Stressed? Depressed? Join the club! Regardless of who you are or where you live, you’re bound to have a lot on your mind and are likely in need of a mental rest. Meditation is becoming more and more common as a tool to calm the mind and stay centered amongst whatever brand of madness you’re dealing with.

Studies now show that meditating decreases beta waves in your brain, which slows down the speed at which you process information. As a result, your brain and body reap the most unbelievable benefits.

• Increases happiness
  In the human brain, the left side of the prefrontal cortex is responsible for positive emotions, while the right side is responsible for negative emotions. Studies have shown that when we meditate, signaling increases in the left side and decreases in the right side. Therefore, during the time we spend meditating, our brains are being programmed to feel good. Meditation sets the stage for happiness.
   
• Encourages a healthy lifestyle
  Meditation is a serious form of self-care. Taking time out of your day to remind your brain that it deserves to feel at peace sends a bigger message that it deserves all good things. Many people who begin a meditation practice notice that they end up wanting to treat their bodies better and find themselves choosing healthier food options, exercising more, and cutting out various self-destructive habits such as smoking or overindulging in alcohol.
   
• Decreases stress
  The recent rise in anti-anxiety medications suggests that stress-levels could be rising in America. Studies have shown that those who incorporate meditation into their daily lives are less likely to feel that they need medication, and are more able to regulate their emotions on a long-term basis. In other words, they’re more able to calm themselves down whenever need be. 
   
• Increases acceptance
  Meditation trains us to not get attached to thoughts or feelings, and as a result we become less attached to the things that come in and out of our lives. Instead of being upset or disrupted by change, we’re more and more able to accept life as it happens. Additionally, having a routine meditation practice creates a reliable internal place to retreat into for refuge no matter what may be going on in life. 
  ?????

There are dozens of meditation methods across the globe, and each one can be personalized to suit you and your mind. Your meditation practice doesn’t have to follow strict rules or identically resemble any given format in order for it to benefit your brain. Taking a predetermined amount of time to sit in a quiet place and simply focus on your breath is all it takes to start experiencing a shift towards the peaceful mind you want.