We live in a world of constant activity and instant gratification. Where have I seen that actor before? We can know in seconds. Information and connections are always at our fingertips.

A few years ago, I was chosen for a random screen in TSA precheck. I removed my work phone, my personal phone, my two laptops, and was reaching for my tablet and Kindle when the agent said, “oh for heaven’s sake that’s enough devices!” Our ability to read, to search, to call or videoconference, to text, to share photos and videos of ourselves and our lives has never been greater.

And yet, according to Gallup, clinical depression in lifetime and current depression in U.S. adults both hit new highs since the organization began measuring depression in 2015. The rates are rising fastest among women, young adults, Black adults, and Hispanic adults.

In their report “Stress in America 2022”, the American Psychological Association reports that over 40 million adults in the U.S. (19%) have a diagnosed anxiety disorder (and most people are undiagnosed). Around 7 in 10 adults have experienced health impacts due to stress, including feeling overwhelmed (33%), changes in sleeping habits (32%) and/or worrying constantly (30%).

Clearly, despite all the wonders of the modern world, our health is suffering. Stress and anxiety affect our sleeping, eating, hobbies, relationships, and job performance. At a deeper level it affects our brain, our immune system, our gene expression, and susceptibility to physical and mental illness.

In the backdrop of all these stressors, people still report hope for the future. We get things done despite the challenge and uncertainty. Still, we all long for and deserve lives of hope, peace, and authenticity. This is where meditation comes in.

Meditation doesn’t require any special equipment. It can be done anywhere by anyone. It does not require hours of quiet sitting; rather even a few minutes a day have physical and mental health benefits. According to the Mayo Clinic, the emotional and physical benefits of meditation can include:

• Gaining a new perspective on stressful situations
• Building skills to manage stress
• Increasing self-awareness
• Focusing on the present
• Reducing negative emotions
• Increasing imagination and creativity
• Increasing patience and tolerance
• Lowering resting heart rate
• Lowering resting blood pressure
• Improving sleep quality

While meditation is not a replacement for traditional medical treatment, it may help manage symptoms of conditions such as anxiety, asthma, chronic pain, high blood pressure, depression, irritable bowel, sleep issues, and headaches.

Many people tell me “I’m not good at meditation.” In upcoming The Tiger Tea posts, I will tackle some common meditation myths and tips for beginners to get started with meditation.