Scientific evidence supporting the effects of mindfulness and meditation on well-being.
We are constantly chasing the next thrill of happiness. It may be a luxury Bentley, an exclusive beach trip, or a coveted Birkin bag. These luxuries certainly brighten up our lives for a moment. But like clockwork, the novelty fades away. The stresses of life take over, and we once again find ourselves relentlessly chasing the next object of happiness.
In the 1970s, Richard Easterlin realized that increasing your income over time doesn’t necessarily translate to greater happiness in the long term. Material comforts can give you momentary satisfaction, but they don’t provide sustained long-term joy.
Furthermore, happiness is genetically influenced: if your mother was not happy, you are unlikely to be happy either. A 2003 study by Lucas, Clark et al. found that major life events such as marriage, divorce, or widowhood lead to temporary changes in happiness, but that most people return to their baseline levels within a few years. This gave rise to the set point theory, which explains why an individual’s happiness is remarkably stable over time.
Our brains have different roles: the “stress brain” that deals with worries and tension, and the “happy brain” that spreads joy and fosters connections. Genetically happy people have higher activity in the “happy brain” and lower activity in the “stress brain,” which helps them develop a more positive outlook on life.
So, if we are not genetically predisposed to greater happiness, are we destined for negative mental states? Absolutely not! Our brains have an amazing ability to reorganize themselves by forming new neural connections throughout our lives, a process called neuroplasticity. One proven way to increase happy brain activity and decrease stress brain activity (i.e. raise your happiness bar) is through consistent meditation (Fredrickson et al., 2008).
We all carry deep-seated trauma from our childhoods, our parents, past relationships, etc. Rather than addressing these issues, we often suppress them and try to distract ourselves with new things. But as Bessel van der Kolk explains in The Body Keeps the Score, buried trauma never goes away and can lead to physical illnesses, mental problems, addictions, relationship difficulties, and self-esteem issues.
Meditation helps to heal and clear old negative patterns and traumas. It clears emotions such as sadness, fear, and stress that have been stored in the body for weeks, years, or even since childhood, allowing the mind to focus and deal with these issues. For example, say you meditate for 20 minutes every day for a year, accumulating 7,300 minutes of meditation time. Over the years, this consistent practice accumulates a significant amount of time for the mind to process and resolve problems, giving you confidence and ease in new or stressful situations. Supporting this, a study by Davidson et al. (2003) showed that an 8-week mindfulness meditation program significantly improved emotional regulation and immune function, demonstrating that meditation has a profound impact on both mental and physical health.
Meditation doesn’t make you happy. Meditation reduces the things that prevent you from finding and appreciating happiness. The key is consistency. Just as working out intensely for four hours once a month won’t build your abs, meditating sporadically for two hours won’t get you very far. But a few minutes every day can have a profound effect on your health.
In conclusion, the ancient Chinese philosopher Laozi said: “To a quiet mind, the whole universe submits.”
This article is written by Seerat Kaur Marwaha, Spiritual Coach and Founder of Soulful Wellness.
We are constantly chasing the next thrill of happiness. It may be a luxury Bentley, an exclusive beach trip, or a coveted Birkin bag. These luxuries certainly brighten up our lives for a moment. But like clockwork, the novelty fades away. The stresses of life take over, and we once again find ourselves relentlessly chasing the next object of happiness.
In the 1970s, Richard Easterlin realized that increasing your income over time doesn’t necessarily translate to greater happiness in the long term. Material comforts can give you momentary satisfaction, but they don’t provide sustained long-term joy.
Furthermore, happiness is genetically influenced: if your mother was not happy, you are unlikely to be happy either. A 2003 study by Lucas, Clark et al. found that major life events such as marriage, divorce, or widowhood lead to temporary changes in happiness, but that most people return to their baseline levels within a few years. This gave rise to the set point theory, which explains why an individual’s happiness is remarkably stable over time.
Our brains have different roles: the “stress brain” that deals with worries and tension, and the “happy brain” that spreads joy and fosters connections. Genetically happy people have higher activity in the “happy brain” and lower activity in the “stress brain,” which helps them develop a more positive outlook on life.
So, if we are not genetically predisposed to greater happiness, are we destined for negative mental states? Absolutely not! Our brains have an amazing ability to reorganize themselves by forming new neural connections throughout our lives, a process called neuroplasticity. One proven way to increase happy brain activity and decrease stress brain activity (i.e. raise your happiness bar) is through consistent meditation (Fredrickson et al., 2008).
We all carry deep-seated trauma from our childhoods, our parents, past relationships, etc. Rather than addressing these issues, we often suppress them and try to distract ourselves with new things. But as Bessel van der Kolk explains in The Body Keeps the Score, buried trauma never goes away and can lead to physical illnesses, mental problems, addictions, relationship difficulties, and self-esteem issues.
Meditation helps to heal and clear old negative patterns and traumas. It clears emotions such as sadness, fear, and stress that have been stored in the body for weeks, years, or even since childhood, allowing the mind to focus and deal with these issues. For example, say you meditate for 20 minutes every day for a year, accumulating 7,300 minutes of meditation time. Over the years, this consistent practice accumulates a significant amount of time for the mind to process and resolve problems, giving you confidence and ease in new or stressful situations. Supporting this, a study by Davidson et al. (2003) showed that an 8-week mindfulness meditation program significantly improved emotional regulation and immune function, demonstrating that meditation has a profound impact on both mental and physical health.
Meditation doesn’t make you happy. Meditation reduces the things that prevent you from finding and appreciating happiness. The key is consistency. Just as working out intensely for four hours once a month won’t build your abs, meditating sporadically for two hours won’t get you very far. But a few minutes every day can have a profound effect on your health.
In conclusion, the ancient Chinese philosopher Laozi said: “To a quiet mind, the whole universe submits.”
This article is written by Seerat Kaur Marwaha, Spiritual Coach and Founder of Soulful Wellness.
