Meditation establishes a secure connection between the inner and outer world. It awakens the body and benefits all aspects of the conscious and subconscious layers of the mind. Among the many benefits that meditation brings, a few are listed below.
Meditation improves empathy
Loving-kindness or compassion meditation triggers neural connections to brain sites that regulate positive emotions like empathy and kindness. The deep state of flow, which meditation induces, builds social connection and makes one more affectionate and friendly as a person.
Meditation improves creativity
According to the study by researchers at Leiden University, those who practice mindfulness meditation are more productive and more inspired on tasks where they are asked to bring new ideas because meditation is known to increase divergent thinking which allows us to propose several solutions to a problem
Meditation improves memory
It has been proven by the founder of the Chopra Foundation that the practice of meditation allows an individual to filter out distractions which allows information to be memorized more quickly and thus increases productivity.
Meditation improves cognition
Researchers agree that a great way for professionals to increase the chances of success is to keep the practice of meditation as part of their daily routine. Studies have found that transcendent and mindful meditation practices improve the brain’s problem-solving and decision-making strategies. This can bring a desirable change in professional life.
Meditation is a natural stress stabilizer
Stress is the body’s response to unexpected adversities. This kind of worrying situation increases the level of cortisol in the body, and activates the autonomic nervous system, which is responsible for negative responses. Brain studies of meditators have indicated that they have lower levels of cortisol in their brains, which explains their resilience and insightful nature.
Meditation promotes emotional health and well-being
Studies have shown that meditation improves self-image and self-esteem. It allows us to obtain a clear picture of the mind and become aware of the thoughts that govern emotions and actions.
A large-scale study found that regular meditation decreases the likelihood of developing depression and mood disorders. Certain forms of meditative practices also promote positive thinking, and could improve an individual’s overall emotional health.
Meditation increases attention by inducing a state of flow
Mindful awareness comes naturally to those who meditate regularly. Meditation also allows you to achieve a state of flow where the mind is in perfect harmony with itself. A study on the effects of an eight-week mindful meditation course found that people who are regular meditation practitioners had increased attention span and concentration span. Even people who meditated for short periods showed more concentration than those who didn’t meditate at all.
Meditation and medicine
Meditation has been shown to be a great way to reduce pain sensations in the body without using the brain’s natural opiates. Research has suggested that combining meditation or hypnosis practices with medications to treat pain conditions like osteoarthritis, headaches, and other chronic pain may be helpful in providing long-term cures. . In the same way, meditation helps cure certain disorders such as hypertension, anxiety, fibromyalgia or psoriasis.