Reset: Meditation and Your Natural Set Point

Meditation has stood the test of time. The fact that people have been meditating since the beginning of human civilization is a testament to its many benefits. Scientific research over the years has proven this. And I have spoken at length about it on this blog many times. But, did you know meditation can help you hit the reset button on your brain? Read on to find out about set points and the power of meditation. Each of us has a set point for positive and negative emotions. The Set Point Study found that people who are naturally happy have more activity in the front part of their frontal lobes. While those who are prone to anxiety have more activity on the right side of their frontal lobe. When you go through intense events in your life, your emotions shift away from that natural set point. For example, this study worked with naturally happy people who only recently began suffering from spinal cord paralysis. The study found that those people returned to their natural demeanor after a brief depression. Your brain chemistry will always regress to its natural set point. However, this process takes about 6 months.

It is possible to reset your natural emotional set point. This reset can be achieved through meditation. Participants in the study meditated for 1 hour a day, 6 days week. After 8 weeks, follow-ups showed a change in each participant. They were happier and became more in tune with the emotions of those around them. In addition, their immune system responses improved.With MRI scans, scientists have noticed that people who meditate have larger brains than those who don’t. Elderly people who meditate regularly also lose less gray matter and have a thicker prefrontal cortex. The prefrontal cortex is where your attention and control are determined. Armed with this knowledge, you can make meditation a priority for your health. Ease meditation into your day, starting with 15-minute spurts. Eventually, you will work up to the 1-hour meditation session per day, 6 days per week schedule used by the participants in this study. If you are naturally anxious or depressed, you can change this set point over time with this schedule and improve your overall quality of life. If you find it challenging to make positive changes in your life, you’re not alone. It could be due to the HeartWall. When the HeartWall is removed, you connect on a deeper level personally and professionally, experience increased health, have a greater peace consistently and are more abundant. Learn more about the HeartWall here.