“Use Your Mind to Change Your Brain” – Excerpts

Utterly fascinating (emphasis added):

Essentially, the science “proves” what we know to be true from the actual experience of meditating…In a very real way, you literally are changing your brain for the better when you meditate.

In the end, this means that you are able to see yourself and everyone around you from a clearer perspective, while simultaneously being more present, compassionate and empathetic with people no matter the situation. With time and practice, people do truly become calmer, have a greater capacity for empathy and find they tend to respond in a more balanced way to things, people or events in their lives.

However, to maintain your gains, you have to keep meditating. Why? Because the brain can very easily revert back to its old ways if you are not vigilant (I’m referencing the idea of neuroplasticity here). This means you have to keep meditating to ensure that the new neural pathways you worked so hard to form stay strong.

To me, this amazing brain science and the very real rewards gained from meditation combine to form a compelling argument for developing and/or maintaining a daily practice. It definitely motivates me on those days I don’t “feel” like sitting. So, try to remind yourself that meditating every day, even if it’s only 15 minutes, will keep those newly formed connections strong and those unhelpful ones of the past at bay.

Read it in full: “This Is Your Brain on Meditation” – The science explaining why you should meditate every day by Rebecca Gladding, M.D.

B Shantanu

Political Activist, Blogger, Advisor to start-ups, Seed investor. One time VC and ex-Diplomat. Failed mushroom farmer; ex Radio Jockey. Currently involved in Reclaiming India - One Step at a Time.

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3 Responses

  1. priyam says:

    DEAR SIR
    I DONT KNOW HOW TO EXPRESS MY THOUGHTS ABOUT UR ARTICLES. JUST HAV FEW WORDS FOR THEM. THEY ARE ALWAYS “EYE OPENERS”. SIR ACTUALLY B’COZ OF OUR HILARIOUS EDUCATION SYSTEM. I’M NOT ABLE TO EXPRESS MY THOUGHTS IN ENGLISH OR HINDI PROPERLY. ITS A KIND OF HYBRID LANGUAGE HINGLISH. I WOULD LYK TO KNOW UR OPINION WID DIS. ITS A MAJOR ISSUE. WE R JUST HANGING BETWEEN HINDI AND ENGLISH.
    SIR I NEED UR HELP WID ANOTHER MATTER. M ENGINEERING FINAL YEAR STUDENT. I WANT TO WORK FOR BUSINESS RELATED FIRM. ENGINEERING WAS REALLY A WRONG DECISION . I DONT HAV ANY IDEA ABOUT DIS BUSINESS KINDA THING. I DONT KNOW “KI MUJHE KYA KARNA CHAHIYE “. U HAV A GR8 EXPERINCE WID BOTH OF THESE ENGINEERING AS WELL AS BUSINESS RELATED THINGS. PLZZ SUGGEST ME !
    I’LL BE V.THANKFULL TO YOU .
    PRIYAM
    (INDORE)

  2. B Shantanu says:

    More on this:
    A 20-Minute Bout of Yoga Stimulates Brain Function Immediately After

    June 5, 2013 — Researchers report that a single, 20-minute session of Hatha yoga significantly improved participants’ speed and accuracy on tests of working memory and inhibitory control, two measures of brain function associated with the ability to maintain focus and take in, retain and use new information. Participants performed significantly better immediately after the yoga practice than after moderate to vigorous aerobic exercise for the same amount of time…

  3. B Shantanu says:

    Placing this here for the record: 10 Remarkable Ways Meditation Helps Your Mind by Jeremy Dean