Week 10- Science of Happiness Synthesis

 Meditation has been a force of good for many people in life. Meditation in practice has shown to lower stress levels, make individuals kinder and more compassionate, and even help some cope with anxiety and depression. Although meditation is often associated with peace, for some people aspects of meditative practices can trigger trauma and be frightening. Mushim Ikeda, a meditation instructor in Oakland California explains how reactions to meditation vary among individuals and their life experiences. Ikeda outlines how the language used by instructors matters in making participants feel welcome, understood, and safe within the practice; “The specific technique of mindfulness meditation is a thoroughly embodied practice. And by that, I mean that we understand that mind and body are not binary. Often, this practice is learned by the directed activity of another human being (a teacher), and therefore in terms of diversity, the instructional language that is used is very important if someone is starting out”. Instructors can make meditation more approachable for everyone by educating themselves on stressors, injustices, and trauma that may be weighing heavily on their students and by adjusting their language, word choice, and tone during meditations. Instructors can begin by shifting to using “Trauma-informed” or “disability-justice-informed" language when instructing, which takes into consideration each student’s unique life experiences. Instructors can also begin using invitational language such as “if this is available to you” or “if this feels safe to you”, making the space more comfortable for all students. 

Meditation is a wonderful tool for cultivating happiness, but it is important to understand the barriers many face when attempting to implement meditation into their life. By having a general understanding of how trauma can hinder one’s success during meditation and adjusting to make meditative practices more approachable for everyone, more individuals will be able to benefit from meditation. Practices that seek to cultivate greater happiness in individual’s lives often do not work the same for everyone and are not as effective for everyone. It is important to understand the different circumstances participants show up with, and (when possible) make changes to practices to accommodate everyone.