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How to Meditate: Meditation 101 for Beginners
10 Science-Backed Benefits of Meditation
What is Meditation?
How to Meditate: Meditation 101 for Beginners
10 Science-Backed Benefits of Meditation
What is Meditation?
Benefits of Mindfulness: Mindful Living Can Change Your Life
Mindfulness 101: A Beginner's Guide
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Hi, and welcome to your Daily Mindfulness.
Today, I'm going to talk about
the idea of being a blessing.
There's an old story on this topic.
One morning, a man was
walking along the beach.
They'd been a huge storm the night before,
and he saw that thousands of starfish
had been washed up onto the beach.
As he walked on, he saw a young boy
picking up and gently throwing the
starfish back into the ocean, one by one.
Approaching the boy, he said,
"Young man, what are you doing?"
"Well, I'm throwing starfish
back into the ocean.
If I don't throw them back,
they'll die," the boy replied.
Well, the man laughed to himself
and said, "You do realize that
there's miles and miles and miles
of beach and thousands of starfish.
You can't make any difference."
After listening politely, the
boy bent down, picked up another
starfish and threw it into the ocean.
And then he smiled at the man and said,
"I made a difference to that one."
Sometimes we forget the fact that we
actually have a lot of power to make
a difference to the world around us.
Even if that difference affects
only one person or creates good in
some small way, it still matters.
It matters not only how we affect the
world around us, but as we act as a
force for good, it affects our own mental
state and everybody around us as well.
When we go about our lives looking for
how we can be a blessing to others in
the world, we fill our own body and mind
with states of goodwill, friendliness,
compassion, appreciation, and love.
We can be a blessing in so many small
and big ways throughout the day.
By giving a word of encouragement to
someone or a listening ear, by showing
gratitude, compassion, patience.
They can take the form of giving a
compliment instead of a criticism, an
inclusion, rather than a rejection.
We can bless others by really
listening to them deeply, making
time for them, accepting them
just the way they are, instead of
telling them they should change.
By honoring all life as well, we might
become a blessing in the way of just
simply putting the recycling out,
reducing our consumption, throwing
a dying starfish back into the ocean
or some other little creature, you
know, making it to be safe and happy.
It's a general attitude of just
helping rather than harming, generosity
rather than greed, understanding and
benevolence and openheartedness rather
than defensiveness, judgment or ill will.
You can also be a blessing to
yourself, treating yourself with
compassion, acceptance, and kindness.
There are so many opportunities
to make a difference and to be a
blessing to ourselves and others.
As Jane Goodall once said, "What
you do does make a difference.
It's up to you each day to decide what
kind of difference you'd like to make."
So that's the invitation for
practice today to be a blessing.
Wishing you well with this.
And as always thank you for your
practice and your presence here with us.
Let's settle in now
for today's meditation.
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- Gina, Plus+ Member
Vidyamala’s tips on catching anger as it’s happening or about to happen are great - clear, practical, and doable.
- Vicoir
The little talks before the meditations are priceless. It's like I've found my peeps. The topics, the quotes, the goals—it all makes so much sense to me, things I want to be thinking and learning about. Most importantly, the meditations are kindness-centered, which I love. It feels like a new way to approach meditation.
- Lauren
Incredible, easy to navigate app. I would highly recommend this app to anyone who wishes to reduce stress and anxiety or simply as an aid to improve overall mental health.
- Kirtus
I love how the app gives me pointers to new things to explore.
- Lydia
So calm and soothing. I love the new bundle with Kelly Boys, she’s brilliant!
- EJ
Better than Headspace. I've had the paid version of both apps, and I must say I enjoy this one better.
- Gina, Plus+ Member
Vidyamala’s tips on catching anger as it’s happening or about to happen are great - clear, practical, and doable.
- Vicoir
The little talks before the meditations are priceless. It's like I've found my peeps. The topics, the quotes, the goals—it all makes so much sense to me, things I want to be thinking and learning about. Most importantly, the meditations are kindness-centered, which I love. It feels like a new way to approach meditation.
- Lauren
Incredible, easy to navigate app. I would highly recommend this app to anyone who wishes to reduce stress and anxiety or simply as an aid to improve overall mental health.
- Kirtus
I love how the app gives me pointers to new things to explore.
- Lydia
So calm and soothing. I love the new bundle with Kelly Boys, she’s brilliant!
- EJ
Better than Headspace. I've had the paid version of both apps, and I must say I enjoy this one better.
- Gina, Plus+ Member
I am very new to meditation, and am so happy that my first introduction to it has been through this app
The first session was fantastic. I feel safe. And supported. Almost like having someone helping me through my difficult time. I’m very grateful for this app.
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You get a lot of useful tips for handling stress and anxiety in 'real life'.
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Kelly Boys is hands down the best. Everytime I click on one of her guided meditations I get excited for the calmness that lies ahead.
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I am very new to meditation, and am so happy that my first introduction to it has been through this app
The first session was fantastic. I feel safe. And supported. Almost like having someone helping me through my difficult time. I’m very grateful for this app.
- Babi
You get a lot of useful tips for handling stress and anxiety in 'real life'.
- Joy
Highly recommend.
- Humanfrst
Kelly Boys is hands down the best. Everytime I click on one of her guided meditations I get excited for the calmness that lies ahead.
-
I am very new to meditation, and am so happy that my first introduction to it has been through this app
The first session was fantastic. I feel safe. And supported. Almost like having someone helping me through my difficult time. I’m very grateful for this app.
- Babi
You get a lot of useful tips for handling stress and anxiety in 'real life'.
- Joy
Highly recommend.
- Humanfrst
Kelly Boys is hands down the best. Everytime I click on one of her guided meditations I get excited for the calmness that lies ahead.
-
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