Some of you who know me probably that a lot of my inner peace and inner wisdom training was grown through meditation in various forms since I was introduced to it at 5 years of age.  

There are many kinds of meditation for various purposes, and the kinds of benefits generally go in line with what you really want to get out of it in the first place, and to know why you're interested in it.

For me, my first purpose of meditation, and my primary purpose in life, was to know thyself, and to be at peace within me no matter what was going on around me.  That was all.  It was a real burning desire.  I was not doing it primarily for gaining good physical health - though those benefits could come as a welcome by-product.  

With this in mind, let me summarize some interesting findings on what I see as the top 5 benefits of meditation nevertheless.

1. Emotional intelligence - nowadays it's been widely recognized that EQ is just as, if not more valuable - as IQ, I'm sure you're aware of that.

2. Increases your ability to be more compassionate and also wiser at the same time - so we don't get sucked into drama but are able to deal with it better, that I do know from my personal experience.

3. Increases your efficiency - as a result of seeing situations for what they are more clearly.  Kind of like those A-ha moments you get when taking a shower and suddenly a "solution" or flash of insight comes.  Except they tend to happen more frequently with consistent and regular meditation.

4. Increases your efficiency - I’m saying it again.  Because it's a really huge incentive for today's busy, kind-hearted people like you who try to serve the world in a myriad of ways.  The other way it increases efficiency, is by increasing the intensity of focus you have.  So you "get" it more quickly.  You finish tasks more quickly.  (Plus, generally more peacefully too, with less gripe!)

5. Enhances your mood easily.

Even 5 minutes of meditation a day can change your life.  

It pays you back many times in compounded "interest" if we can imagine a "happiness currency" going into a "happiness bank" that is in our very own name.  You'll believe it when you do it.  It just gets easier and easier, and you'll find yourself more and more peaceful - and your friends will start asking what you've been "doing" and you can gleefully say, "Absolutely nothing."  (wink)