Can Meditation Help Your Career? A New Study Suggests Yes

According to a new study, meditation can help your brain in many ways.

It seems like everyone is either looking for a way to get a leg up on their job search or simply trying to excel in the job they already have. There are many ways to accomplish either of these goals, but one way that you may not have considered is meditation.

I am a practicing meditator, although I have to admit that my sitting practicing isn't nearly as frequent or as diligent as it could be. However, it is something that I find helps me get clarity, feel better and fight off depression and stress. Interestingly enough, it seems that I'm not the only who has found that spending 30 minutes each day in meditation makes a difference.

According to a new study, meditation can actually change the structure of our brains and can increase concentration, memory and boost positive emotions. Of course, the study involved doing MRIs on people who have been meditating regularly for years. Even still, it isn't too far of a stretch to think that even novice meditators could also benefit from the practice.

According to the study, just spending 30 minutes a day over the course of eight weeks can increase the density of brain matter in the key areas that are typically associated with stress, empathy, memory and concentration. All of which are important when looking for a new job or trying to cope with the demands of working harder at the job you have. Being able to shake off stress and feel more connected with your co-workers and clients can pay off in many ways.

If you aren't someone who meditates, it's actually easier than you'd think. You don't have to go to a meditation center or become a Buddhist. All you have to do is sit quietly and pay attention. For a beginner, the best place to start is to have a meditation guide to walk you through it. You can do this by attending a meditation class, buying a beginner's meditation DVD or even by downloading some guided meditation MP3s that will talk you through the process.

There is no wrong way to meditate, so if you try it and feel that your mind just keeps wandering and you have trouble paying attention, don't worry about it. When you realize that you are wandering, just come back to your breathing and don't beat yourself up about it. Believe it or not, even the most experienced meditators have trouble keeping focus the entire time, and even they will tell you that it isn't about doing it perfect or even doing it better. It's all about the journey, the process of meditation, than it is about achieving mastery.

For working professionals or those who are struggling to stay positive during an extended job search, this might be something that can really help. Here are just a few of the benefits:

• Empathizing with others better will increase your likeability, which is a key factor during an interview.
• Being able to cope with stress will make it easier to stay positive and enthusiastic, which helps you have the courage to follow up on all job leads and show your best self to a hiring manager.
• Improving memory will impress your boss with your awesome ability to stay on top of everything.
• Keeping depression at bay can keep you from throwing in the towel or becoming too paralyzed to go to work or keep on looking for work.

So, if you haven't given meditation a try, you don't really have anything to lose - except for a little bit of your time. Sure, you might feel foolish at first, but make a commitment to try to work on it for at least 30 days and see for yourself if you feel better, stronger and faster.

Do you meditate? If so, do you think it helps you in other aspects of life? If not, what is it that stops you from giving it a try? Please share your thoughts and opinions in the comment section.