Meditation: it will make you smarter, better, faster, stronger

If you stream TV shows via the internet, you may have come across a curiously intrusive feature by ABC (Scandal is a preposterously guilty pleasure of mine).  They give you the chance to freeze frame a TV scene (while you are watching it) and text it or email that scene to friends.

We are now distracting ourselves from our own distractions.  What I mean is – TV, generally speaking, is some form of escape.  At the end of a long day, I use it to turn my mind off.  But now I can’t even turn my mind off without being prompted to share it with friends (and help ABC advertise their shows).

How much less attention can we pay to the present moment?
Herein is the first of a 3 part series on meditation, on getting back to the present moment, and on eschewing distractions that ultimately fashion your brain (via neuroplasticity) into a self-manufactured state of ADD.  Meditation can (via neuroplasticity) slow that brain back down – leading to a wealth of health benefits.

If you are a patient or friend – I know I’ve (probably somewhat insistently & annoyingly) lectured you on starting to meditate.  But don’t take my word on it – take the experts below.

Here are some videos that will give you the why and what-for.  Next installment will give book recommendations and local resources.  Enjoy.

Spend 3 minutes investigating: Dan Harris – there is a great, TV newscaster-style video at the bottom of this page to watch.  Also read the interesting evidence on the page above the video (yes the Department of Defense sees the benefits of meditation and has adopted its use) click here

Spend 7 minutes investigating: Sam Harris, neuroscientist and author, explains a slightly deeper for meditation – getting to know the nature of your own mind better, understanding yourself and finding peace in that. click here

Spend an hour investigating: Enjoy this video on Mindful’s web site.  It will only be live one week – click here before 10/21.  This is Dan Harris and Dr. Richard Davidson (neuroscientist) discussing the neuroscience behind and global health impact of meditation.  This is worth your hour.  Skip to minute 6.30 to bypass the intro statements.**

Take good care & stay tuned for more,
Amy

** note bene – on this last video – midway through – around 40 minutes – the discussion on the dalai lama & Francis Collins make me bristle for a number of reasons.  Please ignore those sections as you see fit – I do not believe there is any reason to entangle religion with meditation.