Does meditation have measurable benefits for mental and physical performance? Who profits most from using the art of meditation as a strategy to help people perform better? For now, let us suggest that learning how to meditate carries universal benefits for all people, but is particularly useful for those who want to perform well under pressure.
Think of people who might use the art of meditation to enhance their abilities in a given occupation.
Politicians, athletes, doctors, lawyers, and public speakers immediately come to mind.
Indeed, the pressure to perform well can drive some people to paranoia, panic, even paralysis.
If a weightlifter freezes up shortly before a performance, his ability to lift the tremendous weight that demonstrates his abilities as a champion performer are limited.
If a runner doesn't develop mental stamina to drive the levels of endurance necessary to complete a 10K race, he might never reach the finish line.
Musicians could use meditation to improve their performances in front of a live audience.
Concert pianists are conditioned to play extended compositions flawlessly, without a single error.
Virtuoso instrumentalists, having built a reputation for themselves, are expected to generate sweet-sounding music every time they perform.
In a musician's mind, however, nothing is taken for granted, and tension doesn't disappear just because they've played a piece dozens of times before.
Incorporating mindful meditation, then, as a preparation strategy leads to relaxation, which instills confidence and releases tension, crucial conditions for promoting peak performances when the curtain rises.
Without such positive energy, entertainers might encounter stage fright, barely able to play anything at all, let alone the fluid technical compositions of a master performer.
A mind enhanced by meditation is alert, aware of its surroundings, and in harmony with the "flow" of clear communication that makes peak performance possible.
There are many techniques that contribute to useful meditation practice, and a person need not wait until moments before they stand before a crowd or take to the playing field.
Deep breathing, visualization, affirmations, music, or selective focus can be used individually or in tandem, forming the basis of a routine that becomes part of someone's preparation for peak performance.
Decision-making skills require fluency in practice.
Consider the quick decisions a race car driver makes behind the wheel, or the safety skills required of firemen, policemen, and public service personnel on a daily basis.
If these individuals second guess their thinking, the consequences could be costly.
Scientific evidence suggests that individuals who regularly face pressure on the job benefit from some form of meditation.
In particular, scholarly articles have focused on meditation's ability to reduce cortisol levels, blood pressure, and pulse rate.
Furthermore, confidence, compassion, and intuition are qualities that require a focused mind, one uncluttered by indecision, self-doubt, and undue pressure.
Peace of mind enhances peak performance, no matter what the situation.
By teaching ourselves the art of meditation, we shorten the span of time between tension and relaxation, giving ourselves permission to be human, to face pressure without fear.