Mindfulness is a buzzword in the business world, but many don’t know that the hype is backed by hard science. A 2011 study of participants who completed an eight-week mindfulness program found that the density of participants’ grey matter significantly increased. Compared to non-meditators, people who practice mindfulness demonstrate superior performance on tests of self-regulation and show more activity in the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), which handles impulsivity and mental flexibility. The hippocampus, which is associated with emotion and memory and is important for resilience, also showed increased grey matter in the mindfulness program participants. Mindfulness shouldn’t be considered just “nice-to-have” – it’s a must-have, keeping our brains healthy and protecting us from toxic stress.
The business world is abuzz with mindfulness. But perhaps you haven’t heard that the hype is backed by hard science. Recent research provides strong evidence that practicing non-judgmental, present-moment awareness (a.k.a. mindfulness) changes the brain, and it does so in ways that anyone working in today’s complex business environment, and certainly every leader, should know about.
See The Original Blog:
