We know that meditation creates a physiological state that is the mirror opposite of the stress response.

Here is another way of modeling this duality: both responses, the stress response and the rest/relax/digest/recover response, are ways of orienting to what does life need right now?

In both cases, engaging with a challenge, and answering the call to meditate, we are simply asking, what does life need right now? And responding.

The Alarm Response

If you get scared, alarmed, challenged, your entire metabolism, all your tissues and senses, your blood flow, your brain chemistry gear up to meet the challenge and help you cope. The basic maintenance routines the bodymind does are put on hold until the emergency is over. There are a hundred degrees of this activation, from a mild tingle of interest and excitement to total fear and anger.

The Recover Relax Repair Replenish Recharge Response

Running on stress is exciting and tiring, so we need times to recharge everything. There are a hundred degrees of this response also, and the meditative state is a complex series of states as the bodymind system takes what it needs.

Practice Tip

Explore this query as you develop your daily meditation. Playing this swing between opposites is healthy and fulfilling.

For example, you can take note of the challenges you will be facing during the day, and then dive into meditation knowing that as you flow through the 8 Rs, your bodymind system will be tuning you up to perform at your best.

Challenge evokes a strengthening response in us, this is how life works. If you walk a few miles, a couple of days later your calves may be sore. If you regularly exercise, then whatever muscles are being used will grow stronger in response. The same principle applies during meditation. All those thoughts you are thinking represent the challenges you are facing in coping with life. You are in your internal gym, being trained.

When you get this, it's a game changer.