Meditation began in Vedanta. Buddhism and Hinduism adopted meditation. Today mindful meditation is recognized as a form of cognitive therapy. Mindful meditation focuses the attention on breathing, bodily sensations, and mental relaxation.
Buddha was asked, “What have you gained from meditation?” He replied “Nothing! However, let me tell you what I have lost: Anger, anxiety, depression, insecurity, fear of old age, and death.”
Meditation increases self-awareness and social awareness.
Meditation has many positive effects on the mind and body, and both interact. By influencing the mind, we can affect the body, which in turn affects our mind and vice versa. Meditation reduces perceived stress, adverse mental health, increases emotional intelligence, and enhances perception.
Stress leading to burnout – defined as emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and a low sense of accomplishment – which links to an increase of errors, a decrease of empathy, substance abuse, stress-related health problems that need to be managed or best prevented. An improvement of anxiety (22 – 38 %) and depression (23 – 30 %) not only helps mental health. Evidence suggests anxiety leads, e.g., to heart disease.
