Meditation: What it is, benefits

The practice of meditation dates back thousands of years before recorded history. Many ancient cultures have incorporated some sort of meditation practice including yoga, tai chi chuan, qi gong, mindfulness, and others. Meditation has been practiced throughout centuries and was commonly performed during the time of the Buddha. Buddhism encourages meditative practices and has many different forms. One of these forms is simply called “meditation”, where the goal is to clear the mind of all thoughts. Different forms of meditation require different strategies depending on what type of meditation you plan to do. I highly encourage everyone to learn how to meditate if they have not already done so. There are many different benefits to practicing meditation; here are just a few.

Sleep Better

Sleep is often the first thing people think about when they go to bed at night. However, sleep is much more than just dropping off to dreamland. Sleep helps us recuperate from day-to-day activities and gives our bodies the chance to repair themselves after a busy day. A lack of good quality sleep can lead to a host of physical problems ranging from fatigue and headaches to weight gain. Meditation aids in healing all parts of the body, especially the head. The brain relaxes and calms down allowing for deeper relaxation and healthier sleeping patterns.

Stress Management

Stress is something we encounter everywhere in our lives. We may feel stressed out over work deadlines or whether or not we will make the rent payment. Sometimes stress can even manifest itself physically. You may experience pain from sitting too long, soreness in muscles and joints, and headaches. When it comes to managing stress, meditation has proven effective time and again. Meditation brings us back to the present moment so we can focus solely on ourselves and nothing else. In doing so, we can reduce anxiety levels and reestablish the balance between the mind, body, and soul.

Improve Brain Health & Memory

As previously mentioned above, meditation aids in healing all parts of the body. Specifically, meditation increases blood flow to certain areas of the brain, thus helping to improve memory. Memory and learning are also aided by the production of neurotransmitters (e.g., serotonin) and hormones. These chemicals increase the amount of information processed by the brain. An increased attention span and improved memory are both positive side effects of meditation.

Increase Creativity

Creativity, like much of humankind, can be defined differently by each individual. What one person considers creative might seem completely absurd to someone else. While no set definition exists, creativity refers to the way ideas, objects, creations, processes, products, and art are developed. Research suggests that meditation helps develop creativity in many ways, including expanding personal awareness, enhancing critical thinking skills, encouraging empathy, and heightening imagination.

Reduce Anxiety

Anxiety is a normal feeling, but extreme cases can cause symptoms that range from mild panic attacks to full-blown PTSD. Meditating can help alleviate feelings of anxiety by reducing fear and tension, as well as calming the nervous system.

Promote Happiness

Happiness is a natural state of being, and one that should be achieved regularly. As stated above, meditation promotes happiness by increasing emotional intelligence, reducing negative emotions, and regulating mood swings. It is recommended that we seek out opportunities to cultivate happiness in daily life, but meditation offers a unique opportunity to achieve this without having to force yourself to smile.