Mindfulness Meditation is Like Exercise for the Brain

12 Oct Mindfulness Meditation is Like Exercise for the Brain

Mindfulness is like exercise for the brain. We know that regular exercise keeps our bodies healthy, gives us energy, makes us more flexible, and allows us to more easily and fully participate in activities in our daily lives. Similarly, mindfulness meditation when done regularly improves the fitness of the mind enhancing our attention, self-awareness, and compassion, allowing for greater flexibility in how we respond to events around us. Most athletes practice regularly in order to perform well in competition. Practicing mindfulness meditation often and regularly will allow you to perform well mentally and emotionally in your work and life.

Mindfulness meditation when done regularly improves the fitness of the mind enhancing our attention, self-awareness, and compassion, allowing for greater flexibility in how we respond to events around us.

In weightlifting, every time you do a “rep,” you strengthen the muscle. Likewise, in meditation, each time your mind drifts away from the intended focus and you bring yourself back to the intended focus, you strengthen your “attention muscle.” Your attention gets stronger and stronger with regular meditation “reps.” Each time you become aware that you have left your intended focus, you also become aware of the thoughts, emotions, and sensations that caused you to become distracted, thus creating greater self-awareness and self-understanding. New self-understanding allows for the possibility distancing from one’s own mental noise and change in habitual pattern.

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