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Benefits of mindfulness meditation go far beyond relaxation – here’s what it is and how to practice it
Researchers say mindfulness works by training acceptance, which can reduce loneliness, stress hormones and symptoms of pain, insomnia, anxiety and depression.
- Mindfulness is often portrayed as relaxation, but Carnegie Mellon University researchers Yuval Hadash and David Creswell define it as a mental state training attention and acceptance of moment-to-moment experiences.
- In a well-known 2014 study, many participants found sitting alone for 15 minutes so challenging they chose to press a button to give themselves an unpleasant electric shock rather than face their thoughts.
- East Asian Buddhist traditions use the "Two arrows." metaphor: the first is an unavoidable unpleasant experience, the second is our reaction to it. Mindfulness helps soften that second arrow of struggle.
- One of our studies found participants during a 20-minute mindfulness meditation noticed six times more unpleasant experiences than pleasant ones, revealing that accepting attitudes are the critical driver of positive effects.
- Meaningful change comes through consistent, ongoing practice, as brief sessions are unlikely to produce instant relief. Over time, regular mindfulness provides greater resilience and ease when relating to life's future challenges.
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Benefits of mindfulness meditation go far beyond relaxation: Here's what it is and how to practice it
Imagine being asked to sit alone in a quiet room for 15 minutes with nothing to do—no phone, no music, no external distraction. In a well-known 2014 study, many participants found that task so challenging that they chose to press a button to give themselves an unpleasant electric shock instead of continuing to sit with their thoughts and sensations.
The Laconia Daily Sun+10 Reposted by 10 other sources
Benefits of mindfulness meditation go far beyond relaxation – here’s what it is and how to practice it
Facing your own thoughts and sensations, without trying to suppress them, is harder than it may seem. But learning to do it can boost your mental health.
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Total News Sources12
Leaning Left3Leaning Right3Center4Last UpdatedBias Distribution40% Center
Bias Distribution
- 40% of the sources are Center
40% Center
L 30%
C 40%
R 30%
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