Let’s talk Meditation
August 19, 2021 – written by Leeann Vautrin, Communications Assistant, Water Gap Wellness
Meditation is the practice of concentrated focus of an object, thought or activity. To train your attention and awareness to obtain a mentally clear, calm state of mind.
If you are anything like me, your thoughts may have a way of bombarding your being. One thought can lead to another, and you find yourself hopping down the rabbit hole with no end in sight.
I have found that meditation is an excellent alternative to being the victim of intrusive thoughts and feelings. One of the many wonderful benefits of mindful meditation is the improvement of memory. If you can incorporate thirty minutes of daily, mindful meditation into your routine your brain can then begin to increase a “grey matter” in the hippocampus. The hippocampus, located in the medial temporal lobe of the brain plays a huge role in memory and learning.
Do you ever find yourself struggling with making decisions? Fortunately, meditating can help ease the stress of decision making. Meditation produces more gyrification. Gyrification is the process of forming characteristic folds of the cerebral cortex. Increased amounts of gyrification gives additional surface area to the brain which then leads to enhanced neural processing and decision making.
Another great aspect of consistent meditation is the process of loosening the neural pathways between the brain’s fear center and the cerebrum, also known as the “me center.” The feeling of fear and anxiety begin to decrease as the neural pathways loosen. This process then makes room for new neural pathways to form, including more positive, empathetic responses in place of fear and anxiety. A positive and empathetic response can assist you in making more clear, confident decisions.
Ultimately, I have learned the key to a positive mental state of mind is consistent mindfulness of my attitude towards myself and others. I have found that meditation is a great way to clear my mind, adjust my attitude and keep focus on what matters