Outraged on the internet? Here's why 20 minutes of meditation could help

By Stuart Marsh|

Yes, people say infuriating things on the internet - but how you react is your decision. (Image) iStock
Avoid the outrage cycle with some self-induced chill time.

The internet's capacity to be outraged is limitless: if you see something offensive online, you can bet your bottom dollar that there'll be a Twitter campaign against it.

Outrage, it seems, is contagious – but is there a way to combat the rising tide of negative emotions you feel when you see something infuriating online?

New research from Michigan State University says there is – and it all revolves around getting in touch with your mindful side by meditating for 20 minutes.

Curious to see what effect meditation has on people who find themselves brimming with anger, the researchers invited 68 participants into a lab to have their "mindfulness" examined.

The theory was simple: the more mindful somebody is, the more readily they can shake off damaging emotions like anger, fear and disgust.

The participants were split up into two groups: group one would engage in an ultra-relaxing course of guided meditation for 20 minutes, while group two would listen to an ultra-boring presentation on learning a new language.

Then, while having their brain activity levels recorded, both groups were shown disturbing or negative images like a bloody corpse.

(And no, that isn't an example I came up with for effect – the researchers actually used that image.)

The results showed that the group who meditated immediately beforehand were able to regulate their emotional responses to the pictures better than those in group who listened to the educational language presentation.

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For the study's lead investigator, Yanli Lin, the findings show that meditation is an ideal tool for people who aren't naturally "mindful" to help control their emotions.

"Our findings not only demonstrate that meditation improves emotional health, but that people can acquire these benefits regardless of their 'natural' ability to be mindful," says Lin.

"It just takes some practice."

But not everyone needs to practise deliberate meditation, says professor of clinical psychology and co-author of the study, Jason Moser.

"If you're a naturally mindful person, and you're walking around very aware of things, you're good to go. You shed your emotions quickly," says Moser.

"If you're not naturally mindful, then meditating can make you look like a person who walks around with a lot of mindfulness."

So next time you see something online which irks you – whether it's comments from a politician or yet another baby photo from a self-described yummy mummy – try listening to your breath or closing your eyes before responding.

Not only will it lessen the negative emotional response in your brain, it'll also help you respond better (if at all).

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