Healing Benefits of Meditation, Part 1

Many times, I have recommend both formal and informal meditation to my counseling patients as it serves as a versatile tool for enhancing well-being. Engaging in regular meditation practices, whether through structured sessions or everyday mindfulness, has shown to be beneficial for improving relationships, connection with yourself—especially anxiety and attention deficit symptoms. Beyond addressing specific problems, meditation plays a vital role in guiding individuals towards a path of inner peace and contentment.

Therefore, by incorporating both formal and informal meditation into your routine, you will cultivate a mindful approach to life, creating a sense of calmness and emotional resilience.

In Part 1, I am sharing Jon Kabat-Zinn’s wisdom on how to start or upgrade your meditation practice with insightful thoughts on the practices overall importance and benefits.

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In This Meditation Podcast:

Jon Kabat-Zinn, PhD, is professor of medicine emeritus at the University of Massachusetts Medical School. Back in the 1970s, he came up with something called Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction, or MBSR, which is a secular way of teaching Buddhist meditation. He’s written many books, including Full Catastrophe Living; Wherever You Go, There You Are; and Coming to Our Senses. His latest book is called Mindfulness Meditation for Pain Relief.

In this episode we talk about:
• The nitty gritty practicalities of starting a practice
• How he’s learned to be more relaxed about his practice—including advocating for meditating in bed  
• How to practice being fully present with no agenda 
• How investigating your motivations—something most people don’t do— can help you be more mindful 
• How to practice letting go of “the story of me”