Optimal Being

A meta-analytic review of randomized-controlled trials evaluating the effects of mindfulness-based interventions on cognition found that these interventions consistently yield small-to-moderate improvements in global cognition and various cognitive subdomains. The improvement levels are practically meaningful. The study was published in   Health Psychology Review . Mindfulness is the practice of paying deliberate and non-judgmental attention to the present moment, cultivating awareness of one’s thoughts, feelings, and surroundings to promote mental clarity, emotional balance, and overall well-being. It is often used in psychotherapy as a therapeutic technique to help individuals manage stress, reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression, enhance self-awareness, and develop healthier coping mechanisms by incorporating mindfulness practices and principles into their treatment. Mindfulness-based interventions typically involve practices like meditation, deep breathing, and body scans to...

E xperienced meditators can voluntarily induce unconscious states, known as cessations, without the use of drugs. This ability, observed in Tibetan Buddhist practice, allows meditators to experience a momentary void of consciousness, followed by enhanced mental clarity. Conducted across multiple countries, the study utilized EEG spectral analysis to objectively measure brain activity during these cessation events. By correlating the meditator’s first-person experience with neuroimaging data, researchers have gained insights into the profound modulation of consciousness achievable through advanced meditation practices. Key Facts: Experienced meditators can voluntarily enter a state of cessation, momentarily losing consciousness without external aids. The study analyzed 37 cessation events in one expert meditator across 29 sessions using EEG spectral analysis. This research opens new avenues for understanding consciousness modulation through meditation. Source:  BIAL Foundation A stu...

  Fresh insights into accessing optimal psychological states. KEY POINTS During a flow state, individuals become deeply engrossed in an activity, losing their sense of time and self, which results in peak performance. Flow is influenced by nine precursors that encompass psychological, environmental, and social elements. Fully immersive experiences create lasting memories and contribute to identity development. Flow and mindfulness are incompatible. Mihalyi Csikszentmihalyi, inventor of Flow Theory, would have been 89 on September 29, 2023. Now, you have undoubtedly tasted the sweet nectar of flow. It's that magical sensation when, 37 seconds into sharing an anecdote with friends, swinging a pickleball paddle, savoring a delectable meal, or simply observing a beaver's leisurely stroll through the grass, you become one with the moment. Time? It gracefully decelerates. Your ego and selfhood? They vanish, leaving only action and awareness in harmonious convergence. The outcome? A s...