MEDITATION AND THE CREATIVE SPIRIT_ BY SUMAILA ISAH UMAISHA

The acts of meditation and writing share remarkably similar processes and, to a large extent, similar benefits. Whether undertaken for religious or secular purposes, meditation begins with concentration. 

Indeed, the deeper the concentration, the more profound its calming effect on the mind. That concentration may be directed towards an object, a feeling, a sound, the breath, or a silently repeated thought such as a mantra. As the practice continues and the meditative state deepens, you gradually become detached from your surroundings. There is a hovering sense of absence, as though the world has momentarily receded. Your worries are suspended. When you eventually end the session, it feels like emerging from a sea of tranquillity. The effect is immediate, and with consistent practice, that state of calm increasingly becomes your habitual mental disposition. You become more emotionally balanced, patient, and composed.

Writing follows a comparable path. It demands sustained concentration as you explore ideas and translate them into words, whether on a keyboard or on paper. When writing becomes a daily habit, especially in the quiet hours of the early morning when the mind is least distracted, it can produce many of the same benefits associated with meditation. These include reduced stress, lower anxiety, a greater sense of inner peace, improved patience and self-control, and less rumination or repetitive negative thinking. Over time, the calm cultivated through the practice begins to influence your general outlook, allowing thoughtful reflection to prevail over emotional turbulence.

Some people argue that human beings cannot control their thoughts because thinking is an automatic process. That is only partly true. While thoughts often arise spontaneously, we still possess the ability to decide which ones deserve our attention. We can nurture constructive thoughts while refusing to dwell on destructive ones, allowing them to fade away without taking root.

This, however, should not be overstated. Neither meditation nor writing guarantees perfect mental health. History offers examples of gifted writers who struggled with severe mental illness, some tragically ending their own lives. It is therefore important to recognise that neither practice is a substitute for appropriate medical or psychological care when such care is needed.

Overall, regular engagement with writing does far more than sharpen one's craft. It can also function as a meditative discipline that quietens the mind, nurtures emotional stability, and gradually shapes a more humble, reflective, and likeable personality.

© Sumaila Isah Umaisha

- Nigeria