Meditation

Meditation is a mental exercise that trains a person’s attention and awareness. People use meditation to curb their reactivity to their negative thoughts and feelings. Instead of turning those thoughts off, meditation encourages the person to observe them without judgment to understand them eventually. Meditation requires the individual to turn their focus to a single point of reference like their breathing, bodily sensations, or a word or phrase, also known as a mantra. Beginners usually start with short sessions as their body and mind gets used to being still. Over time, practitioners increase the length of time per session. These days meditation is easily assessable, so although there are many opportunities for group meditation, many individuals can do it from the safety of their own home thanks to the technology that can guide them through the process. Meditation works for people of all ages who experience various issues. Still, it’s a great practice to do even if a person doesn’t feel like they’re struggling with any concrete issues. While some mediations focus on specific mental health issues like anxiety and depression, other meditations help practitioners gain an overall sense of perspective and increased balance to themselves. Anyone can use meditation in conjunction with other forms of therapy, and there’s no set number of sessions one has to undergo to feel the effects of meditation.