Meditation is more than just a relaxation technique; it is a powerful tool for mental clarity, emotional balance, and overall well-being. In today’s fast-paced world, where stress and burnout are increasingly common, meditation offers a way to reset the mind, improve focus, and build resilience. Many experts advocate for making it a part of daily life, not just as a remedy for stress but as a proactive approach to mental fitness.
Dr Kanan Khatau Chikhal, a homoeopathic doctor, psychologist, and executive coach, has spent over two decades helping individuals and organizations harness the power of mindfulness. As the founder of Life Cures Wellness Clinic and co-founder of Whole Brain Consulting, she integrates behavioral science, neuro-linguistic programming, and emotional fitness into her coaching. In this conversation, she shares her insights on meditation, its transformative impact, and how it can shape both personal and professional success.
Dr Kanan Khatau Chikhal is a Two-Time Speaker at TEDx Events.
The Role of Meditation in Mental Well-Being
As a Clinical Psychologist, Homeopath, and Hypnotherapist, meditation has been a crucial part of my personal and professional growth. It is not just a technique but a way of life that allows me to integrate my various therapeutic modalities with a clear, focused mind. At Mind Celebrations, we highly recommend meditation as a powerful tool for mental well-being. One of our favorite techniques is walking meditation, which has yielded remarkable results for our clients. It helps calm the mind and regulate emotions. This practice helps you tune into your thoughts, emotions, and physical sensations. Meditation allows us to access deeper layers of our consciousness, bringing a sense of harmony.
Dr. Kanan highlights the importance of consistency in meditation, stressing that even brief, intentional moments of stillness can create lasting effects. She believes that it is not about how long one meditates but about the mindfulness behind the practice.
Meditation is an part of my daily routine, and its consistency is paramount. We at Mind Celebrations prioritize Proactive Mental Health, and at least 10-15 minutes every day helps us achieve that milestone. I have learned that even short, intentional moments of stillness can recalibrate the nervous system. The practice isn’t about duration but the intention and mindfulness behind it. Regularity is where its transformative power lies.
Finding the Right Time and Approach to Meditation
Dr. Kanan suggests that the timing of meditation plays a significant role in its effectiveness. While she recommends mornings as an ideal time, she acknowledges that meditation is valuable at any moment of emotional or mental fatigue.
We suggest mornings, as this sacred space sets the tone for the day. It is the quiet before the storm of external demands where one can cultivate stillness and clarity. However, being aware that life is fluid, whenever one feels mentally or emotionally drained in the evening, turning to meditation helps us recalibrate and decompress. According to our reports, 52% of people wake up tired in the morning, hindering their full potential. It is in these moments of transition that the practice truly reveals its therapeutic potential.
Beyond stress relief, Dr. Kanan views meditation as both a preventive and therapeutic practice. She explains how this shift in perspective, from reactive to proactive, can significantly impact one’s emotional well-being and resilience.
We at Mind Celebrations challenge the approach to mental health, shifting from reactive to preventive. Meditation is both a preventive and therapeutic technique. It is an essential part of my daily practice, ensuring emotional balance and mental clarity before dealing with the world. In times of stress or imbalance, it acts as a powerful reset button, providing an instant shelter where I may find serenity in the middle of chaos. It is a practice that not only relieves stress but also improves my ability to face life’s obstacles with resilience and awareness.
Meditation Helps You Reduce Stress And Anxiety, And Become More Compassionate And Present.
Meditation’s Impact on Mental Health and Resilience
When discussing meditation’s benefits for mental health, Dr. Kanan firmly believes in its ability to foster emotional regulation, build resilience, and rewire the brain’s response to stress. She frequently recommends meditation to her clients, highlighting its scientifically proven effects on emotional well-being.
We pioneer preventive mental healthcare solutions, and meditation is one of them. A good mind-body attunement can be achieved by meditation. The power of meditation lies in its ability to enhance self-awareness, regulate emotions, and deepen one’s capacity for self-reflection. It fosters the creation of neural pathways that strengthen emotional resilience. Through mindfulness, clients learn to pause before reacting, allowing them to cultivate a space between stimulus and response. The neurobiological effects are profound: reduced cortisol levels, enhanced neuroplasticity, and greater emotional regulation. Meditation rewires the brain, fostering a deep sense of inner calm and an improved ability to manage stress.
She further explains how meditation helps counter the negative effects of hustle culture and burnout. Dr. Kanan cites workplace fatigue statistics to emphasize the urgency of proactive mental well-being.
According to reports by Mind Celebrations, 97% of employees are at risk of at least one factor of workplace fatigue. Meditation is an alternative to the pervasive stress and burnout that define our modern, fast-paced environment. Meditation allows people to disconnect from the constant clamor of external pressures, resulting in a reconnection with the present moment and a deep, healing tranquility. It promotes mental resilience by fostering a state of awareness that helps one face life’s pressures calmly. Over time, this rewires the brain’s response to stress, allowing individuals to transition from a defensive mode to one of conscious, adaptive resilience. It is more than just a stress-management strategy; it is also a way to create an enduring sense of inner calm, which is essential for avoiding burnout.
Addressing Emotional Regulation and Distraction
Dr. Kanan acknowledges that for many, the challenge with meditation is sitting still with their thoughts. She understands the tendency to avoid discomfort through distractions like technology and advises a gradual, structured approach to ease into the practice.
Technology overuse has fractured human focus (less than 8 seconds), and its biggest casualty is human relationships. Our Digital Detox programme helps improve focus and productivity with balanced use of technology. It helps you develop digital hygiene, recover from technology-related aches and pains, and build sustainable happiness. For individuals who struggle with overwhelming thoughts or excessive worry, I always advise starting small, gradually acclimating the mind to the practice. Begin with short, structured sessions of 2-5 minutes, using guided meditation or focusing on the breath to anchor attention. The key is not to force the mind into stillness but to gently guide it towards presence. Allow the thoughts to come and go without judgment. I recommend using calming music or even nature sounds to ease into the practice. Meditation is about cultivating a relationship with your thoughts, not about trying to escape them.
Tranquility Can Be Achieved Through Meditation, Yoga, Mindfulness, Deep Breathing, And Other Relaxation Techniques.
Her approach to meditation is rooted in curiosity and self-compassion. Dr. Kanan encourages individuals to adopt a mindset of openness rather than striving for an empty mind, which she believes is a common misconception.
Meditation is about observing and allowing thoughts to come and go without judgment, and it is important to be patient and compassionate with oneself, especially in the early stages of the practice. The mindset that is most beneficial when approaching meditation is one of curiosity and compassion. Too often, people approach meditation with the mistaken belief that they must empty their minds or ‘achieve’ something.
Dr. Kanan Khatau Chikhal’s insights offer a deeper understanding of how meditation is not just a practice but a lifestyle that enhances mental resilience, emotional balance, and overall well-being. By shifting from a reactive to a proactive approach, she encourages individuals and organizations alike to embrace meditation as a powerful tool for sustainable mental health. Whether used for stress relief, emotional regulation, or simply fostering mindfulness, her guidance makes meditation more accessible and impactful for everyone.
Mena Adel is a professional personal trainer and athlete in Dubai with 20 years of fitness experience. For the past decade, he has helped people achieve their health goals through simple and effective workouts. As an author, Mena shares his expertise to inspire and guide others on their fitness journey
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