Meditation Doesn't Make You Calmer or Less Aggressive

Meditation has been known to make the world a better place, right? New research has suggested that this theory that meditation makes you less aggressive, less prejudiced, and calmer may be a myth.

A team of scientists says that it does not make people more compassionate.

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With the studies done, I personally think that they are sniffing up the wrong tree.

What Is Meditation?

You may have heard the term meditation, but do you know how it began?

Meditation can actually be traced back to as early as 5000 BC. While originally associated with philosophies and religion, people have been practicing this stress-relieving activity.

Studies reveal that meditation can actually save your life. It can reduce your risk of heart disease by decreasing the many factors that eventually lead to that diagnosis.

It helps lower your blood pressure, anxiety, and depression levels. It's helped people stop smoking, and helps people adopt a healthier lifestyle.

Why Meditation "Doesn't" Work

So now that you have a little background information on meditation, let's check out why meditation "doesn't" work. The reason I put quotes around "doesn't" is because I feel this study is trying to make meditation look like something not worth doing.

The studies show that regardless if it were a three-minute class or a three-month getaway, people were more compassionate, empathetic, and mindful.

I've honestly never heard the saying by Dalai Lama which states "If every eight-year-old in the world is taught meditation, the world will be without violence within one generation." But I still think it's true, regardless of what these studies say.

It's kind of like saying exercising doesn't make you a prettier person. I've never heard anyone say that meditation reduces aggressiveness or prejudice - that's a character flaw which takes years to get over.

In the early 1970s, Transcendental Meditation openly conveyed a message saying that the increased number of people practicing this technique would lead to world peace.

I still believe it would.

The problem is there are over seven billion people on this earth. Many of them have been raised in conditions we can't fathom, dealing with horrific living conditions and fighting for your life every day.

While meditation can't change everyone, it can change you.

Why Meditation Does Work

Meditation teaches you patience, being in the present, and being compassionate. It helps you relieve stress, lower blood pressure, release anxiety, and reduce depression.

Meditation helps you create new habits, be mindful of everything you do, and helps you stay in the present moment. Not how your boss did you wrong three weeks ago or worrying about the presentation in a week.

So why don't more people meditate?

I'm not sure if it's due to religious beliefs, no time, or simply they are uneducated about the topic... But everyone should meditate.

It's not sitting around saying "ohm" and sitting in uncomfortable positions. It's about changing how you think, changing what you think, and changing your energy from negative things to positive ones.

Do lifters benefit from meditation?

Meditation, along with a burning desire to accomplish a goal will lead you to success.

Now whether you believe all of what I said is hocus pocus or just having high hopes... It isn't.

I've never been open about my meditation techniques and how much it has changed me as a person. Sure, I still have anger and aggression. Sure, I still have bad days. And I definitely haven't had overnight life-changing things happen.

But what has happened is that I've been given an ability to help with changing my eating habits, changing my unhealthy lifestyle, and changing how I view the world as a whole.

So while these studies have extrapolated information about "meditation doesn't make you less aggressive or prejudice," they don't seem to touch on the bigger picture.

Wrapping It Up

If everyone in the world meditated, would it be a better place?

Yes.

If everyone in the world meditated, would it end violence, aggression, and prejudice?

No.

The world can be a better place even with the wars and other atrocities against humankind. Practicing healthier lifestyles, letting go of the past, and setting and achieving life goals all come from meditation.

I invite you to check out meditation and ways it can help you. Do you want to quit smoking? Do you want to be less stressed? Meditation matched with lifting weights will improve your overall mental and physical health.