Answer this question to the best of your ability:
How does meditation influence emotional intelligence and empathy?
Meditation can enhance emotional intelligence and empathy by fostering self-awareness, introspection, and compassion. As mentioned earlier, the practice strengthens the prefrontal cortex, which is involved in empathic understanding and emotional regulation. It also helps individuals develop a non-judgmental awareness of their thoughts and feelings, leading to better self-management and increased capacity for understanding others' emotions. To cultivate emotional intelligence and empathy through meditation, one could practice loving-kindness meditation or metta meditation, which focuses on generating positive emotions towards oneself and others.