"The quality of our life depends on the quality of our mind." Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
That was brilliant! Smart thinking! You are an intelligent person!
When we receive positive feedback, we feel happy. Our confidence receives a boost. And it is only natural that we would like such appreciation to come our way more often. Something that is bound to happen if we habitually make the right decisions. And temper our actions with wisdom and good judgement.
An intelligence quotient (IQ) is a total score derived from several standardized tests designed to assess human intelligence.
The IQ test consists of a number of tasks which measure our capacity to learn.
These tasks measure short-term memory, analytical thinking, mathematical ability and spatial recognition.
Is it possible to do this effortlessly? To be on top of most situations? Is there a winning formula to enhance performance at work? The cheat code is to meditate daily.
Regular meditation increases IQ level in many ways.
- It makes both brain hemispheres work in tandem.
- It increases brain size.
- It boosts memory.
- It intensifies emotional intelligence (EQ).
- It powers up your life in miraculous ways.
Let’s take a closer look at how meditation works for us.
Meditation brings clarity:
Our mind is a mirror of our thoughts and experiences, present interactions and future anticipations. Meditation helps you drop these tendencies. It helps us connect with the Source, with the power within. Meditation is quite simply mental hygiene. It removes the clutter, fine tunes our talents, and helps us get in touch with our inner self. As a consequence of regular meditation, we feel less burdened. We are able to take a step back and look at the bigger picture. When our mind is unfettered by our tendencies, we become intuitive and perceptive. We can align ourselves to the situations we face and act with awareness.
Meditation improves concentration (IQ):
We have all felt at one time or another that there is a dominant source of unlimited energy within us. We all know that there is a quiet inner strength that is unmatched. The more we experience this, the stronger we become. Meditation establishes this secure connection with our Source. It helps maintain inner peace and tranquility, thereby unleashing the infinite potential of the mind. Practicing regular meditation keeps our mind relaxed, sharp and focused.
This has also been supported by independent research. Sara W. Lazar and her team at the National Institute of Health, USA, have proved that meditation aids in increasing cortical thickness. Which in turn helps us increase focus.
"The quality of our life depends on the quality of our mind," says Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar. We can't control what happens in our world, but we can control the quality of our mind through meditation.
Meditation encourages intuition:
In moments of idyllic peace and harmony, there is a wellspring of intuition within us. The thoughts, feelings, ideas and opinions that arise from this space come from the ‘gut’. Commonly referred to as ‘gut feeling,’ intuition is regarded as a blessing to the human mind. Research supports the fact that intuition allows us to know something without analytic reasoning. It bridges the gap between the conscious and unconscious parts of our mind. And also between instinct and reason.
If we want to become intuitive, all we have to do is meditate! Meditation is to intuition what breath is to life.
Research conducted by Dr.Eileen Ludersat the UCLA Brain Mapping Centre has concluded that regular meditation fuels an increase in the growth of gray matter.This directly impacts the quality of our thinking.
Meditation stimulates creativity:
Have you observed when it is that creative outbursts occur? While walking by the sea? In the middle of a shower? While hiking, or swinging to your favorite tunes? The trick to becoming creative lies in relinquishing control. We need to relax and enter a state of effortlessness.
"Control is fatiguing, while brain imaging research shows that relaxation is not only restorative, but also leads to enhanced memory and facilitated intellectual understanding," says Dr. Emma Seppala, a renowned scientistand researcher at Stanford University, CA. Meditation helps you relax and in turn be more creative.
Meditation balances the brain:
Most people are left brain dominant. This means that we are more attuned to the logical, math and language oriented left brain way of perceiving and managing life. We are less attuned to the intuitive, kinesthetic right brain. Integrating the right hemisphere of our brain and balancing the two hemispheres is hugely important if we want to experience life to its fullest.
A balanced brain leads to greater awareness, insightfulness and creativity. To peace of mind and happiness. Fortunately for us, this brain balance can be achieved with meditation.
In short, the benefits of meditation cannot be exaggerated enough. It is an answer in the affirmative to the perennial question, “Is it possible to increase IQ level?” However huge a boon this may be, it is not the only one that meditation brings. It is no wonder that Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar is constantly stressing the importance of meditation!
Many guided meditations with Gurudev are available online. There is also a Sahaj Samadhi Meditation program which can pretty much transform your life.
Find a Sri Sri Yoga program at an Art of Living Center near you.
Do you need information on programs? Would you like to share your feedback? Write to us at info@srisriyoga.in
