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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 working with thoughts. So I had a student on a retreat many years ago when we had a one-on-one session. And she said, "You know, I've been doing all the meditation. It's helpful, but I'm kind of getting stuck, especially with thoughts.
Each time a thought arises, I'm noticing it, but I feel some tension. And so I asked her like, "What is your relationship to the thought when it arises?" And she gave a visual image. She said, "Well, I notice the thought, it comes up and I just go, okay, bye thought." And it was subtle. And it was said in a very gentle way. Okay.
Bye thought. But there was still this encouraging the thought to move away. So I said, what if we reframe that from pushing the thought with the hand to just keeping the hand like this. So she tried this. And then two days later she said, "This transformed my meditation practice.
I didn't realize how much I was actually resisting my thoughts with this imagery of the hand moving across. And by just holding it out like this, there was much more equanimity and balance with the thought when it arises." So, this is something you could take with thoughts as they arise throughout your day. And it's also something that you could take in your meditation practice. Notice if there is this gentle encouragement of thoughts leaving, and instead, what would it be like to shift the energy from this to one of this? Thank you for your practice. Let's settle in for today's meditation.
Create Ease Around 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 working with thoughts. So I had a student on a retreat many years ago when we had a one-on-one session. And she said, "You know, I've been doing all the meditation. It's helpful, but I'm kind of getting stuck, especially with thoughts.
Each time a thought arises, I'm noticing it, but I feel some tension. And so I asked her like, "What is your relationship to the thought when it arises?" And she gave a visual image. She said, "Well, I notice the thought, it comes up and I just go, okay, bye thought." And it was subtle. And it was said in a very gentle way. Okay.
Bye thought. But there was still this encouraging the thought to move away. So I said, what if we reframe that from pushing the thought with the hand to just keeping the hand like this. So she tried this. And then two days later she said, "This transformed my meditation practice.
I didn't realize how much I was actually resisting my thoughts with this imagery of the hand moving across. And by just holding it out like this, there was much more equanimity and balance with the thought when it arises." So, this is something you could take with thoughts as they arise throughout your day. And it's also something that you could take in your meditation practice. Notice if there is this gentle encouragement of thoughts leaving, and instead, what would it be like to shift the energy from this to one of this? Thank you for your practice. Let's settle in for today's meditation.
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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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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.
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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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