Coping with Stress through Meditation

The popularity of meditation has been increasing as more people discover its various health benefits. Many people become open to the practice of meditating first and foremost as a way to reduce stress. And in 2021, couldn’t we all use a little less stress after weathering the storm through a global pandemic? Stress causes increased levels of cortisol, known as the stress hormone, which produces many harmful effects. Research has shown meditation may improve symptoms of stress-related conditions, as well as decrease symptoms of anxiety and depression.

Individuals in the last phase of life experience a tremendous amount of stress, both physically and mentally. Caregivers and family members walking alongside their dying loved one are also left to process the emotional ups and downs that come with the territory. Meditation can be a vital part of navigating the end-of-life experience and paves the way to a more peaceful journey. While facing this mountain of hardship, mediation during this traumatic time can be beneficial for both adult or pediatric patients and caregivers by promoting their overall emotional health and can lead to a more positive outlook on life.  

Project 4031 is partnering with Lauren Wessinger, the Founder and Lead Instructor, at The Mindful Project to offer a no-cost virtual meditation series created specifically for the end-of-life community. Lauren teaches meditation to this community under the assumption they’ve experienced trauma, including patients and their extensive caretaking team. Trauma-informed mindfulness meditation eases into the practice in a skillful way that mitigates the risk of re-triggering medical trauma. The practice centers around compassion, care, safety, and ease, bringing as much peace of mind as possible to the moment. The 20-minute guided meditation sessions available for both children and adults is a four-part series that began in April 2021 and has been well-received by our supporters, hospice partners, and families. The sessions are open to all, so please click here to subscribe to the emails containing links for the upcoming LIVE sessions and future dates in August and October. The entire video series is also hosted on our website through the Wellness tab if you missed a previous live session.

The bottom line…Meditation is not one-size-fits-all, but something everyone, not just those facing end-of-life challenges, can do to improve their mental and emotional health. After feeling fear, facing a change of routine and “normal life”, or even loss grieving the death of a loved one due to COVID-19, people have suffered through this pandemic and may experience worthwhile benefits from mediation. You can practice in a variety of styles from anywhere, and without special equipment. Trying out a style of mediation best suited for the goals of you or your child is a great way to improve your quality of life, even if you only invest a few minutes to it each day. We hope you will consider joining us next month for our next mediation session or begin your mediation journey soon to start experiencing all the wonderful benefits it can provide you and your family.

About Project 4031
Project 4031, named after the Bible verse Isaiah 40:31, fulfills end of life dreams no matter what age a patient is and offers financial assistance to help families with basic needs. As part of a global initiative, Project 4031 also provides gently used medical equipment to international hospice and palliative care facilities to better the end-of-life journeys for those around the world. For more information, visit project4031.org.