1 – Increases immune function (See here and here)
2 – Decreases Pain (see here)
3 – Decreases Inflammation at the Cellular Level (See here and here and here)
It Boosts Your HAPPINESS
4 – Increases Positive Emotion (here and here)
5 – Decreases Depression (see here)
6 – Decreases Anxiety (see here and here and here)
7 – Decreases Stress (see here and here)
It Boosts Your SOCIAL LIFE
Think meditation is a solitary activity? It may be (unless you meditate in a group which many do!) but it actually increases your sense of connection to others:
8 – Increases social connection & emotional intelligence (see here and – by yours truly – here)
9 – Makes you more compassionate (see here and here and here)
10 – Makes you feel less lonely (see here)
It Boosts Your Self-Control
11 – Improves your ability to regulate your emotions (see here) (Ever flown off the handle or not been able to quiet your mind? Here’s the key)
12 – Improves your ability to introspect (see here)
It Changes Your BRAIN (for the better)
13 – Increases grey matter (see here)
14 – Increases volume in areas related to emotion regulation, positive emotions & self-control (see here and here)
15 – Increases cortical thickness in areas related to paying attention (see here)
It Improves Your Productivity (yup, by doing nothing)
16 – Increases your focus & attention (see here and here and here and here)
17 – Improves your ability to multitask (see here and here)
18 – Improves your memory (see here)
19 – Improves your ability to be creative & think outside the box (see research by J. Schooler)
6 Myths about Meditation
1 – You have to have an empty mind—nope, in fact, when you start meditating, you’ll find its quite the opposite
2 – You have to sit in the lotus position—nope, you can sit on the couch (just don’t lie down, you’ll fall asleep)
3 – You have to dedicate an hour a day—nope, small doses work just fine, (see here)
4 – You have to chant in a weird language—nope, not unless that floats your boat
5 – You have to be Buddhist, Hindu or religious—nope, not unless you make it so
6 – It’s weird—what’s so weird about sitting and breathing? Look who else is meditating:US congressmen, NFL football leagues and the US Marine Corps.
Are you looking to get started with daily meditation? Click here!