The Value of Meditation
We live in a frantic world, bombarded by emails, texts, images, videos, and a host of other information. In our digital world, many of us have developed a deep reliance on our smartphones. While these devices offer incredible convenience and connectivity, they can also contribute to a growing problem: smartphone anxiety and addiction. Some individuals experience heightened levels of stress, anxiety, or fear when separated from their phones. The constant need to check notifications, scroll through social media feeds, or respond immediately to messages can create a sense of dependency and unease.
Unplugging from your technology and quieting your mind with meditation can improve your health, creativity, and well-being. Meditation is a powerful tool that enables individuals to connect with themselves, cultivate self-awareness, and develop a sense of inner calm. With regular practice, meditation can improve concentration, increase resilience, and foster a greater sense of clarity and purpose in life.
Scientific research has demonstrated several health benefits associated with the practice of meditation. Some of these are stress reduction, decreased anxiety, decreased depression, pain reduction, and improved memory. Meditation has been shown to reduce blood pressure, heart rate, cortisol, and epinephrine. Blood flow to the brain is increased, and in aging practitioners, an increase in gray matter in the brain.
A randomized, controlled trial of African -America men and women with coronary heart disease compared the effects of meditation to health education.1 After 5 years there was a 48% reduction in the major endpoints of death, heart attack, and stroke in the meditation group.
There are several ways to practice meditation; they all attempt to have the participant quiet their busy mind. When this happens, a person can access their internal self, and reach a calmer, more relaxed, and deeper state.
There’s an app for that
Since there are so many ways to meditate it can be confusing and difficult to know where to begin. Fortunately, there are several excellent smartphone apps that have been developed to help you with your guided meditation journey. I know it may seem counterintuitive to use your smartphone for meditation, but these apps can help overcome the negative effects of other smartphone uses.
Smartphone Apps
Calm is the most downloaded meditation app in the Apple App store. It has over 100 million downloads and more than 1.5 million 5-star reviews. The app features meditation practice, calming sounds, ambient music, and sleep stories. Programs included self-compassion, stress reduction, and anxiety management. There is a large amount of content, and new content is added all the time.
Here is a comprehensive review of Calm.
Headspace is the second most downloaded mindfulness app. Headspace was co-founded by a former Buddhist monk who narrates most of the guided meditations. Although meditation itself is rooted in Eastern Buddhist tradition, the app isn’t tied to any singular religious identity.
Here is a comprehensive review of Headspace.
The Breethe app is reviewed here.
This free app was developed by and Australian non-profit whose mission is “to provide accessible, life-long tolls to support healthy minds.”
Here is a review.
Insight Timer is a free app that helps you learn to meditate with guided meditations and talks by experts, music tracks from world-renowned artists and courses and workshops.
Here is a review.
If you are religious, you will recognize that prayer is a form of meditation. If interested, there are also some excellent prayer apps to explore.
Prayer Smartphone Apps
An app to help with meditation, morning prayers, daily devotionals, and sleep.
The #1 Christian Daily Worship and Well-being app. Daily Christian meditation, Bible stories, and prayer.
The leading Catholic app for prayer, meditation, and daily scripture.
These apps cater to both beginners and experienced practitioners, offering a convenient way to incorporate meditation into daily routines.
Most of these apps have a free option. I hope you will download one and try quieting your life. Meditation can be a meaningful change in your life this year.
Ralph Broadwater, M.D., CFP®
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