What are the psychological benefits to meditation?

Neuroscientists have found that meditators shift their brain activity to different areas of the cortex through meditation.

Assists the progress of psychological healing and reintegration.

increases feelings of peace, happiness and contentment.

Meditation improves the clarity of thought and calms the body and mind.

Subdues automatic ego reactions and conditioned behaviors.

Assists the progress of spiritual and transpersonal development.

Increases efficiency and productivity in our daily lives.

reduces stress, anxiety, depression and anger.

Meditation helps the mind develop a deeper understanding of self and the true nature of reality.

brain waves in the stress-prone right frontal cortex move to the calmer left frontal cortex in meditation, thus creating serenity.

There is less activity going on in the amygdala, where the brain processes fear, while in this calm state of mind.

Develops many mind qualities such as: creativity, intuition and wisdom.

Meditating can reduce our biological age by 5 to 10 years.

Meditation is as simple as sitting quietly focusing on your breathe or a word or phrase.

For people suffering from chronic pain, mindfulness meditation may help them notice and accept their pain without becoming anxious and panicky, which just makes the pain worse.

Rob Nairn talks about it as a state of "bare attention." He explains, "It is a highly alert and skillful state of mind because it requires one to remain psychologically present and 'with' whatever happens in and around one without adding to or subtracting from it in any way."

Regular meditation increases serotonin levels and influences mood and behavior.

For women it reduces pre-menstrual Syndrome symptoms.

Meditation helps with weight loss, anxiety, sleep and has more psychological benefits than I can name and its a lot cheaper than taking pills for all those problems.