Overthinking often leads to self-obsession, but meditation can help restore balance.
We’ve all worried about whether or not we’re truly likable, and everyone, at some point, has feared that reaching out to others might end in rejection.
But once such thoughts start whirring through your mind, it’s easy to retreat and concentrate on nothing but yourself and your own life. In the end, everything becomes about you.
This is natural enough — the latest neuroscientific research even suggests it’s hardwired into the human brain. But it can get out of control and lead to self-obsession.
Let’s dig into the research a little. Here’s how it works. When certain parts of the brain — above all the posterior cingulate cortex — are activated, humans begin thinking about themselves and how others view them.
These parts of the brain are mostly located in its middle portion; they’re part of what neuroscientists call the brain’s default network, and they kick into action when you’re not doing anything in particular.
If you’ve wondered why an idle moment sitting on the sofa ends in all sorts of worrisome ruminations about whether your neighbors or colleagues like you, well — that’s why!
From an evolutionary perspective, this kind of behavior makes a lot of sense. Self-awareness and attentiveness to what other people are doing is how your brain assesses dangers and makes sure that you aren’t about to be attacked by someone. The problems start when this part of the brain is overstimulated and you become overly anxious about your standing in the world.
That’s where meditation comes in. It’s a great way to restore a sense of balance and work against the negative effects of your brain’s hardwiring. Why? Well, meditation helps to integrate the brain’s different parts.
As the default mode becomes more integrated, you start developing empathy and compassion. That ultimately shifts your attention away from your own self to awareness of others and their needs.
Meditation doesn’t just make you feel better; it also slows aging and boosts your self-control.
It won’t surprise you to hear that meditation boosts your health. That’s an idea that’s been around for a while now. But you might not know just how good it is. In fact, scientists are only just beginning to understand the miraculous effects of meditation.
Take the latest research. Recent studies looking at meditation and mindfulness — a type of meditation that trains the mind to block out background noise and focus on one thing — have demonstrated all sorts of incredible health benefits.
People who regularly meditate, for example, show increased immune function and are much better at fighting off infections. Meditation has also been linked with increased production of something called telomerase, an enzyme that repairs chromosomes and generally slows the aging process.
If these perks aren’t convincing enough, here are three more reasons to start meditating today: studies show that it results in improved cholesterol levels, better blood pressure, and a healthier heart.
Meditation isn’t just a boon to your physical well-being, however — it’s also great for your cognitive abilities. Mastering mindfulness has been shown to help your mind self-regulate, amp up problem-solving skills and adapt to new and unfamiliar situations.
Imagine a central hub called awareness and a large circle around it filled with everything that’s going on around you. Now picture an arrow called focus pointing outward from the hub to a spot within the circle. Meditation is about controlling that arrow. You might want to point it toward something in the circle. Or you might direct it toward the hub itself, thereby raising self-awareness.
A primary school teacher reported how much it had helped Billy, a student who was experiencing difficulties. Billy had all but transformed after taking up meditation and told his teacher that meditating helped him control his impulses.
When he wanted to lash out at his classmates, he focused on his hub and tried to come up with a better solution. Becoming more aware of his feelings and the way he reacted to external stimuli — everything in that wider circle — taught him self-control.
Originally published at Learn More Knowledge on January 22, 2019.
