Seaward cites a recent study in the journal Psychiatry Research that used magnetic resonance to analyze the brains of participants in an eight-week meditation program.
The study concludes:
“Participation in mindfulness-based stress reduction is associated with changes in gray matter concentration in brain regions involved in learning and memory processes, emotion regulation, self-referential processing and perspective taking.”
• Show compassion: Acceptance of others is particularly helpful in warding off stress, Singer says.
“The goal is to alter your perceptions of situations outside of yourself,” she says. “It’s not about wearing rose-colored glasses, but finding ways to counter negativity.”
Notice something good that happened to you today and tell someone about it. Do something nice for another person.
“People say, ‘Oh, this is so touchy-feely,’ but there is scientific evidence to back it up,” Singer says. “I’m as skeptical as the next guy. But when you look at the science behind it, it’s really inspiring.”
It all comes down to balance, Seaward says.
“Psychological, physiological, emotional balance,” he continued. “Our culture has a lot to do with that. But so do we.”