Meditation has become a big business as part of the increased attention paid to the idea of wellness.
Venture capitalists are investing millions in it.
When they put so much money into it, they hope to make a lot back.
Meditation has been studied to treat high blood pressure, stress, pain, irritable bowel syndrome, ulcerative colitis, anxiety, depression, and other conditions.
Results are mixed for a lot of those conditions. Nevertheless, it’s hard to tell if those venture capitalists will make their investment back, especially when you consider all of the different ways one can meditate.
Most people think of Zen meditation when they think of meditation. There’s a lot more variety than that. There’s a way to meditate that suits every single person.
Allowing yourself to relax before you go to bed is a form of meditation. You’re already doing that.
Money to meditate
A lifetime subscription to the Calm app costs $400.
A yearly plan is available for Headspace, but monthly access costs $12.99.
One can go the time-honored, traditional way and take lessons from someone online or in person. Those lessons will cost you about $50 for 60 minutes.
That doesn’t mean that there’s not a way to spend even less money.
Even less money means an even better value. Meditation can be free.
Dream journaling is a form of meditation, a passive form rather than an active form. That can be as inexpensive as using a wire-bound spiral, which can set you back as much as 27 cents in some stores, but more likely as little as $1.07 with tax (though journaling can turn into a very expensive hobby fast when you go past the basics). Learning to remember and analyze your dreams can give you insight into your life and yourself the way meditation can.
Beyond this, meditation can consist of activities like cooking, creating some kind of art, walking, or drinking tea.
Be aware of the benefits you can get from meditation, what it can and cannot do. Beyond that, don’t forget to question the act itself. Either way, there are a lot of resources out there. Use them.
Just don’t pay to actively meditate. It’s not worth it because you have too many options.
This is especially true if you live on a limited budget.
You’ve got to make every dollar you get count.
If you feel grateful for the power and benefits meditation has given you, give a gift to a charity that appeals to you, or start your own personal charity.
You may want to buy some candles, a journal, or invest in a set of knives, forks, and spoons if you decide to meditate while washing dishes by hand. That’s different. Those are tools. They can make your life a little better through their beauty or utility. Still, never pay to meditate unless you’re one of those people who enjoys taking their hard-earned dollars and setting them on fire.
There’s no need to.
Many people feel meditation is a great value, that they get a lot out of it.
That’s fine, but just because something is of great value doesn’t mean that, that value is necessarily related to money.
A deep, cleansing breath of pure air is currently free, too. That doesn’t mean you should have to or need to pay for it either, however.
Updated March 7, 2021
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James Cobb RN, MSN, is an emergency department nurse and the founder of the Dream Recovery System. His goal is to provide his readers with simple, actionable ways to improve their health and maximize their quality of life.
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