Fear is the single worst threat that exists to an individual’s overall well being. It eats away confidence and limits concentration; it isolates and inhibits insight. It steals happiness by making sufferers question themselves, as well as those around them, over and over again. And that kind of emotional toll can be secondary to the actual physical damage that living with anxiety does to the human body.
Nowadays, there exist countless medications and therapies available for people needing and wanting help for their fear and anxiety. But the ancient practice of meditation is one of only a few possible solutions that are free, easy to master and available to everyone, regardless of age, income and location. Take a look at four ways meditation – training your mind to concentrate – can change your life:
It Safeguards Your Cardiac Health
Studies show that meditation actually alters brain activity. It can also lower levels of cortisol and adrenaline (hormones associated with the stress response), as well as heart and breathing rates, blood pressure and oxygen consumption. All of these factors play a role in cardiac health, with lower values often signaling greater heart fitness.
It Provides Clarity
When done properly, meditation actively clears your mind. And when you clear your mind, you leave room to think about the things that really matter to you. It can also allow you to notice the things around you that have been hidden due to your stress and distraction.
It Promotes Contentment
With fear comes worry. But through meditation, you learn to focus on the present rather than on any past issues or future possibilities. It frees your mind to find solace and satisfaction in the here and now and leaves no room for regret or doubt about what could have been or what might be. If you have no remorse and no expectation, you are free to enjoy what you have now.
It Encourages Connectivity
Learning to recognize and address the stressors in your life inevitably improves how you live it. This, in turn, makes for a happier you. And happiness is contagious. It infects others, enhancing your relationships with them and opening doors to new opportunities.
Final Thoughts
Meditation has existed for thousands of years with cultures and religious groups around the world using it to improve their physical, mental, emotional and spiritual states. It’s not hard a hard skill to learn, but it does take practice to master. Like a pianist who develops better technique after several years of playing or an EB5 lawyer who sharpens her skills with each new case, you can improve your performance if you stick to it!