Practicing meditation or mindfulness techniques is, at least anecdotally, expected to smooth your way to a more joyful, more healthful life. But what does science say about these practices? Meditation "keeps our minds and hearts calm, peaceful, and loving, i.e., in the right place," a casual practicant of mindfulness. Indeed, most people who become interested in meditation are drawn to it thanks to the widespread notion that it will help them feel calmer, more balanced, and less exposed to the effects of daily stress.