We often think that the purpose of meditation is to relax, destress or tune out of all the worries. Well, that is partially true, but the real essence of meditation lies in tuning in and facing it all. Not to just destress but finding that inner peace and 'bringing the mind home' into the present moment.

“We could say that meditation doesn't have a reason or doesn't have a purpose. In this respect it's unlike almost all other things we do except perhaps making music and dancing. When we make music we don't do it in order to reach a certain point, such as the end of the composition. If that were the purpose of music then obviously the fastest players would be the best. Also, when we are dancing we are not aiming to arrive at a particular place on the floor as in a journey. When we dance, the journey itself is the point, as when we play music the playing itself is the point. And exactly the same thing is true in meditation. Meditation is the discovery that the point of life is always arrived at in the immediate moment.” ~ Alan Watts

It might be difficult for beginners to sit for hours and think of 'nothing', but the easiest way to start is by focusing on the breath or chanting a mantra. The idea is to observe your thoughts and not get involved with it or judge them, instead let them go. When you react to the negative thoughts and emotions, you give it energy enabling them to manifest into our reality. But when you observe without resisting, it gives you a deeper understanding of the source of your thoughts and emotions. With regular practice you will develop a sense of inner balance and you will know how to keep it from re­occuring.