What happens when you meditate?

Hello friend,

“You won’t be in touch for the whole 10 days? Not even on the phone?” my dad asked.

“No, it is their rule. No outside contact allowed,” I said.

“This is so suspicious. Why do you want to do it? This is not the age to do all this. Many people get brainwashed at such camps,” my father retorted.

This led to a series of heated discussions for 4-5 days.

It was my first serious argument with my parents.

This was exactly 10 years ago around a similar time in July 2014.

I had just turned 22 and finished 4 years of mechanical engineering. I was due to join my first job anytime in September. The joining date was not announced yet.

During this time, I decided to go to a Vipassana retreat.

The 10-day silent meditation retreat is known for its strict schedule and code of conduct. My parents had never heard of it. I came across it accidentally while exploring options to learn meditation.

I wanted to learn a proper meditation technique because almost every self-help book which I had read till that time, recommended meditation as the ultimate magic pill to improve your life.

Eventually, I managed to convince my parents and went on that retreat.

Since then, I have been on one more 10-day retreat and practiced some or other form of meditation on and off for the last 10 years.

One thing that I clearly realize now is it is not always the magic pill.

It did improve my life in retrospect in some ways but it is not as rosy as what often influencers or celebrities would want you to believe.

Based on my little experience, here are a few common things that happen as a result of regular meditation.

1. Things get worse in the beginning

When you meditate for the first time, you get suddenly hyper-aware of the mental chatter, chaos, and confusion in your head.

But this does not mean you are meditating in the wrong way.

Some people assume that the purpose of meditation is to stop all thoughts.

While that might happen in really advanced stages, in the beginning, the purpose is to become an observer of those thoughts.

You turn your attention inward to the flowing stream of thoughts in your head.

You get aware and witness them from a non-judgement perspective.

They are like clouds passing through the sky of your mind. When you refuse to engage with them and choose to simply be aware and let them go, they go away.

But it is not easy of course.

That is why one needs to persist with the practice.

2. Your sessions become boring

As you get more aware and present, the anxiety, chaos, and confusion begin to go down.

Your ability to deal with uncertainty gets better. The initial overwhelm and chaos you observe simply passes through your awareness and once you let go of it, you feel at ease.

Some days are tough, some are easy.

Eventually, it might get to a stage where you begin to find meditation sessions boring.

This is a crucial stage as this is the place where one needs to continue the practice.

I am guilty of failing this stage frequently when I gave up on the practice many times.

But it is critical to continue the practice especially when it gets boring.

It is similar to hitting a plateau when trying to lose weight. You must keep going.

That’s how breakthroughs happen.

3. A strong urge for creative expression rises

When I first went to Vipassana, it sparked a newfound urge to share my experiences in writing.

Over time, this seed led me on a career path as a writer and marketer after a brief stint in engineering.

Two years ago, I went to the retreat again when I turned 30. This time, it pushed me towards a 3-month acting and video course.

Meditation unlocked these urges for creative expression and provided me the courage to pursue them.

Over the years I have realized that the mental clarity that emerges from regular meditation practice is a powerful catalyst for creativity.

Whether it’s writing, painting, acting, or any other form of creative expression, it could help you tap into your inner world and express it via meaningful and fulfilling activities.

4. You get more comfortable with uncertainty

Another pattern I notice when I can maintain a regular meditation is comfort with uncertainty.

Life is inherently unpredictable, and this is often a source of anxiety.

However, meditation teaches you to embrace this uncertainty rather than fear it.

When you begin to channel your mental clarity into creative projects, you inevitably face questions and doubts.

Will this work? What if I fail? This feels so uncertain and scary.

But, meditation equips you with the mental resilience to face these fears head-on and proceed despite them.

By observing your thoughts without judgment, you learn to navigate the unknown with calmness and confidence. You see the uncertainty not as a barrier but as an opportunity for growth and exploration of new paths aligned with your true self.

As I reflect on my meditation journey, I realize it was never the magic pill or an instant solution to anything.

The true secret lies in letting go of the need for immediate results and simply allowing the practice to unfold naturally without expectations.

Just be present, observe without judgment, and find peace amid chaos.

The paradox is once you let go of any expectation, you experience the subtle changes and transformation.

What has been your experience with meditation?
Have you ever tried it and it did not ‘work’ as expected?

Feel free to share in your replies!

Until next time,
Love,
Ved

Fun fact: After a few months when I returned from my first Vipassana retreat, my father also decided to go for it! Perhaps he noticed something in me that I was brainwashed for good? Or maybe it was the rare hug I gave him when I returned after 10 days of no contact? I never asked him! 😀