Alex Cem's Review: 12 Science-Based Benefits of Meditation by Healthline
The article highlights that meditation is about 'training the mind to focus.' It's is about noticing when you are thinking and feeling in unwanted ways and being able to 'redirect your thoughts.' Also, the article states that many people believe meditation can help to reduce stress and helping us to develop a single-minded focus. In the introduction, the article also outlines that meditation can boost our mood, help us change our perspectives and develop self-discipline. The article then goes on to review the 12 health benefits of meditation:
The article underscores how meditation can help to reduce stress and thus support our wellbeing. Stress increases cortisol levels, which releases 'inflammatory chemicals called cytokines.' These toxic chemicals can reduce sleep quality as well as worsen mental illness including anxiety and depression whilst also leading to fatigue mentally and physically. According to the article, meditation can reduce this inflammation. I totally agree that meditation can improve our mental and emotional wellbeing.
Meditation has also been shown to reduce stress - a form of anxiety. According to the article, the more anxious a person is, the better the benefits of meditation. Meditation can be very helpful for those with anxiety disorder or chronic pain. Moreover, the article states how meditation can help to reduce or control job-related anxiety. Perhaps meditation can help us to put things in life into perspective as well as providing clarity. Again, I totally agree with this point.
Diverse types of meditation also seem to improve the way we view ourselves, others and the world around us. The article states that it can lead to a more positive perspective in life. Interestingly, the article gives examples of studies conducted, and stated that meditation can help people to experience fewer negative thoughts when presented with negative images to view. Furthermore, the article continues, highlighting how meditation can lower depression as it decreases inflammatory chemicals such as cytokines.
The article goes on to share how meditation can help us to become the best version of ourselves. It helps us to view ourselves objectively. Better understanding ourselves can certainly help us to accept ourselves and make the most of our personality. Moreover, the article explores how certain meditations can even help us to objectively notice any unhelpful thoughts or memories. When we free up negative energy within us, we are capable of being more creative, problem-solve and become more resilient. This is absolutely the case.
According to the article, meditation may help us to develop single-minded thinking as well as improving our ability to stay focused on what we want. Apparently, simply listening to meditation in the background when completing a task can help improve our attention. If meditation can help us to think clearly, then it can also improve our attention and ability to make better choices. I totally agree with the article when it states that you only need to meditate for a short time to start gaining the benefits of meditation.
Incredibly, the article goes on to explain how meditation can help keep our minds young. If this is the case, then surely it can improve our ability to learn and to change more easily. Meditation may even help us to keep existing neurons whilst also helping us to make new synaptic connections (okay, this part was just me). The article claims that meditation can even help improve memory in those with dementia. It makes complete sense really.
Interestingly, the article highlights how meditation can make us feel more connected with ourselves and others. This completely resonates with me. When we feel calm, peaceful and whole, we simply want to be kinder with ourselves and others. the article emphasis how a particular meditation - Metta - begins with us sending love and kindness to loved ones, then friends, then acquaintances and then to those we have ill feelings toward. I believe these meditations can certainly help us to function at our best.
The article goes on to state that if meditation can help us to become more aware and self-controlled, then we can become more mentally disciplined as well. Additionally, we may become better at controlling our reactions and better understand why we do the things we do, which is the first step to changing in my opinion. Certain types of meditation may also assist with helping to control mental and physical addictions after 3 months of regular meditations. Again, I personally think that if we become happier within ourselves, we will develop the resilience and discipline to stop partaking in harmful addictions.
Quite surprisingly, the article states that almost half the population struggle with sleep problems like insomnia at some stage in their lives. Fortunately, the articles expresses how those who meditate manage to sleep for longer, which does wonders for our brains and bodies. It seems as though regular meditation can help us to slow the mind and body down when we are preparing for sleep. The article continues, demonstrating that meditation teaches us how to release tension in the body. I agree that meditating can help us to redirect our minds, slow the mind down and help us to switch off when it is time to do specific activities such as sleep.
Interestingly, the article teaches how it is our state of mind that controls our perceptions of pain. When we are anxious or depressed, it seems as though we experience pain more intensely. If meditation helps us to think more clearly and optimistically, then it may help us to control our thinking and feeling when we are experiencing some pain. The article continues, asserting that people often experience the same causes of pain - people, situations or incidents - but it was those who meditate who are better capable at dealing with pain.
Importantly, the article then goes on to assert how meditation reduces strains on the heart. When the heart works very hard, it causes the heart to function worse, which can result in heart attacks etc. Positively, meditation can reduce blood pressure and thus reverse this process. The article states how meditation can help to control our blood pressure. It goes on to highlight how it can better relax and co-ordinate how the heart functions as well as reducing a spike in effort due to stressful circumstances. Once again, this makes perfect sense, and shows just how important meditation is - not just for our happiness, but for our survival and longevity.
The article then shifts from focusing on the benefits, to then emphasising the simplicity of meditation: you do not need any specific equipment, resources or lots of free time. All you need is a quiet place for a few minutes to start getting into the habit of meditation. Usefully, the article then shares the two types of meditation: firstly, the type which is all about remaining focused - say on the breath for example; secondly, is about opening our awareness and perception by placing our attention on the environment or our thinking.
Conclusion
Based on the article's information, I have to say I largely agree with these benefits, and I actually believe there are many more benefits that meditation provides - improving brain and heart coherence; helping us to achieve our goals; improving our cognitive function and so on. Meditation is for everyone. We just have to be patient with ourselves and get into the habit of meditation in order to really start enjoying it and benefitting from it.
Feel free to read the entire article at: https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/12-benefits-of-meditation
