We can take advantage of mindfulness by reminding ourselves daily to develop awareness of the present moment. And we have to, because we are constantly battling primitive areas of the brain that are hard to associate with negativity.
To kill a dragon, you must first recognize it…
Well, that's not the dragon we're dealing with – more like a lizard. Our evolutionary ancestors left unwanted gifts.
As a neuropsychologist Dr. Rick Hanson states, our minds are "like Velcro for negative experiences and like Teflon for positive experiences".
The most primitive areas of the brain – structures that predate later mammals and primates – are primarily concerned with survival and threat perception.
Every bad experience needs to be remembered to ensure it doesn't happen again; in other words, bitten once, embarrassed twice.
How mindfulness meditation changes our brain and emotions
Numerous studies have shown that mindfulness meditation makes practitioners more likely to view neutral experiences in a positive light and focus less on the negative.
The reason for this change that psychologists call a "positive effect" is an improvement in the prefrontal cortex to favor the left side over the right side. You can also know more about mindfulness resources at http://awakenedmind.com/meditation-and-mindfulness.
This moves the trend away from depression and anxiety towards happiness, relaxation, and emotional balance.
The immune system is also noticeably improved, perhaps because it is one of the systems most affected by stress hormones, which are now better regulated. In other words, meditation allows us to kill the inner dragon!