’s most difficult moments with more grace than you ever imagined

And the best part?

There’s no single step-by-step path to get there.

It’s one of the most beautiful things about meditation—everyone’s journey is different. It unfolds in its own time, in its own way, and in a way that is uniquely yours.

And one day, you’ll just know.

It won’t be something you can fully explain—but you’ll feel it. That true inner-peace and joy we're all searching for.

So What Even Really Is Meditation?

We’ve all heard the word before, and maybe we even have a vague idea of what it means. But what actually is meditation? Is it just sitting quietly with your eyes closed? Is it breathing deeply? Is it clearing your mind completely?

The truth is, meditation is all of that—and more.

How the Experts Define Meditation

Some of the greatest meditation teachers and spiritual leaders have tried to put it into words:

“When meditation is mastered, the mind is unwavering like the flame of a candle in a windless place.” — Bhagavad Gita

“The thing about meditation is: You become more and more you.” — David Lynch

“Meditation is not a way of making your mind quiet. It is a way of entering into the quiet that is already there.” — Deepak Chopra

“We can never obtain peace in the outer world until we make peace with ourselves.” — Dalai Lama

Every teacher describes meditation a little differently, and that’s because meditation isn’t one rigid thing—it’s an experience that unfolds uniquely for each person.

What Science Says About Meditation

From an empirical perspective, meditation is a trainable mental practice that alters brain function and improves emotional regulation. Studies in neuroscience have shown that regular meditation physically changes the brain—thickening the prefrontal cortex (responsible for decision-making and awareness) while reducing activity in the amygdala (the brain’s stress center).

In other words, meditation literally rewires your brain to be calmer, more focused, and less reactive to stress. HOW CRAZY IS THAT?! Like your brain experiences positive physical changes as a result of regular meditation.

Some well-documented scientific definitions describe meditation as:

• “A set of practices that focus attention and awareness, often through the use of breath, sound, or visualization, to achieve a state of mental clarity and emotional calm.” — American Psychological Association
• “A process of training your mind to focus and redirect your thoughts, often leading to improved well-being.” — Mayo Clinic

The Simplest Definition of Meditation

At its core, meditation is awareness. It’s the practice of observing without judgment—whether that’s your breath, your thoughts, the sensations in your body, or the world around you.

It’s not about stopping your thoughts. It’s about watching them and realizing you are not your thoughts.

And once you start doing that, everything changes.

So How Do I Start?

Some of you may be thinking, How the heck do I start meditating regularly?

I don’t have enough time.

My mind races a thousand miles per minute.

I can’t stop my thoughts.

I get too anxious.

I can’t sit still.

I have ADHD.

Or maybe you have some other excuse for why you haven’t started meditating yet.

I’m here to give you an answer for every single one of them. And the answer is simple:

If you want the benefits of meditation badly enough, you will find the time.

You will figure out a way to sit still.

You will find a way to observe and listen.

How I Started

For me, the easiest way to start was through guided meditations—either on YouTube or an app like Insight Timer.

But if that doesn’t feel right for you, or if you want something simpler, just set a timer and sit in silence. Period.

Either way, meditation is about noticing your present experience.

Here's one to get you started:

Where to Focus Your Attention

Start with your breath.

As you breathe in, what does it feel like?

How does the air feel against the inside and outside of your nostrils?

What does it feel like as it leaves your body?

Does your chest rise and fall?

Does your stomach expand and deflate?

Just notice.

The Key to Meditation

One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned is this:

Distractions and thoughts will always—without fail—show up.

You’re human. You’re not supposed to get rid of your thoughts. That’s not the goal.

One of my favorite things I’ve heard in guided meditations is this:

That’s it. That’s the practice.

Meditation is not about having a perfectly still mind. It’s about noticing when you’ve drifted and returning to the present moment.

Over and over again.

And that’s how you start.

Final Thoughts

I hear a lot of people say their goal is to meditate for five minutes a day.

Not that long ago, that was my goal too.

But I’ll never forget something that Jay Shetty—(former monk, bestselling author, and mindfulness teacher)—once said about this idea. Many people think that if they just meditate for five minutes a day, they will see results. He argues this is not the case.

If you want to experience the true benefits of meditation, you need to practice for more than just a few minutes a day.

I know, I know. You might be thinking, But it’s supposed to be easy if I want to make it a habit. It’s supposed to be accessible.

But nothing in life that is truly transformational comes easily.

Think about it this way—if your goal was to get six-pack abs or be able to run five miles without stopping, would training for five minutes a day be enough? The answer is absolutely not.

If you want to completely change your life for the better,

If you want to be in control of your emotions,

If you want to become truly self-aware,

You will need more than five minutes a day.

What I Wish I Had Known When I Started

When I first started meditating, I did about five minutes every few days—maybe 10 minutes on a good day.

Looking back, here’s what I would tell myself:

👉 Start with at least 15 minutes if you can.

👉 If you’re a first-timer and feeling really apprehensive, 10 minutes will do.

The most important thing at first is just to get going.

But once you’re comfortable with the idea of sitting for at least that long, I can say with absolute confidence:

🔹 The longer sessions will be where you see the most growth.

🔹 If you can build up to 15–30 minutes, I truly believe you’ll start to experience the benefits I’ve talked about.

🔹 When I reached 30+ minutes, I started entering deep, existential, universal thinking—where my core beliefs shifted in positive ways.

Meditation isn’t just about feeling calm—it’s about transforming your mind, your emotions, and your entire experience of life.

And I promise you—if you commit to it, it will change everything.

If you're reading this - I love you :)

-Tia