This mission is heavy on philosophy, but here is a quick balance of science!

It is amazing how meditation has been around for centuries, even before any scientific proof existed. From experience, people always claimed how it improved the quality of life with reduced stress and better mental ability. But not everything has been so good.

Meditation has also been surrounded by an air of mysticism, mostly due to its association with saints, hippies, and above all, greedy gurus. No point delving into how much harm has greed done to the world, but we just leave it at a note that meditation has been overcomplicated with false expectations tied to it by the ill-willed.

Thankfully, today meditation is a well-researched topic. Let us look at some of the biggest benefits:

• Mental functions: Increases frontal lobe gray matter even in older people (better decision making). It also reduces amygdala activity (less stress from fight-or-flight response)

• Empathy: Change in the grey matter in the temporal-parietal region shows increased empathy and compassion

• Peace: Increased tolerance and memory along with a lower depression and anxiety

• Immunity: Meditators produce more antibodies to flu, have lower blood pressure for transporting oxygen and CO2 better, and some research even shows a lower risk of cancer and diabetes

We hope you are experiencing some benefits already! Even if you falter in your mission, stick to the small win mantra. Sit silently with yourself for just a minute, if not for ten. Think of it like lifting a 1 kg dumbbell at the gym before you can lift 10 kg. 

Consistency is the key 🌸