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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, welcome back to your Daily Mindfulness. In today's session, we're going to talk about why who you are is bigger than your thoughts. So let me share one of my favorite things I get to hear when working with students. You know, they start meditating and investigating the mind or a meditation practice, learning to watch the mind thinking. But one of the things that often comes up is this recognition that I can watch my thoughts without thinking about my thoughts.
And that tends to be interesting for folks, but it inevitably leads to the question of if I'm watching my thoughts it must mean that I'm not my thoughts. And if I'm not my thoughts, then who am I? And for some, this is a little bit more than they bargained for when they were coming to meditation as a form of stress reduction, feeling a little bit more peaceful. All of a sudden we're in this existential crisis, but it doesn't, I don't think it has to be that way or a crisis. I actually think it's a doorway into a totally new orientation toward our life and, and what a certain kind of wellbeing and freedom could look like. Because most of the time for, you could say this is an arbitrary number, but 99% of people, you know, caught in, in their thoughts, caught in their ideas, their beliefs, and where they're going, what they need to do.
And this becomes their life, identity. And you know, when the, when the story is good, then life is good. When the story is bad, then life is bad. But the particular opportunity we have here when we get to explore through mindfulness and meditation is what is it like to take a bigger perspective about who you are. And the very fact that there's a part of you that can watch your mind thinking.
There's a part of you that can watch this whole story that we take so seriously, well, that must mean that who you are is different or at the very least bigger than that story and those thoughts. So we'll go into our meditation practice in a moment. But as you go into it, and also as you navigate the rest of your day, notice when those thoughts really seem to take a grip over you and just take a moment to zoom out and notice that there's a part of you that can watch all of this happening. That part of you is more like the sky than it is the clouds. The clouds are the thoughts, the sky is this awareness that just knows what is happening, but it's vast, it's spacious and it's inherently grounded.
That's what we want to connect to more. And that's how we start to expand the sense of who we are to something bigger than just the momentary storyline moving through our mind. So hopefully this doesn't put you into an existential crisis and instead serves as a doorway into an understanding of who we are in a much bigger way. Thanks so much for your practice. Let's settle in for today's meditation.
Bigger Than Your Thoughts
Personalized support for learning how to integrate mindfulness into your life. Delivered fresh everyday by our world renowned experts. Choose meditation duration:
Duration
Your default time is based on your progress and is changed automatically as you practice.
Hi, welcome back to your Daily Mindfulness. In today's session, we're going to talk about why who you are is bigger than your thoughts. So let me share one of my favorite things I get to hear when working with students. You know, they start meditating and investigating the mind or a meditation practice, learning to watch the mind thinking. But one of the things that often comes up is this recognition that I can watch my thoughts without thinking about my thoughts.
And that tends to be interesting for folks, but it inevitably leads to the question of if I'm watching my thoughts it must mean that I'm not my thoughts. And if I'm not my thoughts, then who am I? And for some, this is a little bit more than they bargained for when they were coming to meditation as a form of stress reduction, feeling a little bit more peaceful. All of a sudden we're in this existential crisis, but it doesn't, I don't think it has to be that way or a crisis. I actually think it's a doorway into a totally new orientation toward our life and, and what a certain kind of wellbeing and freedom could look like. Because most of the time for, you could say this is an arbitrary number, but 99% of people, you know, caught in, in their thoughts, caught in their ideas, their beliefs, and where they're going, what they need to do.
And this becomes their life, identity. And you know, when the, when the story is good, then life is good. When the story is bad, then life is bad. But the particular opportunity we have here when we get to explore through mindfulness and meditation is what is it like to take a bigger perspective about who you are. And the very fact that there's a part of you that can watch your mind thinking.
There's a part of you that can watch this whole story that we take so seriously, well, that must mean that who you are is different or at the very least bigger than that story and those thoughts. So we'll go into our meditation practice in a moment. But as you go into it, and also as you navigate the rest of your day, notice when those thoughts really seem to take a grip over you and just take a moment to zoom out and notice that there's a part of you that can watch all of this happening. That part of you is more like the sky than it is the clouds. The clouds are the thoughts, the sky is this awareness that just knows what is happening, but it's vast, it's spacious and it's inherently grounded.
That's what we want to connect to more. And that's how we start to expand the sense of who we are to something bigger than just the momentary storyline moving through our mind. So hopefully this doesn't put you into an existential crisis and instead serves as a doorway into an understanding of who we are in a much bigger way. Thanks so much for your practice. Let's settle in for today's meditation.
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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.
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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.
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I love how the app gives me pointers to new things to explore.
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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
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.
- 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.
-
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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