The Habit Of Meditation

I am not going to tell you about how to meditate or what are it’s benefits. But instead let me share with you about Habits in general, any habit.

Human brain uses cells called Neurons for all and any cognitive ability. An average Human has around 86 billion Neurons. They are not equally distributed in the whole brain.

The Prefrontal cortex of the Brain has the least density (Some thousands/cm cube). It also uses the most number of Adenosine triphosphate molecules (cellular energy molecules). Basically it is not much efficient. This part of the brain gives us our decision making power, our rationality and problem solving capability. Humans have the largest Prefrontal cortex among all animals (No-brainier).

The more we trace back from the frontal lobe, brain density significantly increases(to about billion/cm cube). The back of the brain handles the functions which does not require much of cognitive attention. e.g. Breathing, you do not actively need to remind yourself to take the next breathe. This part of the brain is much much efficient.

When you first try anything (like learn to drive), it is very cognitively exhaustive for us. We need all focus and effort in it. Remember the inefficient part of the brain? The prefrontal lobe is at job here. This does not wanna waste more energy on the task and wants you to give up. Your own rationality will fight against your will to think of some excuse to avoid or procrastinate the task.

But as you fight all the resistance inside your brain with your clear vision and strong determination. The resistance will eventually surrender and the task will get easier. With enough repetition, it will be a breeze (e.g. driving after years of experience). You need not think that effort-fully to complete the task. The brain shifts this task to back of the brain(The more dense and efficient part of the brain). It does this by hard-wiring the neuron structure.

So if you want to form any habit do not let your rationality beat you. Just get to it. Focus of one repetition at a time that is it. It gets easier.

Similarly if you to break a habit bring your rationality into action. Force yourself to think instead of just doing the action. Maybe pay full attention, next time when you want to smoke.

Hope this gives you new perspective in life. This was said to me in a short conversation by Azran Osman-Rani .