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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 cultivating a non-reactive mind. So when we begin meditation, as we watch the mind, we can see that we're often either caught up in thoughts or we're trying to get rid of thoughts. So we tend to be actually quite reactive to thoughts in this way, always tossed about sort of clinging to this and resisting that. And it's really habitual.
So as soon as a thought arises, we, sometimes we get pulled in or we get pulled around by it. But over time as we train the mind, we become more and more able to be less reactive and more responsive to thoughts instead. So what do I mean by responsive? Well, with a little bit of practice, we know how to step back from the thinking mind and just observe it rather than being swept away by it. So when we step back, we create this space between us and our thoughts and in that space we can watch and then choose how we would like to respond to a thought. So for instance, and this is an example I often use when I'm teaching retreats, if you wake up in the morning and it's raining and you see the rain out the window, and then the mind says, Oh, what a dreadful day.
If our knee jerk response is to get caught up in that thought, we immediately actually believe it is a dreadful day. We start to experience negative negative emotions, and we'll probably have a dreadful day. But is it true that the day is dreadful? Of course not. It's simply raining. So we don't want to get caught up in that thought.
Instead, all we have to do is observe the thought as it arises and then passes and not buy into it, or believe it. Then we're simply free to lay there and enjoy the sound of the rain on the roof with no negativity, no stress. So we don't get caught up in the thought nor do we need to fight it or push it away because fighting thoughts only reinforces and empowers them. Instead, again, all we need to do is simply observe the thought without reacting to it. So allow it to arise and pass away as we abide peacefully in the present moment.
So my invitation today is to see if you can be a little bit less reactive to thoughts, whether it's in meditation or in a situation in everyday life. Just seeing if you can remember to take that step back from thoughts, don't immediately buy into them or fight them. And by doing so, you'll create the inner space to not react, but to respond instead. And therefore ,you'll experience more ease and freedom of mind. We're going to continue to cultivate a non-reactive mind in today's meditation.
So let's begin to settle in for that now. And as always, thank you for your practice and your presence here with us.
Cultivating a Non-Reactive Mind
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, and welcome to your Daily Mindfulness. Today I'm going to talk about cultivating a non-reactive mind. So when we begin meditation, as we watch the mind, we can see that we're often either caught up in thoughts or we're trying to get rid of thoughts. So we tend to be actually quite reactive to thoughts in this way, always tossed about sort of clinging to this and resisting that. And it's really habitual.
So as soon as a thought arises, we, sometimes we get pulled in or we get pulled around by it. But over time as we train the mind, we become more and more able to be less reactive and more responsive to thoughts instead. So what do I mean by responsive? Well, with a little bit of practice, we know how to step back from the thinking mind and just observe it rather than being swept away by it. So when we step back, we create this space between us and our thoughts and in that space we can watch and then choose how we would like to respond to a thought. So for instance, and this is an example I often use when I'm teaching retreats, if you wake up in the morning and it's raining and you see the rain out the window, and then the mind says, Oh, what a dreadful day.
If our knee jerk response is to get caught up in that thought, we immediately actually believe it is a dreadful day. We start to experience negative negative emotions, and we'll probably have a dreadful day. But is it true that the day is dreadful? Of course not. It's simply raining. So we don't want to get caught up in that thought.
Instead, all we have to do is observe the thought as it arises and then passes and not buy into it, or believe it. Then we're simply free to lay there and enjoy the sound of the rain on the roof with no negativity, no stress. So we don't get caught up in the thought nor do we need to fight it or push it away because fighting thoughts only reinforces and empowers them. Instead, again, all we need to do is simply observe the thought without reacting to it. So allow it to arise and pass away as we abide peacefully in the present moment.
So my invitation today is to see if you can be a little bit less reactive to thoughts, whether it's in meditation or in a situation in everyday life. Just seeing if you can remember to take that step back from thoughts, don't immediately buy into them or fight them. And by doing so, you'll create the inner space to not react, but to respond instead. And therefore ,you'll experience more ease and freedom of mind. We're going to continue to cultivate a non-reactive mind in today's meditation.
So let's begin to settle in for that now. And as always, thank you for your practice and your presence here with us.
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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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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
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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