On the eleventh day of kindness, my neuroscientist gave to me.....
A mantra
Just sit, with your eyes closed repeating this mantra. I am kindness, I am kindness, I am kindness.
Mantras are so useful to all of us. Here are just a few reasons why we should use them daily.
Mantra practice strengthens the connection of the prefrontal cortex with other parts of the brain (like the amygdala), helping us regulate our emotions better. This means that we are more in touch with our emotions and choose an appropriate response.
10 minutes of mantra chanting blocks the release of the stress hormones adrenaline and cortisol. This soothing effect lasts for up to 48 hours after each mantra session. We become calmer during mantra practice, but also more resilient to new potential stressors we encounter later, or even the next day.
When we chant out loud, we stimulate the vagus nerve. When stimulated, the vagus nerve activates the parasympathetic nervous system—our rest-and-digest response. In the rest-and-digest response mode, the brain sends the signals to the stomach (via the vagus nerve) that it is now safe to focus on digestion. The heart pumps more blood from the brain down towards the digestive tract, providing our gut with more oxygen and nutrients. The acidity in our stomach reaches an optimal level to promote healthy digestion and speed up our metabolism. When the vagus nerve is stimulated, it also suppresses inflammation in the body and increases our immunity, helping us fight off infection and speed up healing and recovery after injuries.
Chanting mantras have also been demonstrated to improve memory and create a longer attention span. In the digital age of distraction, focusing on solely one task—mantra chanting—can be an enjoyable way to strengthen our attention muscle.
So it is not just for yogis and monks… mantras are an easy holistic remedy to modern day maladies.
Share this kindness mantra with anyone who needs it. I am kindness, you are kindness, we all are kindness.
“Remember to delight yourself first, then others can be truly delighted."
I’ve been doing mantras for a long time but always in my mind and never out loud, so this is very interesting to read. I shall be chanting my mantras from now on.