Meditation is a way of learning to control your emotions, focus and develop an overall sense of peace. Practiced for thousands of years in Hindu, Buddhist, Zen/Chan and Taoist communities, meditation can help you to be kinder to yourself and others and learn how to cope with stressful situations.

There are different types of meditation, and you don't have to be a religious person to do it. In fact, modern diagnostic techniques such as electroencephalography (EEG) and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) have shown that regular meditation can positively affect your mental health.

Some forms of meditation can help you to deal with depression by reducing negative thoughts and decreasing levels of inflammatory chemicals called cytokines that are released during periods of stress. They may also improve your self-esteem and help you to develop a better understanding of yourself.

You can meditate sitting, lying down or even walking. It's important that you are comfortable, though. You can find plenty of guided meditations online and there are many apps that can be used to aid in the process. The best thing to do is to try it out and see what kind of mediation you like.

Generally speaking, meditation involves focusing your attention on a single object, such as a flower, a candle or your own hand. You can also use a simple breathing exercise to clear your mind. If you have a lot of distractions around you while you're trying to meditate, don't let it discourage you from continuing your practice. It's important to keep trying as you may be able to achieve a deeper level of meditation over time.