Some research has been done on the effects of meditation on the development of positive emotions, leading to a greater ability to function in everyday life. One urban study conducted by Roth and Robbins in 2004* and published in Psychosomatic Medicine, looked at the effect of the eight week Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) programme on the development of positive emotions. The results showed significant improvement in the participants’ emotional and social functioning, as well as their general health and vitality. Even though no impact on physical functioning was detected in this study, participants did report themselves more capable of working and performing their day-to-day activities. These improvements were reflected in an overall improvement in their health-related quality of life. It was noted that the ongoing effect of these benefits tended to increase with more frequent mindfulness practice, and were most pronounced in experienced mindfulness practitioners.
… with nothing to do, the mind is unable to prevent negative thoughts from elbowing their way to center stage worries about one’s love life, health, investments, family, and job are always hovering at the periphery of attention, waiting until there is nothing pressing that demands concentration. As soon as the mind is ready to relax, zap! the potential problems that were waiting in the wings take over.
Csikszentmihalyi, Flow
*“Mindfulness based stress reduction and health related quality of life: finding from a bilingual inner-city patient population”, Psychosomatic Medicine, 2004: 66(1):112-23
