Introduction
For very many years, human beings have been keen to identify several procedures and interventions to deal with stress. Such needs have been informed by the hectic pace and nature of human life. Since tiresome activities make people unhappy and frustrated, it is appropriate to engage in various practices that can result in calmness and peace. Medication is one of these processes that are capable of transforming a person’s mind from disturbed to peaceful or positive. This research paper describes how meditation affects people’s inner worlds and perceptions.
Brief History
Loizzo (2014) believes that meditation has been embraced by many groups for thousands of years. Some anthropologists and researchers have revealed that the ancient concept must have been common in India around 1500 BCE (Loizzo, 2014). However, meditation must have been embraced by different Hindu cultures as early as the year 3000 BCE (Loizzo, 2014). The use of meditation in other cultures and regions is something that is debated by historians. Some studies have indicated that meditation was common in Buddhist India and China from 600 BCE (Loizzo, 2014). During the period, meditation was used as a powerful process for achieving liberation, morality, and improving contemplation. West (2016) goes further to argue that the Silk Road led to the spread of meditation to different cultures. In the 3rd century, historians assert that Plotinus managed to come up with various meditative techniques that encouraged people to lead spiritual lives.
Throughout the middle ages, mediation was embraced by different religions such as Judaism, Taoism, and Confucianism. This development explains why the technique is associated with Jewish culture. By the early 18th century, ancient teachings on meditation had been embraced in different Western countries such as France and Britain (Loizzo, 2014). In 1927, a book titled Tibetan Book of the Dead was published, thereby empowering and encouraging more people to embrace the approach. Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) approach is currently used to treat individuals suffering from various chronic diseases (Collen, 2015). The program was informed by the concepts of meditation.
Biopsychosocial and Cultural Factors
The biopsychosocial concept or model focuses on an intricate interaction of psychological, biological, and social factors. This discipline has been associated with meditation by many scholars. For instance, meditation is a powerful technique that can make it easier for individuals to deal with their psychological problems such as mood disorders, anxiety, stress, and pain (Williams et al., 2014). The method has also been applied in the medical field to treat various diseases that have a biological origin such as bipolar and mood disorders (Bajal et al., 2017). Individuals who have any form of stress or pain can benefit from the power of meditation.
Applying the biopsychosocial model, health practitioners and therapists have been able to employ the use of mindfulness meditation to guide more individuals to develop what is known as a “universal mind”. Bajal et al. (2017) indicate that such kind of mind is objective, fully aware, and nonjudgmental. That being the case, the biopsychosocial process is something that is provided by mindfulness and meditation.
For many centuries, meditation has been embraced by different groups such as the Chinese to deal with stress (Lutz, Jha, Dunne, & Saron, 2015). The method has also been associated with various religious practices such as Buddhism, Confucianism, Taoism, and Judaism (Davidson & Kaszniak, 2015). Meditation is embraced by believers to achieve their spiritual goals. In the recent past, meditation has become common among different Christians (Bajal et al., 2017). This approach empowers them to re-pattern their relationships with their creator.
Additionally, Western cultures have created powerful meditation-related models that are being used in the field of medicine (Guilherme et al., 2016). This fact explains why meditation continues to dictate the cultural and social attributes associated with European societies (West, 2016). The wave of globalization has also resulted in a situation whereby meditation has become a global standard for dealing with stress and anxiety.
Description, Analysis, and Comparisons
Mediation remains a powerful procedure that can make it possible for individuals to understand their perceptions, inner worlds, and minds. Collen (2015) indicates that people who use meditation can learn how to transform their minds and deal with any form of stress, pain, and/or disturbance. In terms of description, meditation is a powerful strategy that makes it easier for people to understand or transform their inner worlds and perceptions. Quach, Mano, and Alexander (2015) go further to argue that the process of meditation in various cultures appears to converge. For instance, meditation is presently used in many cultures and regions as a way of calming the mind, improving people’s spirits, and relaxing the body (Bajal et al., 2017).
Through the use of meditation, individuals can connect their minds and senses, share, and re-pattern their thoughts. They will become aware of the surrounding environments and transform their emotions. From an analytical perspective, it is evident that many people from different backgrounds acknowledge that the method can result in spiritual liberation and empowerment (Guilherme et al., 2016). The technique guides them to learn more about their religious beliefs, achieve inner peace, and improve their health outcomes.
Different traditions have developed unique meditation techniques depending on the intended goals. For instance, Buddhist tradition outlines a powerful model whereby people can cultivate productive ideas and thoughts in their minds (Guilherme et al., 2016). They do so by overcoming every negative thought. Taoism tradition, on the other hand, uses similar approaches to achieve spiritual restoration (Brewer, 2014). When the mind is restored, more individuals can improve the way they perceive the things around them or address their challenges.
In Western cultures, meditation has been supported as a powerful process through which individuals can improve their perceptions of the surrounding world. For instance, Ortiz and Sibinga (2017) assert that mindful meditation makes it easier for people to react positively to stressful situations and anger. The approach results in increased internal peace and awareness. The achieved level of compassion empowers people to become efficient in their actions or activities (Skaer, Male-Ervik, & Nwude, 2014). When people look inward at themselves, they can analyze their feelings and connect with the rest of humanity.
The medical world has also embraced the power of meditation. This approach is considered since it has the potential to address psychological and social concerns affecting different patients (Bower et al., 2014). This comparative analysis, therefore, reveals that meditation is a powerful technique that has been adopted and transformed by different fields in an attempt to support people’s goals.
Interventions and Therapeutic Techniques
The benefits of meditation have informed several interventions and therapeutic techniques that can be used to deal with several psychological or health conditions. Mirror meditation is the first therapeutic technique that is embraced by psychologists to guide people to find a sense of predictability, peace, and security (Guilherme et al., 2016). This behavioral approach has been observed to deliver meaningful results. Mindfulness is the second intervention that is embraced in stressful situations to guide, empower, and encourage different persons (Lam, Sterling, & Margines, 2015). The technique has been supported because it is capable of reducing stress, boosting neural connections, and boosting personal awareness.
Meditation is also used as a therapeutic technique whereby beneficiaries can redefine their inner worlds and experiences. The concept guides people to perceive their minds and surroundings positively. People affected by stress can use the technique to transform their minds, cultivate productive thoughts, and strengthen their spirits (Tang, Holzel, & Posner, 2015). Finally, the Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) technique was invented in 1979 by American psychotherapists to treat patients suffering from chronic conditions such as cancer and stroke (Lam et al., 2015). This technique entails the use of meditative techniques to guide individuals to manage stress, control emotions, and improve their health outcomes.
Conclusion
This discussion shows how meditation is a useful method for calming and relaxing the human mind. Meditation has been embraced by various groups since it is capable of promoting spiritual awareness and mental liberation. The use of the above therapeutic interventions can promote calmness, improve concentration, and maximize tranquility. That being the case, human beings should come up with powerful meditation models to address the problems affecting them, improve their inner worlds and perceptions, and achieve higher health outcomes.
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