One of the best ways to understand meditation is to imagine explaining it to a 5-year-old. A child understands rest. After running, the body gets tired. It needs to slow down. In the same way, the mind gets tired too. Meditation is simply how we let the mind rest. I often describe that meditation is giving your mind a quiet hug.
You sit still for a moment and breathe slowly. In and out. Nothing complicated. You are not trying to stop thoughts or make them disappear. Thoughts will come, just like clouds passing across the sky. That is normal. You notice them, and then gently return to the breath.
For a child, the benefits are easy to grasp. Meditation helps when emotions feel big. It helps the mind feel calm and safe. It helps us be a little kinder and a little more patient. Just as exercise strengthens the body, a few moments of stillness strengthen the mind.
Yeah, it does not need to be long. One minute is enough. Even a few slow breaths can make a difference.
When something is simple enough for a 5-year-old to understand, it is usually close to the truth. Meditation is not about effort or achievement. It is about remembering how to pause, breathe, and come back to ourselves, one quiet moment at a time.