Why You Should Try Meditation This Week

By Chuck Fenwick

Your Mental Health Matters

You’ve probably heard about mental health at some point this week. Whether scrolling through Facebook, watching the news, or talking with your coworkers – chances are you have engaged or observed conversations about this topic. 

And unfortunately, mental health is on the rise in the United States. Not only are many adults struggling, but teenagers and kids, too. 

So what do we do about it? 

Short answer: prayer and meditation. 

Here is why you should give meditation a chance this week.

Current Neuroscience Research Supports Meditation

Several doctors and researchers have studied the impact of spirituality on mental health. Professor Jordan Grafman (Northwestern University) suggests that both theists and atheists have “God neurons.” This suggests that there are neurons within all of our brains that bring us spiritual enlightenment when activated. 

We can activate these neurons through prayer and meditation – which helps us tap into the spiritual realm of our brain. 

Also, Dr. Andrew Newberg (Thomas Jefferson University) made an interesting connection regarding meditation. He says engaging in 12 minutes of prayer daily strengthens a unique neural circuit that enhances our social awareness. 

Ultimately, this helps maintain a healthy balance in our life.

Jesus Supports the Connection of Mind and Soul  in the Bible

In Luke 10:27, Jesus makes a connection between the mind and soul. 

Love the Lord Your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your strength, and all your mind. And, love your neighbor as yourself. 

Our mind and our soul are connected to one another. When we aren’t actively working on our soul (spiritual health), our minds (our mental health) will suffer, too. 

And Jesus demonstrates how to work on our spiritual and mental health through his actions. 

Jesus regularly spent time in prayer and meditation. He observed the Sabbath, which was their time of rest. Jesus spent time in silence to connect with himself and with God. And Jesus demonstrated the importance of being part of a community and sharing stories. 

We weren’t meant to be isolated and overwhelmed. Jesus teaches us that we’re meant to be with others and connect with God. 

12 Minutes Could Change Your Life

Okay, so what does all of this mean for you? 

It all boils down to 12 minutes.

Dr. Newberg (we talked about him earlier) suggests that engaging in 12 minutes of prayer or mediation each day can help us positively impact our mental health. 

So here’s your challenge. Find 12 minutes a day to pray. To meditate. To sit in silence and connect with yourself and with God. 

This time of meditation will help calm your brain and center yourself on what matters. 

And if 12 minutes seems like a lot, I totally get it. I felt like that was a lot of my day, too! 

But 12 minutes is only .8% of your day, less than 1% of every day. 

Those 12 minutes can make a huge difference.

You’re Not Alone

If you try spending 12 minutes in prayer or meditation this week, let me know. Send me a text and share how it impacted you. I want to cheer you on!