The Miracles of Meditation

Hailey Lewis, News Editor

When meditating, people around you may think you’re crazy, the real question though, is does it work? Mediation isn’t quite as stereotypical as you believe it is. There is some science behind it. Meditation has been a hot topic for all sorts of studies recently, and the supposed benefits range from jump-starting your productivity to improving your memory. As the definition says, meditation is an art of mental thoughtfulness with awareness. One does not need to climb up a hill and hit a lotus posture to participate. You can do it while sitting in your office chair, while you’re traveling, or whenever you can manage to give yourself a break from persistent thoughts. 

In these times, teenagers constantly deal with stress and negative thoughts. Meditation will prove to be very beneficial in helping with these. The answer lies within the brain. When we meditate, activities in our minds slow down, and there is a reduction in the incoming flow of information. This is how our brain lands into a state of thoughtlessness with awareness. 

When hearing the word meditation, many people immediately conjure up religious images or deadbeats wasting time. Despite its awkward name, it’s really about training your brain to concentrate and focus better. That’s it. You don’t need to buy yoga pants, burn incense, or even sit in a particular way. The purpose of meditation is to train your brain as you do the rest of your muscles. In this case, that means concentrating and focusing on one thing on your mind for a bit. If you’re struggling with concentration and focus, it’s thought that mediation is a straightforward way to train yourself to get better at it. All it takes is the ability to intentionally not think about anything for a little while.