Blog 357: 4 SLIGHTLY EMBARRASSING REASONS I MEDITATE THAT I DON'T NORMALLY ADMIT

Meditation is something I’ve done for years, but over time it has become one of my absolute non negotiables. Not because it’s trendy. Not because I feel like I should. But because it genuinely helps me function as a woman, a mum, and a business owner.

And if I’m really honest… some of the reasons I meditate feel a little bit personal (and maybe even slightly embarrassing to admit publicly). But I also know that when we open up, we give others permission to feel seen and supported too.

Before I go into my reasons, I think it’s important to say this: meditation for me doesn’t always look like sitting cross-legged and trying to completely clear my mind. It’s usually much more dynamic than that.

Sometimes I’m in very gentle yoga poses, simply focusing on my breath. Sometimes I’m sitting in the beautiful spa waters here in Bath, doing a soft visualisation or just observing my thoughts without judgement. Other times, I’m in the sauna, focusing on a single affirmation or calming word.

For me, meditation is often a form of habit stacking. It’s woven into moments I’m already taking for myself, and I nearly always have a focus, whether that’s my breath, a visualisation, a word, or a slow, mindful movement. That’s what makes it feel achievable and sustainable in real life.

So here are my deep rooted personal reasons why I mediate… 

1. I’m in perimenopause, I experience PMDD… and meditation helps balance my hormones

This is something most people wouldn’t necessarily know about me. I’m in the early stages of perimenopause (as many 44 year old women often are), and I also experience PMDD (premenstrual dysphoric disorder), which can affect mood, energy, and overall wellbeing in quite an intense way.

What’s really important to understand is that perimenopause can begin 10–15 years before menopause. Menopause itself is actually just one day in your life, when you’ve gone 12 months without a period. Everything leading up to that is perimenopause.

In terms of PMDD, most people wouldn't know I suffer from this (or that puberty and perimenopause can make symptoms worse). Over the years I have learnt to manage days 21-27 of my cycle (which is when the symptoms flare up). If I am honest sometimes it is more masking than managing and other times it is just not managing at all. But even though I feel physically and mentally different in the week before my period compared with any of the day of the month, and it has been that way since I was 14, I know that relaxation can almost completely eliminate what can be rather difficult symptoms.

For me, one of the biggest game changers has been learning how to regulate my nervous system. When we’re stressed, the body produces higher levels of cortisol and adrenaline. This can disrupt hormonal balance and exacerbate symptoms like anxiety, irritability, and low mood.

 Meditation, breathwork, and gentle practices like yoga help activate the parasympathetic nervous system, the “rest and digest” state. Research shows that regular meditation can lower cortisol levels, reduce stress responses, and support emotional regulation. And for me personally, this is the number one thing that helps keep my symptoms manageable.

2. I’m a mum… and it helps me be more patient with my girls

I think every parent can relate to this. II strive to be patient every single day… but I’m human too. What I’ve noticed is that when I take even just a few minutes in the morning or evening to pause, breathe, and reset, I show up differently.

Meditation has been shown to support the areas of the brain linked to emotional regulation, helping us respond rather than react. And that means more patience, more compassion, and more presence, not just for my girls, but for myself too.

3. I run a business… and when I’m calm, I get my best ideas

This is such a big one for me. When I’m constantly busy, rushing from one thing to the next, my mind feels cluttered. There’s no space for creativity, leadership, or intuition.

But the moment I slow down, even for just a few minutes, everything shifts. Ideas come to me like little “pings” or downloads. There’s science behind this too. When we relax the brain, we access states linked to creativity, insight, and problem-solving.

So those moments of stillness aren’t unproductive, they’re actually where some of our most powerful ideas are born. I’ve learned that I can only truly create from a place of calm.

4. I’m an empath… and it helps me process other people’s energy

I’ve always felt things deeply. If someone around me is stressed, upset, or overwhelmed, I tend to feel that energy too. And while this can be a beautiful strength—especially in the work I do, it can also feel draining if I don’t take care of my own energy.

Meditation gives me that space to come back to myself. It allows me to release what isn’t mine, ground my energy, and refill my own cup.

From a scientific perspective, practices like meditation can help regulate the nervous system and build emotional resilience, meaning we’re less likely to become overwhelmed by external input.

For me, it’s not about switching off my sensitivity, it’s about supporting it. 

The truth is… meditation doesn’t need to be perfect

I don’t sit still for hours.

I don’t always have a quiet mind.

Sometimes it’s just a few deep breaths.

Sometimes it’s a gentle stretch with awareness.

Sometimes it’s a moment of stillness in warm water or heat.

 But those small, consistent moments add up.

They support my hormones.

They help me show up as a calmer mum.

They allow me to run my business with clarity and creativity.

They protect my energy.

And they help me feel more like me.

Meditation doesn’t have to look a certain way. It just needs to feel supportive.

And often, the reasons we need it most are the ones we don’t always talk about.

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