Path to Tranquility: How Meditation Affects the Human Brain

Living in a world where the rat race is the norm and barely having time to breathe is a flex, humans have gotten used to the fast life. With wars raging and humanity fading, it makes one think whether this is the path we were meant to follow. Human intelligence is indeed an indisputable phenomenon; what we do with it is questionable.

High inflation has made it only natural for people to be on the continuous run for money. Having mouths to feed and goals to achieve in life, being rich and successful has been beyond glorified but less attention is paid on mental wellbeing and spiritual development. Nevertheless, it is crucial to be physically as well as mentally strong if one is to achieve success in life. However, inner peace and tranquility have become a topic of interest in recent times as people search for the true sense of being and finding one’s purpose in life.

Meditation is said to have originated in India, and many forms of meditation that are currently being practiced are teachings of Lord Buddha. These forms include ‘Anapanasathi’, which is centered around mindful breathing, ‘Maithree’, focusing on loving-kindness towards all human beings, and ‘Vipassana’, paying attention to rising and passing of sensations. Meditation is termed as ‘Bhavana’ and is widely practiced by Buddhists worldwide as a means of attaining psychological health.

The positive effects of meditation are immense; achieving better emotional stability, improved mood, enhanced sleep cycles, reduced stress, boost in cognitive skills to name a few. Reducing stress and developing the ability to cope with stressful situations is one of the major reasons that people embrace meditation. As a result of heightened stress and anxiety, inability to handle intense emotions, lack of sleep, lower levels of concentration could occur, all of which could be relieved through meditation. Burnout is very common given the competitiveness of the job market, for which meditation is a wonderful solution.

But how can meditation solve so many problems and what does it do to the human brain? Through scientific research, one of the effects observed is increased grey matter thickness, thus positively impacting emotional regulation and memory. It was also observed that in people who practiced meditation, the amygdala which triggers the fight-or flight response, has also decreased in volume. These in turn encourage better reactions to otherwise stress-inducing situations, thus promoting a well-balanced mind.

Here’s how to get started on meditation:

1. Study different forms of meditation and choose one that resonates with you the most.
2. Choose a quiet place free of distractions.
3. Wear loose, comfortable clothing.
4. Sit in a comfortable position that you can hold for a minimum of 5 minutes.
5. Take a deep breath to calm yourself and meditate for short stretches at the beginning. You can increase the time as you go along.

The relaxed feeling that soothes your mind and body is one of the biggest rewards of meditation. If practiced widely, there is significant potential to revive the lost humanity and lighten up the true spirit of being human.