How can mindfulness help us deal with our depression?
Living our best life requires an investment in our health. It requires a lifelong commitment to practices that keep the mind and body nourished and restored for the increasing demands of this world. The essence of meditation is singular – to cultivate mindful awareness. It is true that anyone who meditates regularly receives profound benefits on all of these levels – physical, mental, emotional and spiritual. New research also shows that mindfulness meditation restores the brain. A landmark study conducted by Massachusetts General Hospital found that as little as eight weeks of meditation not only helped people feel calmer but also produced changes in various areas of the brain, including growth in the areas associated with memory, empathy, sense of self and stress regulation. Mindfulness practice allows you to be more intentionally aware of the present moment, which gives you space to pause before reacting automatically to others. Instead of becoming distressed about rejection or criticism, you are able to step back to understand your own automatic reactions. Awareness gives you more choice in how to respond, instead of becoming swept up in escalating negative emotions. Meditation is not easy, and if it was, it would not be able to deliver to you the peace and well-being that it does once you get the hang of it. Like all worthy endeavors, it takes practice, patience and even some hard work in order to benefit from its invaluable insights. One core belief of Buddhism teaches that both happiness and sadness is the responsibility of each individual, which also means that we all have the complete control to change our lives. Meditation is one the the oldest practices in history and has been used for centuries to heal the human spirit, calm the mind and even cure and aid physical paid and emotional suffering. * Next Week - Getting started with mindfulness and letting go of your depression*