Altered Traits: Science Reveals How Meditation Changes Your Mind, Brain, and Body

Daniel Goleman and Richard Davidson present research on what meditation actually does for the brain and body. Over the past twenty years, meditation and mindfulness have become widely promoted as solutions for weight, relationships, and achievement. The authors examine cutting-edge findings to clarify the real effects of meditation and how to practice it effectively. They address common misconceptions and distortions in how mind-training methods have been marketed. While meditation produces pleasant mental states, the lasting benefits come from personality changes that develop over time. However, short daily practice alone—even sustained for years—cannot produce the highest levels of lasting change without specific elements. Beyond practice duration, effective training requires smart practice methods, including targeted feedback from an experienced teacher and a broader, less self-focused perspective. These components are often absent from widely available mind-training programs. The authors present recent data from Davidson's laboratory that suggests a new approach for developing a wider range of mind-training methods with greater potential benefits.