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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 be talking about our self image. So as we go about daily life, we are constantly constructing mental images of ourselves in the mind. We may think that we're amazing, or we may think that we're no good. We may think that we're wonderful or unworthy.
We may think we are a good self or a bad self, or maybe somewhere in between. But no matter what idea we may have of ourselves, it's simply a concept in the mind, a story. It's not an objective or ultimate truth. Now it's quite common to have quite a lot of mental dialogue around our self image. We think about whether we're good enough, whether we're making an impression, whether we're measuring up.
We may try to build up our self image in our mind, or try to prop up our confidence, you know. Or the inner critic might've come in and starts to tear up our self image. And, you know, we end up feeling horrible. It ruins our confidence. We also spend a lot of time comparing ourselves to other people.
Oh, they're prettier than me. I wish I was more like that. Or maybe we feel a bit inferior, or we may feel superior. Oh, I'm better at this thing. I'm more knowledgeable than this person.
So we feel a bit superior there. And so we keep shifting and kind of crafting this conceptual image of who we are based on comparison and stories we tell ourselves. But all of our concepts about ourselves are just that, they're mental concepts. They're stories in the mind. And really when it comes down to it, one story is not that much different than the other story.
I mean, you might think, you know, if someone thinks that they're really wonderful, they have this big ego. But actually it's the same ego, either way. One self-concept thinks it's wonderful. The other self-concept thinks it's horrible. Both are still just concepts, stories about the self.
So what mindfulness teaches us is to let go of these mental storylines and discover who we are beyond or beneath the stories. This direct way of knowing who we are really grows within us a stable, steady sense of confidence and greater freedom and peace of mind. So the invitation for today is to see if you can be aware of when the mind is creating all these self-concepts. And whenever you catch it, just mentally noting to yourself, just thinking, just to remind yourself that these are just thoughts. They're not your real self.
And then bring your focus back to the present moment, perhaps with one slow mindful breath. In this way, we rise above good self or bad self and find out true self by being awake in the present moment. As always, thank you for your practice and your presence here with us. And now let's settle in for today's meditation.
Good Self, Bad Self, True Self
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 be talking about our self image. So as we go about daily life, we are constantly constructing mental images of ourselves in the mind. We may think that we're amazing, or we may think that we're no good. We may think that we're wonderful or unworthy.
We may think we are a good self or a bad self, or maybe somewhere in between. But no matter what idea we may have of ourselves, it's simply a concept in the mind, a story. It's not an objective or ultimate truth. Now it's quite common to have quite a lot of mental dialogue around our self image. We think about whether we're good enough, whether we're making an impression, whether we're measuring up.
We may try to build up our self image in our mind, or try to prop up our confidence, you know. Or the inner critic might've come in and starts to tear up our self image. And, you know, we end up feeling horrible. It ruins our confidence. We also spend a lot of time comparing ourselves to other people.
Oh, they're prettier than me. I wish I was more like that. Or maybe we feel a bit inferior, or we may feel superior. Oh, I'm better at this thing. I'm more knowledgeable than this person.
So we feel a bit superior there. And so we keep shifting and kind of crafting this conceptual image of who we are based on comparison and stories we tell ourselves. But all of our concepts about ourselves are just that, they're mental concepts. They're stories in the mind. And really when it comes down to it, one story is not that much different than the other story.
I mean, you might think, you know, if someone thinks that they're really wonderful, they have this big ego. But actually it's the same ego, either way. One self-concept thinks it's wonderful. The other self-concept thinks it's horrible. Both are still just concepts, stories about the self.
So what mindfulness teaches us is to let go of these mental storylines and discover who we are beyond or beneath the stories. This direct way of knowing who we are really grows within us a stable, steady sense of confidence and greater freedom and peace of mind. So the invitation for today is to see if you can be aware of when the mind is creating all these self-concepts. And whenever you catch it, just mentally noting to yourself, just thinking, just to remind yourself that these are just thoughts. They're not your real self.
And then bring your focus back to the present moment, perhaps with one slow mindful breath. In this way, we rise above good self or bad self and find out true self by being awake in the present moment. As always, thank you for your practice and your presence here with us. And now 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.
- 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
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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