Have you been hearing the word “meditation” a lot recently? The practice, which dates back to thousands of years ago, has been steadily gaining mainstream popularity in the past few years. Everyone from celebrities, to some of the most successful entrepreneurs, to preteens are doing it. But what is meditation exactly?
Meditation is the training of your brain to gain an awareness of yourself so that you can keep perspective in any given situation. It can help to alleviate stress, sleep better, and improve focus. It is called the “practice of meditation” because it is a mindset that you have to work towards; it should get easier the more you do it! Some people spend their entire lives working towards meditation, so don’t be discouraged if you find it quite difficult at first.
Meditation starts with mindfulness. Being mindful is a way of living, where one is able to enjoy the present moment in any situation. It is the practice of recognizing when you are in stressful, unpleasant, challenging situations and being able to calmly respond, allowing more positive emotions and a positive outlook to be channeled. This is what practicing meditation can lead towards. Research shows that practicing meditation for eight weeks can actually change the shape of your brain, shrinking the connections that lead to fear, stress and anxiety, and increasing the area that regulates emotions and problem-solving.
It may seem overwhelming to start out, but give it a try! All it takes is a few minutes per day to focus on your breathing and allow your mind to calm. People often choose to practice meditating at the same time and same place because it becomes part of their routine, but this can be done anywhere, at any time. There are even YouTube videos and apps, such as Headspace (which is available for free right now!), that can guide you through different types of meditation. Visit their website for more information on how meditation can help you.
