Benefits of mindfulness meditation go far beyond relaxation – here’s what it is and how to practice it

Facing your own thoughts and sensations, without trying to suppress them, is harder than it may seem. But learning to do it can boost your mental health.

By: Yuval Hadash, Carnegie Mellon University and J. David Creswell, Carnegie Mellon University, The Conversation

Outlets: The Conversation

Published: March 31, 2026

Words: 1,128

Last Updated: 4 months ago

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By Yuval Hadash, Carnegie Mellon University and J. David Creswell, Carnegie Mellon University

Imagine being asked to sit alone in a quiet room for 15 minutes with nothing to do – no phone, no music, no external distraction. In a well-known 2014 study, many participants found that task so challenging that they chose to press a button to give themselves an unpleasant electric shock instead of continuing to sit with their thoughts and sensations.

Because …

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