“Trauma decontextualized in a person looks like personality. Trauma decontextualized in a family looks like family traits. Trauma in a people looks like culture.”
— Resmaa Menakem
CDC Definition: Epigenetics refers to how your behaviors and environment can cause changes that affect the way your genes work. Unlike genetic changes (mutations), epigenetic changes are reversible and do not change the sequence of DNA bases, but they can change how your body reads a DNA sequence.
To further understand, refer to this Lick Your Rats Study by the Genetic Science Learning Center to get a peak into the studies that opened up further research in the epigenetic field.
Meditation is the practice of training the mind to focus, become more aware, and develop a sense of calm and clarity. While it has roots in ancient spiritual traditions, today meditation is widely used as a tool for mental well-being, stress reduction, and emotional regulation.
There are many types of meditation, but most involve:
Focused attention (like concentrating on your breath or a mantra),
Open awareness (noticing thoughts, feelings, and sensations without judgment),
Guided imagery and body scans (directing attention through parts of the body or visualizing calming scenes).
Why People Meditate:
To reduce stress and anxiety
To increase focus and concentration
To improve emotional resilience
To enhance self-awareness and compassion
How It Works:
Meditation helps calm the nervous system and shift the body out of a reactive state. Over time, it strengthens areas of the brain involved in decision-making, emotional control, and empathy—while quieting the brain’s fear and distraction centers.
Even just a few minutes of daily practice can make a noticeable difference in how people feel, think, and relate to themselves and others.