Tag: well-being

Benefits of Meditation

What is Meditation?

Meditation is relaxation.  It is not about concentration, it’s actually about de-concentration.  It’s not about focusing one’s thoughts on one thing, but instead on becoming thoughtless.

What are the benefits of meditation?

  • A calm mind
  • Good concentration
  • Better clarity
  • Improved communication
  • Relaxation and rejuvenation of the mind and body

11 Mental Benefits of Meditation

Meditation brings the brainwave pattern into an Alpha state that promotes healing.  The mind becomes fresh, delicate and beautiful. It cleanses and nourishes you from within and calms you, whenever you feel overwhelmed, unstable, or emotionally shut down.  With regular practice of meditation:

  1.  Anxiety decreases
  2.  Emotional stability improves
  3.  Creativity increases
  4.  Happiness increases
  5.  Intuition develops
  6.  Gain clarity and peace of mind
  7.  Problems become smaller
  8.  Meditation sharpens the mind by gaining focus and expands through relaxation
  9.  A sharp mind without expansion causes tension, anger and frustration
  10.  An expanded consciousness without sharpness can lead to lack of action/progress
  11.  The balance of a sharp mind and an expanded consciousness brings perfection

Meditation makes you aware – that your inner attitude determines your happiness.

Source:  The Art of Living

Benefits of Writing Your Emotions

In James Pennebaker’s (professor at the University of Texas) study, he found that the people who wrote about emotionally charged episodes experienced a marked increase in their physical and mental well-being. 

They were happier, less depressed, and less anxious.  In the months after the writing sessions, they had lower blood pressure, better immune function, and fewer doctor visits.  They also reported higher quality relationships, better memory, and more success at work.

Try this writing exercise for yourself (believe me, you’ll be glad you did) . . .

pennebaker’s writing rules

Set a timer for 20 minutes.  Open your notebook, or create a new document on your computer.  When the timer starts, begin writing about your emotional experiences from the past week, month, or year.  Don’t worry about punctuation, sloppiness, or coherence.  Simply go wherever your mind takes you, curiously and without judgment.

Write just for yourself and not for some eventual reader.  Do this for a few days.  Then throw the paper away (or stick it in a bottle and cast it out to sea), or close the document without saving it.  Or if you’re ready, start a blog or find a literary agent.  It doesn’t matter.  The point is that those thoughts are now out of you and on the page.  You have  begun the process of “stepping out” from your experience to gain perspective on it.

~ Emotional Agility