Meditation establishes a safe link between the inner and outer worlds. 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
Love-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 loving and friendly as a person.
Meditation improves creativity
According to the study by researchers at the University of Leiden, those who practice mindfulness meditation are more productive and more inspired on tasks where they are asked to come up with new ideas because meditation is known to increase divergent thinking which allows for multiple 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 for faster memorization of information and thus increases productivity.
Meditation improves cognition
Researchers agree that a great way for professionals to increase the likelihood of success is to keep meditation practice as part of their daily routine. Studies have found that transcendent and mindfulness meditation practices improve the brain's problem-solving and decision-making strategies. This can make a desirable change in one's work life.
Meditation is a natural stress stabilizer
Stress is the body's response to unexpected adversity. These kinds of worrisome situations increase the level of cortisol in the body, and activate 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 to 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. Some forms of meditative practices also promote positive thinking, and may improve an individual's overall emotional health.
Meditation increases attention by inducing a state of flow
Mindfulness comes naturally to those who meditate regularly. Meditation also allows one to reach a state of flow where the mind is in perfect harmony with itself. A study on the effects of an eight-week mindfulness meditation course found that people who were regular meditation practitioners had increased attention and concentration span. Even people who meditated for short periods of time showed more concentration than those who did not meditate at all.
Meditation and medicine
Meditation is proving to be an excellent 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 such as osteoarthritis, headaches, and other chronic pain can be useful in providing long-term remedies. As such, meditation helps to cure certain disorders such as hypertension, anxiety, fibromyalgia or psoriasis.
