What is Meditation?
“Meditation refers to a family of techniques which have in common a conscious attempt to focus attention in a non-analytical way and an attempt not to dwell on discursive, ruminating thought”
(Shapiro, 1982)
Meditation is retraining of attention.
What is Mindfulness?
Mindfulness is the idea of learning how to be fully present and engaged in the moment, aware of your thoughts and feelings without distraction or judgment.
(Headspace)
The difference between Meditation vs Mindfulness?
Meditation originated over 5000 years ago as way to refocus your attention on a specific thing or object. An example would be focusing on your breath, In an attempt not to dwell on thoughts. Mindfulness originated over 50 years ago. It’s used as an attempt to be fully present and aware of your thoughts in a non-judgmental way.
Scientific research shows that being more mindful and having a daily meditation practice is highly beneficial to us. These benefits include a positive impact on our cardiovascular system, better blood pressure results, and treatment for diseases like cancer and diabetes. Although not a cure, meditation has been proven to help such diseases. It is also a great pain relief tool.
From a psychological point of view, meditation is great for improving concentration, memory, and intelligence. It can also improve our sleep experience by helping us relax.
Other benefits of meditation include reduced stress and anxiety. It helps with depression, addiction, and is known to give higher energy levels and provide inner peace.
In conclusion, both meditation and mindfulness have tremendous benefits in our daily lives.