Benefits Of Meditation For Individuals And For Society As A Whole
Meditation has been scientifically proven to offer many benefits, both to the individual and society as a whole. In this blog post, we will focus on the benefits meditation offers individuals.
Meditation is widely acknowledged for its many mental health benefits, such as lowering levels of anxiety and depression, increasing quality of life by reducing stress and improving emotional regulation. Studies have shown that it also inhibits impulsivity in cigarette smokers and binge eaters as well as other impulsive tendencies such as substance abuse.
Some studies have found that meditation also provides certain physical health benefits too- by strengthening immune system functioning and improving cardiovascular health. Meditation may even be able to positively affect our DNA (if you've ever heard of epigenetics).
This is especially relevant for those who are stressed out and overwhelmed and feel like they can't control anything. Meditation has been shown to reduce stress levels, increase self-awareness, and provide a sense of peace, which benefits those who are suffering from mental health issues such as OCD and ADHD.
The effects of meditation on the brain has also been studied, which suggests that meditation can help change the structure of our brains- improving communication between different regions of our brains which in turn helps us to better concentrate while decreasing impulsivity. In fact, meditation may help us to live longer! A study found that individuals who meditated regularly had lower rates of mortality than individuals who did not meditate.
I would also add that meditation can be a beneficial practice for society as a whole, which benefits the individual and society overall. Meditation has been shown to help individuals acting as mediators in conflicts by reducing aggression and increasing empathy and compassion. Meditators also tend to be more helpful towards others, which boosts the overall morale of our societies.
Meditation can be a valuable tool to help improve the lives of individuals both mentally and physically, benefiting those with mental health issues, as well as those who are healthy. It also brings about positive changes in society when meditators tend to be more helpful, more empathetic and more compassionate people. The benefits of meditation are abundant and far-reaching.
It's a wonderful time to be a meditator!
For more information about the benefits of meditation, click here for some fascinating studies on the topic.
By Aurore Verhoeven, PsyD
Posted in: Blog, Mindfulness, Self-Help | 3 Comments »
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Here at Imago we believe that you should take your time to rediscover yourself and your loved one in order to discover what they desire from you. This is the key! The most important part of a relationship is understanding each other better and making sure that both know how much you love them more than anything else in life. This is why if you are in a relationship and trying to understand your partner's character, you might want to consider doing this exercise. The following text is an excerpt from the book: "Spreading Your Wings: How To Have A Happy Relationship" by Anna Von Hausswolff.
Upon completion of this article, you should be able to better understand your own partner at an emotional level and also be able to communicate more effectively with them. This is the foundation of a happy relationship.
We hope that you enjoy this read and that it helps you to become a better partner by knowing your partner better. You might want to save it for later or even print it out and read it with your partner! As always, leave your comments below and let us know what you think! ___________________________________________________________________________________
A test to get to know yourself and another person
This test will help you understand the other person in a very special way. It is composed solely of written questions- no mathematical calculations, no diagrams, no figures whatsoever. It's just two people answering questions- one is the subject of the test, while the other is taking the test with them. The questions are going to be much more intense than the average IQ test.
The first step is that you should divide the questions up between both people in a way that will allow them to be answered comfortably and in a short amount of time. This should be achieved by dividing the questions into two parts- 6 for the subject and 5 for the test taker. After both are divided, each person reads one half of the test and answers each question in turn. After answering the last question, the subject of the test reads their part and answers each one of the questions in turn. When both are done, they can discuss the results together.
The following is an excerpt taken from "Spreading Your Wings: How To Have A Happy Relationship" by Anna Von Hausswolff:
What would be your best guess as to how someone else sees you?
What made you feel happy today?
What was the most important thing that happened over the weekend?
What was a funny thing or event that happened at work today? What reaction did you have to it?
How would you describe yourself? Describe your partner.
How much do you like your significant other? How much would you miss them if they were to suddenly leave?
How many of these things do you think your significant other doesn't really share with you because they are afraid of hurting them?
What is the most important thing that you have learned from this exercise? What was the biggest surprise that came up? What was your reaction to it all?
If we could change one of your traits or characteristics, what would it be and why?
Once again, we want to thank everyone for visiting our blog! Please feel free to leave comments below. We will read each one and reply soon! Best Wishes, The Imago Team.
For more information about the book, visit the above link! ___________________________________________________________________________________
- Have you considered trying a mindfulness meditation course? Maybe something like: http://www.mindfulnesscourse.co.uk/ - Are you interested in all kinds of things to do with mindfulness? Here are some ideas: - Mindfulness Blog is an excellent source of information related to mindfulness meditation, mindfulness apps and even how to bring mindful living into your life. - Would you like to learn how to meditate? There are plenty of courses where you can learn how to meditate at home! Check out: https://www.openmeditation.com/index.
Conclusion Getting to know yourself and your partner can be a very beneficial pursuit. In today's society, there are many stresses and strains that put a lot of pressure on people. This is why there is such a rise in mental health issues in our culture!
This pressure makes it harder for people to spend time with their loved ones and ultimately cultivate meaningful connections with them. It is our belief at Imago Relationship Therapy that the key to happiness and fulfillment in relationships comes from strengthening bonds between partners so that they can have better relationships overall.