The Power of Meditation

By Ameya Aneja & Juee Deshmukh, Edited by Samita Pandit, Geethi Tarra, & Taruni Manam, Layout by Vrinda Gandhi, Art by Evelyn Chen, & Blogged by Kavya Gurunath

How can devoting a few minutes to yourself each day benefit your life? Read more to learn how the art of meditation can be life-changing.

Meditation is a technique intended to bring forth a heightened sense of awareness and a clear mind. It is believed to have originated in India several thousand years ago, but almost every religion has its practice. Although meditation can be practiced in several different ways, the two main types are concentrative meditation and mindfulness meditation. Concentrative meditation involves focusing on an object and tuning out one’s surroundings. This type of meditation lets one reach a higher state of self by focusing on the breath, an affirmation, or a mantra. Mindfulness meditation practices being aware of the present moment and making oneself open and accepting. Meditation is powerful because it increases self-awareness, increases willpower and can bring more positivity into life.

Through meditation, one increases his or her self-awareness. Some practices allow one to develop a greater understanding of oneself and the surrounding environment by self-inquiry. Focusing on one’s thoughts allows him or her to perceive harmful beliefs, and undo the negative thought patterns for a positive outlook. By living in the present moment and reflecting on one’s thoughts, one is less likely to believe and replay negative, self-sabotaging beliefs. As one gains more awareness towards his or her thoughts, he or she can steer them into positive and accepting thoughts. And as these thoughts become a habit, one is towards becoming his or her best self through self-awareness and acceptance.

Another benefit of meditation is an increase in willpower. At Brown University, a study demonstrated that people who meditate consistently were more “able to use their willpower and strength of will to ignore any kind of pain” (NeuroNation). Alpha waves in the brain are produced when the mind isn’t focusing too hard (Larson, 2019). They reduce stress levels and increase creativity levels. Mindful meditation strengthens alpha waves, making one calmer and less likely to respond to pain and anxiety. Through meditation, one can improve depression and anxiety levels, leading to a better mood and stronger will power in stressful situations.

There are nine popular types of meditation:

- mindfulness meditation

- spiritual meditation

- focused meditation

- movement meditation

- mantra meditation

- transcendental meditation

- progressive relaxation

- loving-kindness meditation

- visualization meditation

The bottom line is that there is a meditation practice for everyone, whether you want to relieve stress or attain spiritual enlightenment, find quiet or flow through movement. Don't be afraid to venture outside of your comfort zone and try new things. It's generally a case of trial and error until you discover the right one. Meditation can help lower blood pressure, reduce anxiety, decrease pain, ease symptoms of depression and improve sleep. Those who practice regular meditation are sure of the benefits in their life, whether the benefits are anecdotal or scientifically established.

References

Bertone, H. J. (2020, October 2). Which Type of Meditation Is Right for You? Healthline. https://www.healthline.com/health/mental-health/types-of-meditation#benefits.

Cherry, K. (n.d.). How Meditation Impacts Your Mind and Body. Verywell Mind. https://www.verywellmind.com/what-is-meditation-2795927#types.

Chow, S. (2021, March 18). Meditation History. News. https://www.news-medical.net/health/Meditation-History.aspx.

Larson, J. (2019, October 9). Alpha Brain Waves: What Are They and Why Are They Important? Healthline. https://www.healthline.com/health/alpha-brain-waves#benefits.

The powerful advantages of meditation. NeuroNation. (2020, May 15). https://blog.neuronation.com/en/the-powerful-advantages-of-meditation/.

SMGadmin. (2016, June 28). 5 Ways to Develop Self-Awareness Through Meditation. Vantage Point Recovery. https://vantagepointrecovery.com/5-ways-develop-self-awareness-meditation/.

Thorpe, M. (2020, October 27). 12 Benefits of Meditation. Healthline. https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/12-benefits-of-meditation#4.-Enhances-self-awareness.

By Evelyn Chen