Meditation & Mindfulness
MEDITATION & MINDFULNESS
WHAT IS MEDITATION
Meditation is the practice of deliberately placing attention wherever we choose ... our breath, a visualisation, a mantra, sound ... it is peaceful and calm, and there are many different styles and ways of practicing it.
Meditation means being present in the here and now: without judgement, just observing each moment. Instead of our busy minds taking control and running never-ending scripts in our heads, meditation teaches us to select our thoughts. It teaches us to choose which ones to give attention to and when.
“The goal of meditation is not to get rid of thoughts or emotions. The goal is to become more aware of your thoughts and emotions and learn how to move through them without getting stuck.”
- Dr. P. Goldin
Meditation can be learned quickly and everybody can do it. With regular practice, even the busiest minds can learn to become more focused and calm, and many studies have shown that just 8 weeks of short, regular practice can make a measurable difference to our well being.
Meditation is not a religious practice in itself, however, many religions include aspects of meditation as a tool to turn worshipers’ attention inwards.
BENEFITS OF MEDITATION
Meditation's positive effects on the body and mind have been researched in thousands of scientific studies and the data is overwhelmingly positive - meditation makes us happier and healthier.
The positive effects of meditation carry on for many hours after the practice itself has ended, with benefits growing stronger and more noticeable the more frequently it is practiced, thus providing a long-lasting positive effect on our well-being in everyday life.
So what are the benefits of incorporating meditation into your daily life?
Benefits to our physical well-being include:reduced inflammation; pain relief; improved immune function; lowered cortisol and adrenaline levels; lowered blood pressure; better cardiovascular health; helps with skin problems; better sleep; slowed aging; weight-loss; whole brain synchronization; ...
Benefits to our mental well-being include:reduced feelings of stress and anxiety; alleviates depression; helps overcome addiction, self-limiting beliefs, habits, fears and phobias; quiets the mind; improves imagination and creativity; helps improve symptoms of OCD, ADHD; ...
Benefits to our emotional well-being include:increased clarity and ability to focus; boosts memory; increased gratitude, compassion and tolerance; reduced emotional reactions ("knee jerk" response to stressors); deeper connection to others; lowered implicit bias; increased emotional intelligence; ...
