Why meditate?
Due to large amounts of stimuli, unrest and external influences, our inner balance is increasingly disturbed. Sometimes this goes so far that we build up stress that we can't easily let go of. This can have a negative impact on our well-being and health.
Meditation is a scientifically proven way to relax and restore the brain. By training this on a regular basis, other connections are created in your brain (= neuroplasticity) which gives you better control over your brain waves, which you can benefit from in your daily life.
The effect of meditation is already noticeable with 10 minutes a day. Structural improvement of your brain is already visible in an MRI scan after 4 weeks of daily meditation. So your brain is actually a potential happiness muscle that you can train with meditation, just like you do in the gym for the rest of your body muscles.
Research
In recent years, much research has been done in Western (neuro)science into the effects of meditation on the brain and the immune system. Many productivity-enhancing and health-promoting effects have been found. New scientific studies appear daily that show what meditation does to the human brain and body and explain why meditation has been successfully used worldwide for centuries to achieve personal development through inner peace and balance.
'The goal of meditation isn't to control your thoughts, it's to stop letting them control you.'
Margarita Franklin, President and CEO at CFA Institute
The benefits of meditation
The scientific studies conducted support the following positive effects of meditation:
Mental:
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Reduction of stress
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Reduction of illness and burnout
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Improved perception
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Increase in productivity
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Improved concentration
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Less mistakes
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Increased creativity
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Faster and better functioning of the brain
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Better memory
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Better decision making
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Better sleep and less sleep needed
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Improved emotion management
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Increase in well-being
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More experienced happiness
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Physically:
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More relaxation
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More energy
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Better functioning of the immune system
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Decrease in age-related degeneration of body cells
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Less age-related loss of brain cells
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Positive change of the structure in the brain
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As a result of the above effects, meditation can have a positive impact on problems such as stress, burnout, ADHD, pain, inflammatory diseases and other mental and psychological problems.
