The Healing Power of Meditation for Brain Health
Meditation is an ancient practice. Though once linked mostly to religious traditions, more and more non-religious people are today taking up the practice for the many benefits it provides the mind and body, including the strengthening of a person's mental abilities and capacity for long-term happiness. Recent scientific studies are increasingly demonstrating the amazing effects that meditation has on the brain health of its adherents.
Here are just a few of those miraculous impacts.
The Healing Power of Meditation for Brain Health
The soul always knows what to do to heal itself. The challenge is to silence the mind.- Carolyne Miss
It reduces symptoms of depression and anxiety
Meditation has been found to reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety in people with a dedicated practice. People who meditate are less prone to being afflicted by anxiety and depressive disorders than people who do not. This is because it stops the action in the "me center" of the brain, and strengthens your self-control. It also strengthens your ability to accept things as they are, keeping you from jumping to frightening conclusions.
It reduces activity in the brain's "me center"
There is an area of the brain that is most active when the person is busy doing nothing and just drifting from thought to thought. It is also the area that is active when the person is engaged in too much self-assessment. It's called the default mode network, or DMN for short. Too much activity in the DMN can lead to depression. Psychologists have therefore aimed to calm down the DMN's rumination activities, and have found that meditation can be an effective way to do this.
It improves concentration and attention
Meditation has even stronger effects on young people than on adults. It alleviates stress, allows them to think better, and makes them happier. School children who were made to take two meditation breaks per day were found to get higher grades, and the schools recorded fewer absences.
Adult meditators who participated in medical research also reported having stronger concentration and attention.
It can help you recover from addiction
In meditation, as you sit down and appear to be doing nothing, you are in fact working on controlling your breathing and your mind. Frequent meditation can therefore help people with different types of addiction to control their cravings by strengthening their self-control. Meditation has been found to help smokers quit smoking, and it is currently showing great promise in helping people recover from addiction to more serious substances like heroin.
It slows the aging of your brain
It is natural for our brains to deteriorate as we get older. Still, research shows that the brains of people with a long-term meditation practice deteriorate at a slower rate than the brains of people who have not been meditating. So a frequent meditator can be 79 and still have a strong and youthful brain!
It can change the structure of the brain
Meditation is so powerful that it can allow you to create what wasn't there. Brain scans have shown that a few years of meditation make the brain bigger, expanding its essential parts and strengthening its connections. The practice has also been found to weaken the amygdala, the part of the brain that is responsible for negative emotions and the creation of trauma. With meditation, you can literally turn yourself into a better person, neurologically!
Join the movement
Now is the time to join the clan of meditators who spend a few minutes of their time each day to make themselves healthier, happier, and better. You can spread the great news about meditation to your community by sharing how the practice is improving your wellbeing, life, and relationships.
You can also teach your kids to meditate, or suggest to the nearby schools to include it in their activities. If you have not tried any meditation yet, you can start today or anytime you choose. You can meditate by yourself or with a friend, or join meditation classes for a more fun experience.
Military Dad Defends His 4 Little Daughters When Strangers Make This Rude Remark
Military Dad of 4 Daughters Defends His Girls When Strangers Make This Rude Remark
Austin von Letkemann is the military officer strangers feel "sorry" for — and the reason is infuriating.
Whenever the devoted father leaves the house with his four children, strangers can't help but notice the officer in uniform is holding hands with 4 adorable little girls. They will tell the traditionally "masculine" and "all American" dad they feel sorry for him, because he has no sons. This dad makes one thing very clear: They are his daughters, they aren't a burden.
In a passionate video, von Letkemann took to Instagram to share with his followers that the only thing that's "difficult" about being a girl dad — is clapping back to these sexist remarks over and over again.
They Mock His Daughters To Their Face
When strangers approach Austin von Letkemann and his four daughters, they don't always realize that their comments are being overheard. They seem oblivious to the fact that his girls understand every word. Von Letkemann describes how people will approach him and, without thinking, make remarks like "I'm sorry" or even joke about his lack of sons. What they don't realize is that these comments, intended to be light-hearted or humorous, can be deeply hurtful to his daughters. These strangers are not just disrespecting von Letkemann's choices as a father; they're also sending a message to his daughters that their presence is something to be pitied. It’s a message that von Letkemann won't stand for, and he's speaking out to defend his girls from these insensitive remarksSaying "Get Your Shotgun" Isn't Funny — It's Sexist
Another common comment that Austin von Letkemann encounters is the old "better get your shotgun ready" trope, often delivered with a smirk or a wink. This line is typically intended to suggest that a father with daughters should be on high alert to protect them from potential "suitors," implying that they are objects to be guarded rather than individuals with agency.
Von Letkemann finds this line of thinking outdated and sexist. In his viral Instagram video, he points out that these jokes are not just stale — they're damaging.
By suggesting that his daughters require armed protection, the joke reinforces the idea that women are inherently vulnerable and need to be shielded from men. Von Letkemann argues that instead of promoting this narrative, society should focus on teaching respect and consent, challenging these sexist tropes at their source.
Watch Austin von Letkemann's Video:
"If I Had A Fifth Child, I'd HOPE It Was A Girl" — One Dad's Message For Other Parents
Despite the constant remarks about his lack of sons, Austin von Letkemann is clear: He wouldn't trade his daughters for anything.
In fact, he told his Instagram followers that if he were to have a fifth child, he would hope for another girl. This declaration isn't just about doubling down on his pride in his family — it's a pointed response to those who see fathering daughters as a misfortune.
Von Letkemann's stance is a powerful one, rejecting the notion that a family is incomplete without sons. He encourages others to question the assumptions behind these comments and to appreciate the joy and fulfillment that his daughters bring. By sharing his story, von Letkemann hopes to create a more inclusive perspective on fatherhood, one that values daughters just as much as sons.