Mindfulness and meditation practices have just recently been scientifically explored for mental health benefits, and studies have shown mindfulness interventions very effective in their ability to decrease fear of negative emotions and increase willingness to experience such emotions.
You don’t have to suffer with full-blown insomnia to feel the ill-effects of a bad night either, as sleep disturbances can have just as big of an impact on your daytime mood and energy levels - often happening for no apparent reason. All very frustrating, you’d probably agree, however, if you’re someone who suffers from broken sleep or have a child who does, you shouldn’t despair, as there is a helpful solution.
The stresses and strains of daily life take a toll on us all and while this is not news to anyone, the effect it is having on the youth of today is perhaps not as well-documented. The over-stimulation by 21st-century technology combined with lives spent with little or no downtime is leaving the minds of children tired, anxious and depressed.
There’s little doubt that empathy is a good quality for a person to have, but is it an ability that you simply have or you don’t? Well, there is evidence that rather than being something that’s just in the genes, empathy is an ability that can be developed through meditation and mindfulness techniques - that’s according to a report published in the Journal of Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience.
The great thing about meditation is that it’s accessible to everyone and it’s simple. The misconception of meditation only being for hippies, yoga gurus, or Silicon Valley executives is something that’s stopping so many from enjoying the benefits of a mindfulness practice.
