Meditation can transform our brains in 8 weeks. The areas that seem to be changing are those related to memory, empathy and stress, as well as those responsible for attention and emotional integration.
It was not the speech of a group of fans or lovers of pseudoscience, but of a team of researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital that documented the results.
- The research was published in the journal Psychiatric Research and established an eight-week meditation program that would measure the benefits of meditation on emotions.
- Behavior and thoughts.
Although we know that there are many benefits of meditation, so far it has not been found that changes are occurring so quickly and much less that their scope is so great.
Meditation is known to cause changes in regions of the brain that are related to memory, self-awareness, empathy and stress, that is, what we mean by nuances of spirituality really improves our physical and mental health.
When someone meditates, they not only feel better because they relax, but also because the structure of their brain skillfully alters their connections. Apparently, you don’t need to be a meditation expert to enjoy its benefits and feel a greater capacity for emotional integration and attention.
In fact, survey participants spent only 27 minutes a day practicing meditation exercises, and it only took 8 weeks to observe brain changes such as increased gray matter density in the hippocampus (memory-related area) and other areas related to self-awareness, compassion. introspection.
In addition, there was also a decrease in the density of the amygdala, a structure responsible for emotional states such as stress, anxiety and fear, that is, thanks to the plasticity of our brain, we have the opportunity to be better people every day, both for others and for ourselves.
If we meditate frequently, one of the changes we can quickly appreciate is the ability to live in the present, here and now, setting aside disturbing thoughts about the past or the future.
As we have said before, this not only induces a state of relaxation, but also allows us to gain greater control over ourselves, through meditation we will be able to master our words and thoughts, as well as the dialogue that we keep within.
This practice will bring great benefit, because we will be able to better understand our emotions by not engaging them in negative thoughts and, therefore, we will act more moderately.
This results in emotional and social success, as self-control will translate into better relationships, projects and daily life.
Before you start practicing meditation, you have to be aware that you have to have a lot of respect for the subject, because although there are many experts and tips to practice it, these are not always true, because it is a discipline that requires great intellectual exercise and the help of a qualified instructor.
As we have already mentioned, meditation dissolves and releases our thoughts, leading us to focus on the present and overcome stress and worry, the mind will always want to show that consciousness is dormant, so at first it can be difficult to manage the tingling, the itching. scalp or any other discomfort.
In any case, if you don’t already know any meditation practices and want to delve into this world that brings so many benefits, you need to take the time to learn and reflect on the type of meditation that suits you best, your values, your beliefs and needs. This will certainly be the first step in turning this wonderful and very beneficial practice into a habit.