Today’s stressful life can put a heavy demand on your body, soul and mind. Prolonged mental, emotional or physical stress isn’t good for anyone. It can lead to anxiety, depression, heart attack, stroke, high blood pressure or immune disorders, not to mention other health-threatening conditions such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
The Power of Meditation
No matter what, stress cannot be ignored. If it persists, it must be dealt with. Luckily, there are many ways to manage the pressure—everything from eating a healthy diet to reducing caffeine and sugar, to regular exercise. Perhaps one of the best answers to stress though is meditation. This practice dates back hundreds and hundreds of years. An online article in the Huffington Post brings together research linking mindful meditation with a number of physical, mental and spiritual benefits. They include:
• Increased gray matter
• Increased willpower
• Increased focus and concentration
• Boosts in cognitive function
• Physical changes to the brain
• Aid to sleep
• Reduced pain
• Immune system boost
• Lowered blood pressure
• Reduced inflammation
• Reduced heart risk
• Eased stress and anxiety
• Increased compassion and empathy
These benefits do not take a lifetime of meditation training to achieve. It’s reported that brain changes have been observed even after an interval of only eight weeks. There are many books, videos and CDs that can help you get started. The secret is to start small and persist. Don’t worry if takes a while to tame your wandering attention. Try to develop a loving and accepting attitude as you learn. You will see big changes after just a few weeks.