“Meditation” is a practice where an individual uses a technique to train attention and awareness, aiming to achieve a mentally clear, emotionally calm, and stable state. It’s about detaching from reactive or “discursive thinking” and observing thoughts and feelings without judgment.

Here are some key aspects of meditation:

• Purpose: While historically rooted in religious and spiritual traditions (like Buddhism, Hinduism, Christianity, etc.), modern meditation is often practiced for its secular benefits, such as reducing stress, anxiety, and depression, and improving focus, self-awareness, and emotional well-being.

   

• Techniques: There are many different types of meditation, but they often involve:

  • Focused attention: Concentrating on a specific object, such as the breath, a mantra (a repeated word or phrase), an image, or physical sensations in the body (body scan).

     

  • Open monitoring (mindfulness): Being aware of all mental events (thoughts, feelings, sensations) as they arise, without judgment.

     

  • Relaxed breathing: Deep, even-paced breathing to calm the body and mind.

     

• Benefits: Regular meditation practice has been linked to numerous benefits, including:

  • Reduced stress and anxiety

     

  • Improved emotional regulation

     

  • Enhanced focus and concentration

     

  • Increased self-awareness

     

  • Lowered resting heart rate and blood pressure

     

  • Better sleep

     

  • A greater sense of calm, peace, and balance

     

In essence, meditation is a mental exercise that helps you gain more control over your mind and foster positive mental states.