Dr. Michael Mrazek interviewed by Time Magazine

From the article:

What are the health benefits of meditation?

“I think many people under-appreciate the role attention plays in their life,” says Michael Mrazek, director of research at the University of California, Santa Barbara, Center for Mindfulness and Human Potential. In every moment of your life, your brain is bombarded with way more information than it can process, he says. A lot of this information comes at you from the world around you, but plenty comes from your own mind, whether it’s preoccupying thoughts of work or worries about an upcoming event. “Attention acts as a filter—like the gatekeeper of your mind—and so where you direct your attention is the best predictor of your experiences,” Mrazek explains.

Enhanced thinking and memory are two more benefits that research has consistently linked with meditation, Mrazek says. The practice can also help you better recognize and understand your emotions—and to let them go instead of becoming embroiled in worry or rumination. This ability to regulate emotions may be one reason meditation can help people with depression and anxiety disorders.

What is the most effective way to meditate?

How should you get started? “Try a number of different practices and find one that resonates and connects with you personally,” Mrazek advises. There’s no “best” type of meditation, he adds. Finding the right practice for you requires exploration—and an open mind.

Read the full article: 

http://time.com/5556120/what-is-meditation/?utm_source=emailshare&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=email-share-article&utm_content=20190402