While I am sure many of us have heard that meditation does lots of good and yadda yadda, but really looking into meditation it is quite amazing what the mind can accomplish. Think about it, you've probably trained your mind to prefer certain things over others and have a sort of memory when you smell something or hear a certain piece of music. But those sorts of things are only on the surface of what the mind is capable of. The common phrases 'Mind over matter' or 'you can do anything you put your mind to' are very much valid. And through meditation, one can find what their mind is really capable of through practice.
Even science is backing this amazing practice. In a study done in Belgium involving nearly 400 people, showed a decrease in depression when they participate in a mindfulness program, or meditation. Some studies have even shown meditation to work almost on the same levels and decreasing depression much like that of anti-depressants. Interesting. Meditation is even known to regulate the mood and anxiety disorders. Going in further with disorders, as we know many suffer from them, meditation has even been shown to help reduce panic disorder.
While meditation does these amazing things, it is also shown to yield even more benefits. It is shown to increase the gray matter concentration in the brain. A Harvard study did an experiment where 16 people did an eight-week mindfulness course, using guided meditations, showed an increase of gray matter. That alone makes me want to go meditate right this second (I have some tough courses this semester). The last and most interesting thing I read, that almost makes me want to force myself to meditate every day is this: Meditation acutely improves psychomotor vigilance, and may decrease the need for sleep. Wow! Maybe meditation is the answer for needing less sleep and getting more done? As nice as that sounds, I doubt it. I think sleep is required unless we've been lied to. Who knows? I guess we must try it for ourselves.
There are a few types of meditation that everyone can enjoy including: Meditative prayer, Yoga (one of my favorites), and Relaxation response. These are not all of the ways in which to meditate, as I am sure some have their own way of meditation, but practicing one might show a difference in a person's life. I think I will go try it out now.
