Category: Meditation

The famous philosopher Rene Descartes is prominent not only because of his ideas but also for the book he wrote, Meditations on the First Philosophy. This book is highly influential among philosophical texts and remains distinguished long after the first publication date. The book was initially written in Latin in 1641 and later translated to French six years after. The reason behind the books title lies in the process of six-day meditation that Descartes narrates in his work. Throughout the narrative, the author refers to the previous meditation as the one done yesterday. The authors aim in the book is to halt believing in things that are not exact and then establish the facts that are certainly known. The ideas presented by Descartes in Meditations on the First Philosophy illustrate the quest for knowledge and encourage further reflection on the topic of existential beliefs.

In an exploration of the ideas of Descartes, there is a need to put the most important of them foremost, from the beginning to the end. Therefore, in the first meditation, the underlying idea is to identify the specific knowledge and call other expertise into doubt. The Mediator, as a character, led through the narration, decides to doubt his views and recognize the ideas that can be proved certainly. Later, the Meditators opinions have he obtained from his senses, which can be deceiving, as the things that can be seen in the dreams are as accurate as what is happening in real life. The author proves the nature of things being untrue by stating: When I think this over more carefully, I see so clearly that waking can never be distinguished from sleep by any conclusive indications that I am stupefied (Descartes 14). Therefore, the vital idea explored in the first meditation is that most opinions and thoughts should be doubted until proven exact.

Within the exploration of essential ideas of the authors work, the second meditation becomes the topic under discussion. After examining the world perception as unreal and possibly deceiving, Descartes presents the idea of thought patterns connected to conscious experience that the human mind undergoes. The thought pattern idea is later introduced as the representational theory, which questions whether the world seen around the person is real. According to the author, this theory has the power to break the connection between the human mind and the world itself. Therefore, there is a need to create a new link and explain why the ideas obtained represent the world accurately. Furthermore, the author explores the aspect of thought and existence and forms the statement I think therefore I am implying that consciousness proves an individuals existence. Therefore, the crucial idea of the second meditation is the connection between mind and thoughts and the ability to exist demonstrated by the ability to think.

The third meditation brings more thoughts into a discussion about philosophical ideas explored in the narrative. Descartes separates the main ideas into three types, which are innate, invented, and adventitious. The first category of ideas, according to the author, are those that have always been within a person and exemplify God in the narrative as the main idea in the category. Invented ideas are those that come from human imagination, and adventitious ideas are those that are created from human experience. Yet, the main idea presented in the third meditation is regarding God and an attempt to prove that he does exist. The author explores Gods existence in the following line: The whole force of the argument comes down to this, that I recognize that it cannot be that I should exist, with the nature I possess, unless in reality God also exists (Descartes, 37). Judging from the fact that something always comes from something and cannot come from anywhere and the innate idea of God present in an individual, the author concludes that God exists and has a purpose to live.

The ideas presented in the three meditations are profound in the sense of comprehending and the fact that they demonstrate the quest for knowledge. The first idea explored in the first meditation, which is doubting facts and considering knowledge present as uncertain, is the first step in searching for actual learning. The idea of nothing being specific unless proven so and the absence of justifications that the world as people see it is accurate and is not a product of thought begs further discussion, which is the definition of seeking new information. The idea examined in the second meditation concerning human existence reaffirmed by humans ability to think proves the need for new knowledge to be obtained. As a result of thinking, new ideas emerge from the mind, and therefore the knowledge broadens and demands new sources to be found. The third meditation brings the idea of God, and the will to explore the fact of his existence is the genuine seeking of knowledge. Therefore, the ideas explored in the three meditations demonstrate the quest for knowledge in different aspects of exploration.

As a result of the continuous exploration of Descartess ideas, it is possible to learn something new from every individual who comes across this work. One of the essential things that can be learned from these philosophical ideas is that if the person would not doubt the information obtained, it can be harmful and lead to false statements and conclusions. The other significant thought that might come from examining this philosophy is that every person needs a thought process to consider themselves alive. It is one of the essential factors that differentiates a human being from any other living creature. The idea of God existing that Descartes proves in his work requires further exploration, yet it does make individuals question their position on the matter. Therefore, Meditations on the First Philosophy is the source of new knowledge that motivates the readers to think and ponder the information they acquire.

In conclusion, Descartes has made numerous explorations regarding philosophical ideas that are important in the present. The author exposes the reader to different philosophical ideas through the meditations and shows the concepts learned through them. The idea of every knowledge requiring doubt suggests that people should not believe everything they know from the elementary deed they know. The idea of humans existing as long as thinking implies a strong need for the person to think and evaluate to prove to be alive. The opinions presented by Descartes demonstrate the seeking for knowledge in the way that every single idea requires the thought process to happen to exist. The philosophy is rich in teachings that every individual encountering the idea may use as a source to learn from.

Work Cited

Descartes, René. Meditations on First Philosophy. Translated by Michael Moriarty, OUP Oxford, 2008.

The real purpose of meditation is to increase awareness and consciousness. It causes a subsequent change in our perception of the external world. To date, there have been many studies that have confirmed the enormous benefits of meditation for mental and physical health. These practices can provide an invaluable sense of calm and peace lacking in a pandemic era. This practice helps people relax, live more consciously, calm down quickly, find original solutions to problems, and take a breath.

I believe in meditation because it can give us a sense of peace and stress relief, improving our emotional state. I have a rather sensitive nervous system, and I have been characterized by slight mood swings for almost my entire life. Scientists have found that meditation improved the condition of the so-called white matter, which connects the anterior cingulate cortex with other parts of the brain (Duhigg 132). As a result, students can control their thoughts, behavior, and emotions and better respond to stressful situations. I chose to follow the authors recommendation of The Power of Habit and make a reflection propensity since contemplation relieves stress and improves brain function, which is fundamental for me as an understudy.

In The Power of Habit, Charles Duhigg portrays the propensity circle, which clarifies how propensitys structure is regularly repeated. There is a sign that triggers conduct, for which we are compensated, making it likely we will proceed with the behavior (Duhigg 45). My craving in the mornings was having a meal right after I woke up. Hence, after following my cue for daily meditation, I would reward myself with a nice healthy breakfast at home or a café before going to college. Routine is important for work to finish and promote mental wellbeing. First, I learned how to sit and breathe correctly during meditation and my thoughts. At the very beginning of meditation, breathing exercises help me a lot. Of course, for all this, it is better to allocate time at the beginning of the day, to plan the time in a different way (Duhigg 125). Now I need to somehow create this extra hour for myself in the morning. For example, I can get up not at ten but nine or be ready to be an hour late and apologize.

Presently I meditate for various measures of time, a few times each week and, in some cases, a few times each day. Doing these practices not only gave me more happiness but also changed my daily life for the better. I was trying to constrain myself to resist the urge to panic and think as opposed to hurrying. In any case, this activity immediately became routine because, after reflection, I feel quieter. Secondly, I became more concentrated on my studies since I did not waste time on unimportant thoughts. Lastly, I learned to slow down all the processes and focus on the present. Nonetheless, all these benefits do not come easily on the first day of practice. Many people experience irritation during the initial period of meditation because of the constant reminder to relax and free all their thoughts.

In the current situation around meditation, I learned about very simple things: my body, my sensations, how my attention works, and how I combine them. After regular meditation practice, I became calmer and more relaxed; I began to worry less about unimportant matters. As a result, the newly acquired meditation skills inspired by The Power of Habit book helped me appreciate what is happening now and relieve daily stress. The contemporary world contains many new stressors, and consultations with psychologists are becoming more common. Similarly, more people are aware of the benefits of meditation than ever before. Thus, it is most likely that the trend of meditation will grow in the next few years.

Work Cited

Duhigg, Charles. The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business. Random House Trade Paperbacks, 2012.

For many people, the first image that comes to mind when hearing the word meditation is a yoga guru in the lotus pose  probably, at an exotic location with a murmur of the jungle forest in the background. As the Covid-19 pandemic is swaying a country after a country, people cannot escape from their circumstances and often themselves. Thus, they have no other choice than to find emotional relief within the confines of their homes. In her article How Gaming Became a Form of Meditation, BBC author Kate Spicer discusses the new trend in the world of video games. Frightened and frustrated by the realities of the pandemic, game users are turning to what is the opposite of familiar adrenalized content and discovering introspective, peaceful games. This essay discusses how the trending type of video games contributes to the growing diversity of the market, serves the current needs of customers, and is likely to be a long-lasting success.

The new trend in the video game market promotes diversity and broadens choice. Spicer notes that peaceful games are underreported and underrepresented in mass media, which results in the entire industry [being] demonized like rock n roll. However, for years, small, independent game creators have been fighting the hegemony of large corporations and finding success in selling games that are focused on emotions and self-reflection. Because independent creators are not limited by shareholders like big companies are, they can afford to think out of the box and make risky but rewarding decisions. As a result, the new type of game is more human: it appeals to a gamers struggles and emotional experiences. For example, at some point, Tomb Raiders Lara Croft was reinvented as a more sensitive and multidimensional character. She showed natural reactions to events in the game to which gamers could relate on an intimate level. Interestingly enough, the transformation and diversification that the video game market is undergoing are not accidental: it is well-timed.

The rising muddle of the Covid-19 pandemic has put a strain on many peoples emotional and mental well-being. At any other time, the usual action-driven content of video games would provide an exhilarating alternative to the slow-paced routine of day-to-day life. However, the state of the world today is scary enough to stop gamers from craving intense stress responses and dopamine release. Spicer admits that life is stressful enough, [&] but when turn to our phones or tech to escape and find more of the same. Video games that have ascended to popularity during the pandemic let players do things that they might be deprived of in real life. For instance, Animal Crossing which was released in March and outsold all its previous versions focuses on the unbound exploration of a scenic fantasy world. It revolves around simple actions such as gardening, farming, and visiting neighbors, thus, providing the gamers with much-needed serenity and interaction. For all the success of such games, one cannot help but wonder whether the trend will wane after the epidemic.

Shifting the focus from short-lived excitement to careful introspection that can linger long after finishing a game is a sustainable strategy. Spicer opines that capitalizing on fear does make money but such games are marketable for only so long. Instead, as the author writes, [game creators] dont need artificial stress to create engaging experiences. It is love and insight that can create riveting narratives and nourishing experiences. Indeed, there is a certain attractiveness about video games that derive strong negative emotions. Yet, such products are the fast food of the industry  tempting, unhealthy, and at risk of being abandoned by players who want more than cheap shock value. As gamers mature, they start seeking new ways of interacting with a game. They would like it to weave into their own story by creating parallels with what they themselves are experiencing in real life. Both adrenalized and peaceful games provide relief, but in the case of the latter type, this relief is more wholesome and profound.

The covid-19 pandemic has dramatically changed all aspects of human life. It is during uncertain times like this that gamers shift their attention from the stereotypical violent games to those that focus on silent contemplation and mental relaxation. Gaming has always been seen as a vehicle of escapism, but today it evolves past its often violent content and takes new forms. The diversification of the video games market has started long before peaceful games have made it to the mainstream. They existed before but remained underreported, but today, with the rise of independent game development, they are finally in the spotlight. The timing of the trend is far from accidental: during the pandemic, players avoid additional stress and find an emotional outlet in introspective games. Such games are likely to keep attracting more fans as their model accounts for more sustainable and meaningful interaction. In an unprecedented turn of events, players are offered a journey in search of themselves instead of a false sense of accomplishment.

Work Cited

Spicer, Kate. How Gaming Became a Form of Meditation. 2020. Web.

Sometimes we find ourselves lost in our own head or even stressed from issues we face on a daily basis. We’re constantly thinking and sometimes it can be pretty overwhelming. Quiet and Peace of the mind should be something that everyone should be able to achieve. That is where meditation comes in, and there are many reasons why one should meditate. There are also many benefits when it comes to meditating. For many individuals meditating might be something new and may not know where to start.

First, let’s start with what meditating is and the basics. What is meditation? Well, meditation isn’t what most people think it is. I know when I used to hear the word meditating the first thing that would come to mind is some type of monk or religious person. That is not the case, it is something that anyone can do and reap the benefits. Meditation is a continuous process of training and preparing your mind to focus or redirect your thoughts. It is often used to increase awareness of yourself and your surroundings. Our mind can be noisy with thoughts because we are constantly thinking sometimes it’s positive and sometimes it’s negative. Meditating can help refocus the mind from so many thoughts swimming around and direct it to something positive.

As stated before meditating has many benefits but one of the main benefits is that it can help reduce stress. ‘Stress is a physical, mental, or emotional factor that causes bodily or mental tension’ (Shiel, 2018). Stress can cause a variety of illnesses or add to an existing illness. It is common for an individual to learn about meditation for the reason of reducing stress. It is said that mindfulness decreases stress. Meditation is a successful stress management instrument, by reprogramming the brain to manage stress.

Another benefit of meditating is that it can promote good emotional health. Meditation can help an individual control their negative feelings and emotions. Meditation is the practice of thinking sometimes deeply or focusing the mind for a period of time. There are many forms of meditation and the main goal is relaxation and inner peace, which can improve mental health. Meditation can really change the brain’s way of thinking. A person can get comfortable with negative thoughts or emotions. When you meditate it can help you become more aware of your emotions which is the first step to keeping the negative ones at bay. A good thing about meditation is that it can change our mindset and perspective. It is known to alter the brain to produce more positive thoughts and emotions. Meditation is also said to increase a person’s well-being and overall quality of life. Some examples included but were not limited to an increased ability to process information, slow the cognitive effects of aging, reduce inflammation, support the immune system, reduce symptoms of menopause, control the brain’s response to pain, and improve sleep.

It can also improve self-awareness which is the ability to get to know your thoughts and emotions and if they match up with your internal standards. As a person that is highly self-aware, you can learn to evaluate yourself, manage your emotions, and align your behavior with your values.

It is normal for one to be anxious before and after undergoing a serious medical procedure or receiving a life-altering medical diagnosis. But, these feelings should not have the power to affect the outcomes of these events, right? As it turns out, they very well might. Patients who come out of surgery with depression or anxiety may often require additional care, longer rehab, and have more complications during their recovery. Studies that have been recently conducted have been able to link reduced levels of stress, anxiety, and depression in surgical patients who practice mindfulness meditation, which therefore creates a positive mindset prior to surgery, and can lead to significant improvement in recovery time and outcomes post-op. These findings support the ideology ancient Buddhist traditions created in regard to the practice of mindfulness meditation. To further investigate these claims, this paper strives to examine the connection between how mindfulness meditation impacts surgical patient’s mindsets before and after surgery and how this can affect recovery.

Meditation is defined as the act of giving one’s attention to only one thing, either as a religious activity or as a way of becoming calm and relaxed. Specifically, mindfulness meditation, also sometimes referred to as Insight Meditation or Vipassana Practice, is believed to have been created by Buddhists over 2000 years ago in India. This form of meditation is known to be closely linked to Buddhist theology as well. This practice involves creating and bringing focused psychological attention to both the internal and external situations occurring in the present moment; like concentrating on simple physical sensations such as breathing, sitting, or eating. One commonly used methodology involves using one’s own imagination to take a ‘mental scan’ of the entire body for awareness of any and all physical sensations without judgment. It begins at the head and slowly progresses down the body until one reaches their toes. Another type of mindfulness meditation practice may incorporate ‘guided imagery’ techniques in a clinical setting, like after surgery, in which a patient visualizes their own recovery and healing, and affirms thoughts of positivity regarding the management of their illness or pain. Incorporating these simple techniques into one’s post-operative routine may allow patients to become more aware of their own bodies, and therefore envision an enhanced and better recovery for themselves.

By having the ability to influence the psychological state of patients, mindfulness meditation may also be able to address surgical complications such as reduced functioning and pain through the reduction of stress, anxiety, and depression, which can be serious factors in determining the rate of recovery. It has been found that the psychological state of patients has a strong correlation to an early predicted recovery time, although there have been some conflicting reports on this matter regarding study structure which may affect the ability to confidently gather and report findings. Research has found that patients who have experienced stressful situations on a regular basis had wounds that took significantly longer to heal than patients who did not experience high amounts of stress as often. In addition, stress can also increase a patient’s chance of getting an infection. In multiple studies conducted with human patients as well as lab animals, it was found that those with symptoms related to depression and/or high levels of stress were more likely to have an infection or infection-related complication post-surgery, and have a longer hospital stay or readmission. The use of mind-body therapy, like mindfulness meditation, as a nonmedicinal additional approach to surgical recovery, has been linked to significantly improved levels of anxiety, pain, distress, and fatigue due to the optimism and positive thinking it creates in patients. Simply engaging the relaxation response on the brain through meditation can reduce the stress response, which temporarily changes the activity of certain genes in ways that may benefit health.8 Simple implementation of this practice into recovery time of surgical patients, or even before scheduled surgery can have significant positive effects on multiple bodily systems and functioning that can improve their health and body from the inside out.

Beyond this, more changes in the brain can be seen. Anxiety and stress together are key factors in triggering depression, and mindfulness meditation can alter one’s reaction to those feelings. Dr. John W. Denninger, director of research at Benson-Henry Institute for Mind-Body Medicine explains that ‘Meditation trains the brain to achieve sustained focus, and to return to that focus when negative thinking, emotions, and physical sensations intrude — which happens a lot when you feel stressed and anxious”. Practicing mindfulness meditation has been found to change certain regions in the brain that are specifically connected to depression. For example, some scientists have shown that the Medial Prefrontal Cortex (mPFC) becomes hyperactive in individuals who are depressed. This Medial Prefrontal Cortex is frequently referred to as the ‘me center’ because it is where individuals process information about themselves, such as worrying about the future and/or dwelling on the past. When individuals become stressed about life, the Medial Prefrontal Cortex goes into overdrive. Another major part of the brain that is linked to depression is the amygdala, or ‘fear center.’ This specific part of the brain is responsible for the “fight-or-flight” response that is activated when an individual experiences fear and/or [6]possible imminent danger, which triggers the adrenal glands to release the stress hormone cortisol. Sending the mPFC region of the brain into overdrive can lead to more worrying and anxiousness, and so can creating more stress in the amygdala section of the brain. which as a result can “shut down” or cause bodily functions to focus more on protecting themselves rather than recovering.

These two regions of the brain play off of each other to create and cause depression. The “me center” is agitated reacting to stress and anxiety, and the “fear center” response creates an increase in cortisol levels to “fight” a danger that is not real but only made up in one’s own mind. Research has found that mindfulness meditation aids in breaking the connection between these regions. ‘When you meditate, you are better able to ignore the negative sensations of stress and anxiety, which explains, in part, why stress levels fall when you meditate. One other way that mindfulness meditation can help the brain is by protecting the hippocampus, which is an area of the brain involved with memory. One study found that individuals who practiced mindfulness meditation for thirty minutes a day for eight weeks were able to increase the volume of grey matter in their hippocampus, which can lead to increased control of emotions, memory, sensory perception, and self-control.These findings attempt to explain physiological reductions in negative functioning of regions of the brain and increase positive functions, which are all evidence of relaxation and benefits experienced during mindfulness meditation.

In conclusion, since mindfulness meditation has begun to be more widely practiced and adopted in Western society, it has also become more frequently used as a clinical tool. In surgical settings, it has the ability to reduce pain, anxiety, and depression, improve contentment and optimism, a patient’s psychological state, and can decrease the amount of recovery time needed post-surgery for individuals. Specifically looking at regions of the brain that control stress, anxiety, and emotions, consistent practice of mindfulness meditation before and or after surgery has the ability to reduce cortisol levels in the amygdala, increase grey matter in the hippocampus, and reduce levels of hyperactivity in the Medial Prefrontal Cortex. Beyond the physiological effects mindfulness, meditation can create, it can also benefit individuals who may be seeking relief from mental or physical stresses created during the time of their hospital admission. More research and development are needed to establish reasonable standardized treatment programs. Although there are mixed opinions about the practice of mindfulness meditation, it may be likely that in the future, medical practitioners will view and utilize it as an effective therapeutic option in addition to, or instead of its pharmacological equivalent.

Abstract

Human beings spend a third of their lives on earth sleeping, which is an indication that sleep is an essential aspect of human functioning. However, there has not been much research on the relationship between sleep and life satisfaction. This aim of this study is to investigate the effects of quality sleep and mindfulness on life satisfaction. Using 138 participants drawn from all walks of life, the study will administer predesigned questionnaire on various sleep aspect and use the data collected to carry out a comprehensive analysis.

Background

Human beings spend a third of their lives on earth sleeping, an indication that sleep is an essential aspect of human functioning. However, there has not been much research on the relationship between sleep and life satisfaction. This study aims to bridge this knowledge gap conducting a research on life satisfaction and its relationship to sleep quality and mindfulness. The results demonstrate that better quality of sleep and mindfulness have greater association to life satisfaction. This is consistent with earlier researches, particularly by Diener (1985) who observed that the extent to which an individual is satisfied by his or her life is dependent on several parameters, sleep being one of them.

The aim of this study was to explore how sleep and meditation can help in predicting an individual’s satisfaction with life. To answer this question, a total of 138 participants were invited to investigate the relationship between life satisfaction and sleep and/or meditation. They were a total of 9 questions presented to the participants. They were to rate the options given to them from STRONGLY AGREE to STRONGLY DISAGREE. Each participant was expected to complete the survey questionnaire within 7 minutes. Participation in the survey was purely on voluntary basis and the participants were allowed to only provide answers to questions that were comfortable with. Moreover, the participants were at liberty to withdraw from the study any time they wished.

Hypothesis

This study tests the hypothesis: the sleep and meditation can predict an individual’s satisfaction with life. Sleep is an important aspect of life, with an individual estimated to sleep for approximately a third of his or her life. Moreover, sleep quality has been theorized as a determinant of the wellbeing of individuals (Allen & Kiburz, 2012)). However, despite all these, not much is known about the relationship between quality and duration of sleep to life satisfaction. Using reliability analysis, this study seeks to prove the hypothesis that sleep and meditation can predict an individual’s satisfaction with life.

Method

The data for this study was collected from the participants using predesigned questionnaires. From the survey questionnaire, the study managed to collect data on the gender, age, level of education, and employment status of the participants. The participants were also presented with a set of parameters related to their satisfaction in life and asked to rate them on a scale of 1 to 7 with 1 being the minimum and 7 being the maximum. They were to also agree or disagree with the five statements related to their life satisfaction. In addition, the study also collected data on the usual sleep habits that are common with the participants over the past one month as well as the degree of problems that prevent them from getting enough sleep during the same period. Data was also collected on how the participants generally rated their sleep over the past month (Buysse et al., 1989). Furthermore, the study was also interested in the mindfulness experience of the participants over the past 7 days. Subsequently, a total of 14 questions were developed to help collect data over the same.

Design

In this study, the condition that is expected to be measured will be the dependent variable. In this case, it is life satisfaction and this study is primarily concerned with how this variable will respond to a change in independent variables. In a nutshell, life satisfaction depends on the quality of sleep and meditation. Life satisfaction will be measured using a 5-item scale adapted from the Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS). SWLS is a five-item questionnaire attributed to Diener et al. (1985) to evaluate the extent to which the life of an individual is perceived as satisfactory (Diener et al., 1985). Each of these items is rated on a seven-point Likert scale with 1 equated to Strongly Agree and 7 being Strongly Disagreeing (Querstret & Cropley, 2012). SWLS has demonstrated adequate construct validity that includes positive correlations with positive affect measures and alternative well-being subjective measures with psychological distress measures.

The SWLS five items are explanations or features of a satisfied life led by an individual. These items include;

1. In most ways my life is close to my ideal world
2. The conditions of my life are excellent
3. I am satisfied with my life
4. So far, I have gotten the important things in life
5. If I could live my life over, I would change almost nothing.

These are the items that indicate whether an individual is satisfied with his life or not. Incidentally, these five items can be measured using the quality of sleep and meditation.

The influences of mindfulness are assessed using Freiburg Mindfulness Inventory (FMI) and two subscales presence and acceptance. Sleep quality is assessed using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). The FMI is a significant, reliable, and valid questionnaire that is used to measure mindfulness. Though it emanates from the Buddhist BACKGROUND form of mind measuring, it can be used in wider contexts. It contains all the 14 items that characterize all the perspectives of mindfulness. This inventory is mainly concerned with characterizing mindfulness experiences.

To get the summary score, all the items are added up. However, it must be noted that there are some reverse items that must be observed when scoring. This means that the scoring should be reversed using a recode command that will recode 1 into 4. The recode command will also be able to recode 2 into 3, 4 into 1, and 3 into 2. For instance, when recoding the item “I am impatient with myself and with others,” there will be no need to use distinct factor scale scores. However, if there will be a need to do so, the data set will be analyzed to extract the factors of 4 to 6 in accordance with the data structure that will be available.

Participants

Overall, a total of 142 participants were sampled to take part in the study; 119 females, 20 males, and 2 non-binaries. However, one participant did not disclose his or her gender. Not all the 142 samples participated in the study. 3 of them did not sign the consent form. This means that 139 participants signed the consent forms and proceeded to answer the questionnaires and even offered their socio-demographic information. All the participants were aged between 18 and 69 years old. However, the majority of the participants fell within the age bracket of 40 and 49, followed by those between 30 and 39 years old. Only 4 participants were more than 60 years of age. All the participants were fairly educated. The majority of them were undergraduates and postgraduates. Only 2 of them lacked formal education. 4 of them had vocational training while 8 were Ph.D. holders. This means that the study relied on a group of samples that mainly understood the depth of the questionnaire and could hence be trusted to provide valid information.

Moreover, the participants comprised of individuals who were economically engaged in various activities. 79 of them were employed on a full-time basis while 36 were part-time employees. Conversely, only one was retired and 14 were students while 12 were unemployed. It must be noted that the type of economic engagement or lack of it is a significant determining factor of sleep quality. Thus, this is a sample that is perfectly designed to collect the required data for the study that will adequately prove the hypothesis.

Apparatus

The participants were issued with pre-designed questionnaires and given 7 minutes to fill.

Procedure

The questionnaires were emailed to them and were to be filled online. The site became inactive immediately the seven minutes elapsed.

Results

Women formed the bulk of the participants, making up to 83.80% while 14.08% were males. 1.41% were of non-binary gender whereas 0.70% preferred not to disclose their gender. The majority of the participants were aged between 40 and 49 years old. On the other hand, only 4 participants were over the age of 60. Meanwhile, the majority of the participants had formal education and full-time jobs. Statistically, the majority of the participants (12.41%) strongly agreed that they had attained the important things they want in their lives. On the other hand, the participants who strongly agreed that they would change almost nothing if they could live their lives over again were the fewest (2.19%).

During the past month, experiencing pain at night and waking up to take medication was identified as the most popular causative factors for trouble sleeping. On the other hand, waking up in the middle of the night or early morning was highlighted as the least popular causative factor of trouble sleeping (Walach et al., 2006). The figures changed disproportionately when the duration changed to less than one week, once or twice a week, and three or more time a week.

When it came to having enthusiasm to get things done, 38.52% of the participants disclosed that they only had a little problem while 5.93% confessed that they had a great deal of problems over the same during the last month. During the same period, 26.67% of the participants rated their sleep as Good while only 5.93% stated that their sleep was Very Bad.

Discussion

From the results obtained, it is apparent that the hypothesis of this study has been proven to be true. To carry out an analysis of this study, SPSS version 22.0 for Windows will be used. A complete sample will be used to perform all the analyses. There will be a modified sample that consists of participants under the age of 18 years old that will be used as a control experiment. Participants in this age category are not known to experience trouble sleeping as they are generally satisfied with their lives. Most of them do not have a lot of responsibilities that would compromise the quality of sleep. For all the variables, the presence of a normal distribution will be visually inspected. Moreover, t-tests will be used to investigate gender differences with regard to life satisfaction.

The relationship between the variables of overall life satisfaction and the 5 items will be calculated using Pearson correlation analysis. In addition, to analyze the implications of gender, age and general life satisfaction variable will be conducted using a stepwise multiple regression model. In this model, the overall life satisfaction will be used as the independent variable. Incidentally, the stepwise method is known for its exploratory feature, hence, the reason why it will be selected for this analysis. Moreover, to further investigate in detail the particular influence of the life satisfaction variable and the demographic personality on the overall life satisfaction, the study will a hierarchal regression analysis.

The aim of this study was to investigate how various perspectives of sleep affect life satisfaction among a random sample. The results have demonstrated that indeed various sleep variables are related to life satisfaction. Better quality of sleep, longer mean duration of sleep, and less sleep duration variability have all been identified as having the association with greater life satisfaction. Therefore, the hypothesis was supported by the results of this study. However, since this study assumes a cross-sectional design, temporal relations directions cannot be immediately established. It is possible for the relationships to be bidirectional, which implies that disturbed sleep affects how satisfactory the participants judge their life.

On the other hand, some studies have shown that the quality of sleep indeed affects life satisfaction. There has not been any evidence found to prove the existence of a reverse relationship, nonetheless. From these results, sleep affects the satisfaction with life more than an individual’s life satisfaction affects his or her sleep. There could be many explanations that justify the relationship between life satisfaction and sleep deviation. There might be a third variable such as personality disorder that affects this relationship.

From the study, it is evident that the variability of sleep duration has strong correlations with the rise in time deviation. The fact that these two variables overlap can be used as an explanation as to why sleep duration variability is a significant determinant of life satisfaction. The results of this study are consistent with previous studies that have concluded that better quality of sleep has moderate associations with greater satisfaction in life. For instance, Pilcher’s findings demonstrated that the relation coefficient between sleep quality and life satisfaction was considerably higher as compared to mean sleep duration and life satisfaction. It must be noted that the sample used mainly comprises a younger population of middle ages. This study also experimented with how meditation can predict an individual’s satisfaction with life.

Limitations

Outliers refer to unusual values in the dataset, which carry the risk of distorting the statistical analysis and violating the study’s assumptions or hypothesis. The aspects of sleep that were used in this study were not obtained as a result of any credible scientific research. All the variable were as a result of theories developed from previous studies. Thus, the measure of sleep quality for this study was self-created. In addition, the measure of sleep quality used in this study had some internal reliability margin of error.

Sleep quality is a wide construct that consists of items that inter-correlate as compared to highly phrased items of similar constructs that constitute SWLS. A Cronbach’s Alpha is sufficient for a 3-item measure of sleep quality. To further support the sleep quality index, it would have been advantageous to use additional validation such as criterion-related validity. However, this approach would have affected the overall relevance of this study’s findings. Furthermore, sleep quality is the only variable that has several existing types of researches that allow for more conclusive findings related to its association with life satisfaction or wellbeing in diverse population groups.

Studies have suggested that most people do not assess the duration of time they spend sleeping. The few who do so do not do it accurately even in the morning after they wake up. In addition, some studies have indeed established that participants underestimate the number of hours they spend sleeping. However, such studies have often relied on special populations and smaller samples. This means that their results cannot be comparable to those of the current study.

Majority of the sampled population comprised relatively younger people. This is a special population group that is mostly influenced by peer pressure and an inclination to fit into society. Thus, there might have been biases in answering the question related to the quality of life. Studies have shown that most young people do not want to admit openly that they are not leading satisfying lives. Therefore, some might have given inaccurate answers out of peer pressure or for self-gratification. This means that the study might have some biases that were included in the final computation.

To get rid of outliers, it would be advisable to use nonparametric hypothesis tests, which will ensure that the outliers do not necessarily distort the final results or breach their assumptions. Another option is to use regression analysis, which can help in transforming data. Moreover, the use of bootstrapping technique makes use of the sample data, which prevents the skewing of results and dataset violations.

References

Allen, T. D., & Kiburz, K. M. (2012). Trait mindfulness and work–family balance among working parents: The mediating effects of vitality and sleep quality. Journal of vocational behavior, 80(2), 372-379.

Diener, E., Emmons, R. A., Larsen, R. J., & Griffin, S. (1985). The Satisfaction with Life Scale. Journal of Personality Assessment, 49, 71-75.

Buysse, DJ, Reynolds CF, Monk TH, Berman SR, Kupfer (1989). The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI): A new instrument for psychiatric research and practice. Psychiatry Research 28:193-213.

Querstret, D., & Cropley, M. (2012). Exploring the relationship between work-related rumination, sleep quality, and work-related fatigue. Journal of occupational health psychology, 17(3), 341.

Walach, H., Buchheld, N., Buttenmuller, V., Kleinknecht, N., Schmidt, S. (2006). Measuring Mindfulness–The Freiburg Mindfulness Inventory (FMI). Personality and Individual Differences, 40, 1543-1555.

Mantra Meditation

The word ‘mantra’ comes from Sanskrit and is comprised of two parts – ‘man’ that stands for ‘mind’ and ‘tra’ that means ‘instrument’ (“Hindu Mantra Meditation: What, Why, How”). In the context of meditation, the concept of mantra represents a phrase, a word, or a sound that needs to be repeated or chanted for a certain period of time while meditation is in process. The purpose of the mantra is to tune the mind of the meditating individual and channel its energy to the desired purpose. A mantra is an object commonly used for meditation. One can chant a specifically selected mantra, or one can listen to it. The effect is believed to be the same. Most frequently, mantras are encountered in the context of Hinduism, Buddhism, and yoga practices; however, concepts similar or identical to mantra can be found in many other religions of the world.

Mantras chanted silently and aloud are used in order to guide the meditation process and keep the mind of the meditating person focused. In fact, in Buddhism, there is an instrument called a ‘mala’ that is a string with 108 beads that people turn while meditating and chanting in order to keep track of the number of times their mantras have been repeated (“How is mantra meditation used?”). The power of the mantra is believed to be in its sound and not as much in its sense and meaning. In essence, the sound of a mantra chanted aloud is a vibration that the meditating person sends out to the universe in order to receive a response in the form of a transformation of their mind or body that will further influence the course of their life.

Krishna, the God of Grace

Krishna is a Hindu god known as the lord of love, grace, and divine joy who destroys suffering, pain, and sin (Gruenwald and Marchand). Also, Krishna is recognized as the eighth incarnation of Lord Vishnu, one of the gods of the Hindu trinity who represents the protection of all life. Krishna is known as the embodiment of love and as the protector of cows and sacred words. According to legends, as a child, Krishna was in great danger because his uncle, the demon Kansa, lived in fear of a prophecy that said that he would be killed by his nephew. In order to prevent the prophecy from coming true, Kamsa killed all of his sister’s sons except for two of them. Krishna’s mother saved him by trading him to a cow herder’s daughter. As a result, Krishna grew up as a cow herder and was loved deeply by his foster mother. Krishna was also fond of playing his flute in order to entertain and bring joy to everyone around. Krishna is also known as the deity of humor, the bringer of peace, and the promoter of detachment from physical matter and form.

Krishna and his beloved Radha together formed the couple symbolizing romantic love between a man and a woman. Krishna and Radha embody the happy relationship and represent men and women in love. Interestingly, stories about the perfect union of Krishna and Radha, who was the incarnation of Vishnu’s spouse, take place in their childhood when they are eight years old. As a result, the couple represents pure and innocent love. Later, Krishna left Radha to travel and study. During his journey, he showed himself as a true hero and a graceful peacekeeper multiple times.

Works Cited

Gruenwald, Christine and Peter Marchand. “Krishna.”Sanatan Society, n.d., Web.

“Hindu Mantra Meditation: What, Why, How.”Beliefnet, n.d., Web.

“How is mantra meditation used?”Wildmind, 2015, Web.

Introduction

Meditation is a set of religious practices, which involve the process of inducing psychological consciousness for the mind to be more conscious about the reality and become in touch with the spiritual world. Many religions in the world practice meditation as a way of praying but the styles of meditation differ from one religion to another.

Meditation is a common religious practice in many religions such as Buddhism, Christianity, Baha’i Faith, Hinduism, Islam, Judaism, and New Age Movement among others. Buddhists believe that meditation gives wisdom, while Christians believe that meditation is a form of prayer, which gives revelation of God and His will. Baha’i Faith fundamentally teaches that meditation is the spiritual key, which opens spiritual mysteries for the mind to comprehend.

Other religions and traditions believe that meditation have psychological, physiological or spiritual benefits. The diversity of believes surrounding meditation and its benefits have led to its application in non-religious systems of the world. This essay explores psychological and personality importance of meditation in an educational system.

Cognitive and Academic Performance

Since meditation is a psychological process that enhances the conscious state of the mind, it has substantial benefits on the cognitive and academic performance of students.

Due to immense flow of information in the world and tendency of the students to multitask, their minds lose specific attention on important issues thus affecting their performance. The divided attention of a student’s mind has detrimental effects on his/her academic performance even though ability to multitask is a virtue that is encouraged in learning institutions.

According to Shapiro, Brown, and Astin, “…meditative practices enhance specific aspects or subsystems of attention in educational settings where attentional skills are central to successful learning” (10).

Concentrative meditation enhances ability to resist numerous environmental distractions when one is doing a given task, while mindfulness meditation enhances the ability to maintain attention during multitasking. Therefore, the practice of meditation improves the attentive ability of the students, hence their academic performance.

Ability to process information depends on cognitive capacity to receive an informational stimulus, process and store information in a meaningful manner. Research findings indicate that, students who have undergo meditative training prior to attentional blink test are able to detect two consecutive stimuli while those who have meditative experience are able to detect the first stimulus only (Shapiro, Brown & Astin 12).

These findings show that meditation is important in boosting sensitivity of the mind to stimulus and subsequent processing of information. Meditation expands the cognitive ability of the students to analyze their environment critically and objectively.

“Concentrative and mindfulness meditations let the students perceive the world, classroom and other people more openly, with more compassion” (Zinger 26). Compassion emanates from the students’ mental awareness and sensitivity to the social stimuli, which is an important aspect of socialization.

Long-term practice of meditation has profound effects on the academic performance of students. Research findings demonstrate that students would improve their academic performances if they practiced one-hour meditation twice a week in entire academic semester and 10 minutes before and after group discussions (Shapiro, Brown & Astin 13).

It takes a long period of a semester for the students to show significant improvement in their academic performances due to the psychological influence of meditation. King argues that, “through meditation we are able to gain control of our minds, bodies and thought, where we otherwise assumed we could not control them” (3). The ability of the students to control their minds, bodies and thoughts, allow them to pursue their academic dreams without any psychological interruption, thus improving their academic performance.

Mental Health

Education is a hectic process for the students because they face many academic and social challenges that flood their minds making them unhealthy. Academic demands that require a student to learn new and complex material under strict exams and tests deadlines coupled with pertinent social issues put considerable stress into the mind resulting into stress.

Stress has been associated with physical and mental problems that are responsible for poor academic performance of the students. Although stresses like anxiety and depression seems to be harmful to the cognitive ability, some minimal stress is necessary for optimal functioning of the cognitive faculties. The best way to deal with stress is through meditation because it relaxes one’s minds and body.

“Recognizing the many pressures on undergraduates and their emotional needs, meditation in the classroom can be a powerful tool used to decrease stress and anger” (Zinger 26). Meditation is therefore very important and effective in reducing stress, anxiety and depression that cause psychological illnesses. Meditating students have healthy psychological conditions free of stress, anxiety and depression allowing optimal cognitive ability performance.

Mindfulness meditation is important in regulating emotional affect, which determines the moods of the students and teachers. Shapiro, Brown, and Astin argue that, “mindfulness meditation supports better regulation of the emotional affect and cultivation of positive psychological states” (16). Although there are other regulatory mechanisms of the emotional affect like distraction and rumination, mindfulness meditation is more effective in recovery from bad moods.

Since meditation acts through psychophysiology mechanism, which opposes the stress mechanism, it brings about the calming effect to the mind and body thus restoring relaxed mental status. The practice of mindfulness meditation improves positive psychological emotions that enhance reception of stimuli, processing and storage of information. Regular practice of meditation augments mental capacity of the students to cope with elevated levels of educational stress

Human Development

Human development is one of the major objectives of an educational system that has led many educators to delve into mechanisms behind it. Human development entails development and shaping of personal skills and behavior to fit into the desired educational values. Shapiro, Brown, and Astin expound that, “balanced education cultivates abilities beyond the verbal and conceptual to include matters of heart, character, creativity, self-knowledge, concentration, openness and mental flexibility” (19).

Substantial evidence shows that, meditation is very effective in development and shaping of these educational attributes in the view of human development. Human inventions have concentrated their focus on physical development but have neglected spiritual, emotional and psychological development in which meditation play a great role. Thus, the practice of meditation enhances the development of human attributes such as creativity, self-compassion, healthy relationships and empathy.

The practice of meditation helps in the development of students’ creativity in an educational system. Educational system demands students to have creative skills that will make them more receptive to the untapped knowledge that awaits creativity. Since creativity benefits both students and professionals, researchers have been looking into various ways of promoting creative skills.

According to Zinger, “students who have regular meditation showed significant gains in creativity, as defined by heightened consciousness of problems, perceived change, invention, sensory experience, expression of emotion and fantasy” (27). Regrettably, current educational trend prepares the students for exams through cramming of information rather than through creative and contemplative learning process that is more effective.

Meditation can also enhance development of self-compassion, healthy relationships, and empathy in an educational system. Recent studies show that meditation improves self-compassion, which is the ability to endure painful thoughts and feelings.

Self-compassion is an integral component of human development because it relates closely with positive psychological features such as wisdom, optimism, emotional affect and happiness. Since meditation reduces anxiety and depression in the students, they develop tolerance to contentions, which often occur in their relationships, for they neither react compulsively nor destructively, thus nurture healthy relationships.

Moreover, mindfulness and concentrative meditation increases individual sensitivity to empathy stimuli. “Regions of the brain involved with the empathic response are impacted through the practice of meditation” (Shapiro, Brown & Astin 12). In the light of this observation, meditation has significant impact in developing and shaping personality in terms of creativity, self-compassion, healthy relationships and empathy.

Conclusion

Although meditation originated from religious beliefs and practices, its psychological and physiological benefits has made it to have great applications in medical and educational fields. Apart from spiritual benefits, many scientific studies have proved that meditation can improve psychological, physiological and overall personality development, the important attributes that are required in an educational system.

Following significant benefits of meditation in education, recent studies have suggested the incorporation of the meditative and other forms of contemplative practices into the educational curricula to improve academic performance and development of students’ personalities. Transcendental meditation seems to be a standard form of mediation that can fit into an educational system although there are misunderstandings and believes that associate it with religion.

Works Cited

King, James. “Meditation Education.” Project Meditation Journal (2007): 1-10. Print.

Shapiro, Shauna, Kirk Brown, & John Astin. “Toward the Integration of Meditation into Higher Education.” Center for Contemplative Mind in Society (2008):1-45. Print.

Zinger, Lana. “Educating for Tolerance and Compassion: is there a Place for Meditation In a College Classroom?” College Teaching Methods & Styles Journal 4.4 (2008): 25-28. Print.

Buddhism is one of the oldest religions, which is connected to the meditations and understanding of the inner soul and the abilities of the mind (Shearin 54). I have visited Shambhala Meditation Center. It is a part of Mahayana tradition and specifically focuses on Shambhala (“Shambhala” par. 1).

The goal of the Shambhala’s teaching is to understand the importance of every moment via mindful meditations (Manning 10). Living a conscious life is vital, as people have a tendency to avoid it (Hawes 2). Shambhala actively supports the primary values of Mahayana, as it encourages a person to support the understandings of the inner-self.

Even though Shambhala is famous, it does not mean that it develops the primary Buddhist teachings. In my opinion, the tradition of Shambhala is obscure and limited since it does not encourage a person to experience mental sufferings, which lead to profound enlightenment.

Speaking of the architecture, its simplicity and modernity exactly match the primary concepts of Buddhism. The simplicity is the key element of Buddhist values (Alldritt 122). The color red dominates in the interior design. It could be said that this fact supports the traditions of this religion, as in Buddhism red is a symbol of “power, especially the magnetizing power of love and desire” (Beer 25).

In my opinion, simplicity and red color encourage people to meditate, as it gives them the power to discover the mindfulness. Additionally, the place for the meditation practice is constructed according to Buddhist standards. In my opinion, the simple and modern architecture, the presence of the red color, and the organized place for the meditation make Shambhala Meditation Center of San Francisco familiar place for meditations. Following all standards encourages people to discover possibilities of their minds.

There are several details, which seem appealing. Firstly, the atmosphere in the center inspires to discover mindfulness and learn the fundamental traditions of Buddhism and Shambhala. It makes me feel energetic, and I am looking forward to exploring the opportunities of my mind. To my mind, the attitude of the center is helpful and bright. It helps to discover new possibilities of Shambhala’s traditions and see a strong connection with Buddhist tradition.

Another aspect, which has a crucial impact on my life, is the importance of the family values in Buddhism, as in the modern world the monks respect their family ties (Wilson 188). It is the fundamental value for me, as I cherish relationships in the family and consider them of high importance. In my opinion, Shambhala Meditation Center of San Francisco also encourages family evening’s meditations, as children are the essential part of the society.

In conclusion, it could be said that Buddhism is an interesting religion. It encourages people to enjoy every moment of life. In turn, Shambhala is the worldwide community, which makes the meditation practice available everywhere in the world. However, it has only the traces of Buddhist religion, as it has its perceptions. In this case, the meditations are not sophisticated and do not require deep inner concentration.

The design, architecture, and course offerings in Shambhala Meditation Center of San Francisco respond to all the primary characteristics of Buddhism and Mahayana tradition. In this center, I found two interesting elements, which are part of the Buddhism culture. In my opinion, these elements are essentialities of every tradition to build a right perception of the religion. The inspirational atmosphere is one of them. Respecting the family ties is another aspect, which seemed to be appealing to me.

Works Cited

Alldritt, Leslie. Buddhism. New York: Chelsea House Publishers, LLC, 2005. Print.

Beer, Robert. The Handbook of Tibetan Buddhist Symbols. Chicago: Serindia Publications, Inc., 2003. Print.

Hawes, Jennifer. “Buddhism basics.” The Port and Courier. 2013: 2. Print.

Manning, Tara. Mindful Knitting: Inviting Contemplative Practice to the Craft. Boston: Tuttle Publishing, 2004. Print.

Shambhala. 2015. Web.

Shearin, John. “Buddhism.” Teacher Librarian 27.3 (2000): 54. Print.

Wilson, Liz. “Buddhism and Family.” Religion Compass 8.6 (2014): 188-198. Print.

Introduction

For very many years, human beings have been keen to identify several procedures and interventions to deal with stress. Such needs have been informed by the hectic pace and nature of human life. Since tiresome activities make people unhappy and frustrated, it is appropriate to engage in various practices that can result in calmness and peace. Medication is one of these processes that are capable of transforming a person’s mind from disturbed to peaceful or positive. This research paper describes how meditation affects people’s inner worlds and perceptions.

Brief History

Loizzo (2014) believes that meditation has been embraced by many groups for thousands of years. Some anthropologists and researchers have revealed that the ancient concept must have been common in India around 1500 BCE (Loizzo, 2014). However, meditation must have been embraced by different Hindu cultures as early as the year 3000 BCE (Loizzo, 2014). The use of meditation in other cultures and regions is something that is debated by historians. Some studies have indicated that meditation was common in Buddhist India and China from 600 BCE (Loizzo, 2014). During the period, meditation was used as a powerful process for achieving liberation, morality, and improving contemplation. West (2016) goes further to argue that the Silk Road led to the spread of meditation to different cultures. In the 3rd century, historians assert that Plotinus managed to come up with various meditative techniques that encouraged people to lead spiritual lives.

Throughout the middle ages, mediation was embraced by different religions such as Judaism, Taoism, and Confucianism. This development explains why the technique is associated with Jewish culture. By the early 18th century, ancient teachings on meditation had been embraced in different Western countries such as France and Britain (Loizzo, 2014). In 1927, a book titled Tibetan Book of the Dead was published, thereby empowering and encouraging more people to embrace the approach. Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) approach is currently used to treat individuals suffering from various chronic diseases (Collen, 2015). The program was informed by the concepts of meditation.

Biopsychosocial and Cultural Factors

The biopsychosocial concept or model focuses on an intricate interaction of psychological, biological, and social factors. This discipline has been associated with meditation by many scholars. For instance, meditation is a powerful technique that can make it easier for individuals to deal with their psychological problems such as mood disorders, anxiety, stress, and pain (Williams et al., 2014). The method has also been applied in the medical field to treat various diseases that have a biological origin such as bipolar and mood disorders (Bajal et al., 2017). Individuals who have any form of stress or pain can benefit from the power of meditation.

Applying the biopsychosocial model, health practitioners and therapists have been able to employ the use of mindfulness meditation to guide more individuals to develop what is known as a “universal mind”. Bajal et al. (2017) indicate that such kind of mind is objective, fully aware, and nonjudgmental. That being the case, the biopsychosocial process is something that is provided by mindfulness and meditation.

For many centuries, meditation has been embraced by different groups such as the Chinese to deal with stress (Lutz, Jha, Dunne, & Saron, 2015). The method has also been associated with various religious practices such as Buddhism, Confucianism, Taoism, and Judaism (Davidson & Kaszniak, 2015). Meditation is embraced by believers to achieve their spiritual goals. In the recent past, meditation has become common among different Christians (Bajal et al., 2017). This approach empowers them to re-pattern their relationships with their creator.

Additionally, Western cultures have created powerful meditation-related models that are being used in the field of medicine (Guilherme et al., 2016). This fact explains why meditation continues to dictate the cultural and social attributes associated with European societies (West, 2016). The wave of globalization has also resulted in a situation whereby meditation has become a global standard for dealing with stress and anxiety.

Description, Analysis, and Comparisons

Mediation remains a powerful procedure that can make it possible for individuals to understand their perceptions, inner worlds, and minds. Collen (2015) indicates that people who use meditation can learn how to transform their minds and deal with any form of stress, pain, and/or disturbance. In terms of description, meditation is a powerful strategy that makes it easier for people to understand or transform their inner worlds and perceptions. Quach, Mano, and Alexander (2015) go further to argue that the process of meditation in various cultures appears to converge. For instance, meditation is presently used in many cultures and regions as a way of calming the mind, improving people’s spirits, and relaxing the body (Bajal et al., 2017).

Through the use of meditation, individuals can connect their minds and senses, share, and re-pattern their thoughts. They will become aware of the surrounding environments and transform their emotions. From an analytical perspective, it is evident that many people from different backgrounds acknowledge that the method can result in spiritual liberation and empowerment (Guilherme et al., 2016). The technique guides them to learn more about their religious beliefs, achieve inner peace, and improve their health outcomes.

Different traditions have developed unique meditation techniques depending on the intended goals. For instance, Buddhist tradition outlines a powerful model whereby people can cultivate productive ideas and thoughts in their minds (Guilherme et al., 2016). They do so by overcoming every negative thought. Taoism tradition, on the other hand, uses similar approaches to achieve spiritual restoration (Brewer, 2014). When the mind is restored, more individuals can improve the way they perceive the things around them or address their challenges.

In Western cultures, meditation has been supported as a powerful process through which individuals can improve their perceptions of the surrounding world. For instance, Ortiz and Sibinga (2017) assert that mindful meditation makes it easier for people to react positively to stressful situations and anger. The approach results in increased internal peace and awareness. The achieved level of compassion empowers people to become efficient in their actions or activities (Skaer, Male-Ervik, & Nwude, 2014). When people look inward at themselves, they can analyze their feelings and connect with the rest of humanity.

The medical world has also embraced the power of meditation. This approach is considered since it has the potential to address psychological and social concerns affecting different patients (Bower et al., 2014). This comparative analysis, therefore, reveals that meditation is a powerful technique that has been adopted and transformed by different fields in an attempt to support people’s goals.

Interventions and Therapeutic Techniques

The benefits of meditation have informed several interventions and therapeutic techniques that can be used to deal with several psychological or health conditions. Mirror meditation is the first therapeutic technique that is embraced by psychologists to guide people to find a sense of predictability, peace, and security (Guilherme et al., 2016). This behavioral approach has been observed to deliver meaningful results. Mindfulness is the second intervention that is embraced in stressful situations to guide, empower, and encourage different persons (Lam, Sterling, & Margines, 2015). The technique has been supported because it is capable of reducing stress, boosting neural connections, and boosting personal awareness.

Meditation is also used as a therapeutic technique whereby beneficiaries can redefine their inner worlds and experiences. The concept guides people to perceive their minds and surroundings positively. People affected by stress can use the technique to transform their minds, cultivate productive thoughts, and strengthen their spirits (Tang, Holzel, & Posner, 2015). Finally, the Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) technique was invented in 1979 by American psychotherapists to treat patients suffering from chronic conditions such as cancer and stroke (Lam et al., 2015). This technique entails the use of meditative techniques to guide individuals to manage stress, control emotions, and improve their health outcomes.

Conclusion

This discussion shows how meditation is a useful method for calming and relaxing the human mind. Meditation has been embraced by various groups since it is capable of promoting spiritual awareness and mental liberation. The use of the above therapeutic interventions can promote calmness, improve concentration, and maximize tranquility. That being the case, human beings should come up with powerful meditation models to address the problems affecting them, improve their inner worlds and perceptions, and achieve higher health outcomes.

References

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Bower, J. E., Crosswell, A., Stanton, A. L., Crespi, C. M., Winston, D., Arevalo, J., & Ganz, P. A. (2014). Mindfulness meditation for younger breast cancer survivors: A randomized controlled trial. Cancer, 121(8), 1231-1240. Web.

Brewer, J. (2014). Mindfulness in the military. American Journal of Psychiatry, 171(8), 803-806. Web.

Collen, M. (2015). Operationalizing pain treatment in the biopsychosocial model: Take a daily “swem”–socialize, work, exercise, meditate. Journal of Pain & Palliative Care Pharmacotherapy, 29(3), 290-299. Web.

Davidson, R. J., & Kaszniak, A. W. (2015). Conceptual and methodological issues in research on mindfulness and meditation. American Psychologist, 70(7), 581-592. Web.

Guilherme, C., Ribeiro, G. R., Caldeira, S., Zamarioli, C. M., Oliveira, A. R., Almeida, A. A., & de Carvalho, E. C. (2016). Effect of the “spiritual support” intervention on spirituality and the clinical parameters of women who have undergone mastectomy: A pilot study. Religions, 7(26), 1-11. Web.

Lam, A. G., Sterling, S., & Margines, E. (2015). Effects of five-minute mindfulness meditation on mental health care professionals. Journal of Psychology and Clinical Psychiatry, 2(3), 1-6. Web.

Loizzo, J. (2014). Meditation research, past, present, and future. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, 1307(1), 43-54. Web.

Lutz, A., Jha, A. P., Dunne, J. D., & Saron, C. D. (2015). Investigating the phenomenological matrix of mindfulness-related practices from a neurocognitive perspective. American Psychologist, 70, 632-658. Web.

Ortiz, R., & Sibinga, E. M. (2017). The role of mindfulness in reducing the adverse effects of childhood stress and trauma. Children, 4(16), 1-19. Web.

Quach, D., Mano, K. E., & Alexander, K. (2015). A randomized controlled trial examining the effect of mindfulness meditation on working memory capacity in adolescents. Journal of Adolescent Health, 58, 489-496. Web.

Skaer, T. L., Male-Ervik, A., & Nwude, A. (2014). Mindfulness-based therapy for chronic insomnia. Journal of Sleep Medicine & Disorders, 1(2), 1-2.

Tang, Y. Y., Holzel, B. K., & Posner, M. I. (2015). The neuroscience of mindful meditation. Nature Reviews Neuroscience, 16(4), 213-225. Web.

West, M. A. (2016). The psychology of meditation: Research and practice. New York, NY: Oxford University Press.

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