With an increasing focus on mindfulness and wellbeing, more and more people are trying meditation to improve their mental health. It doesn’t work for everyone, but for those who find it beneficial, it doesn’t just make you happier. According to one recent study from ETH Zurich, it may also help you better manage negative feelings and events (https://longevity.technology/lifestyle/transform-your-mind-how-meditation-empowers-positive-thinking-and-reduces-negativity/).
Participants in this study, which lasted two weeks, were recruited online. There were 261 of them in all, half of whom would take part in a 15-minute daily meditation and half of whom would instead listen to relaxing music. Before they started the study, participants had to fill in a questionnaire about their attitudes and responses to negative information. The same questionnaire was delivered again at the end of the study.
By negative information, we mean things like finding out you’re ill, you’ve lost a load of money, or your partner has cheated on you. Obviously, no one wants to hear these things, but sometimes they happen. Being able to manage your mental health means being able to acknowledge these types of events and take active steps to deal with them instead of just burying your head in the sand.
It’s all very well saying that we can’t make sensible decisions about our life without considering all the relevant information, but as psychologists will tell you, cognitive bias is a dangerous thing. It leads people to only listen to the evidence that supports their point of view and to ignore or discount anything contradictory, even if it’s objectively a reliable source.
Mindfulness meditation is when people sit still (which is why it doesn’t work for everyone) with their eyes closed, taking note of their breathing, how they feel in their body, and what thoughts and feelings happen to flit past. You don’t do anything with this information; you just acknowledge it, positive or negative. For participants who meditated mindfully, this appeared to lead to calmer, more accepting responses to negative events than for the others who listened to music.
We already know that people who meditate regularly have better concentration and productivity, with reduced levels of stress and depression. This study suggests that the increased awareness of your own body, thoughts and feelings means you’re better placed to receive negative information, think through practical responses, and preserve your mental health in the face of adversity.
