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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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Personalized support for learning how to integrate mindfulness into your life. Delivered fresh everyday by our world renowned experts. Choose meditation duration:
Hey, welcome back to your Daily Mindfulness. Today, we're going to talk about holding on and letting go. There's a story about how hunters used to catch monkeys in India. It's kind of a sad story. They would cut a coconut in half, hollow out one side and drill a hole in the center that was just big enough for the monkey to put its hand through.
After this, they drill two smaller holes on each side of the coconut, pass a wire through and secure the coconut to the base of a tree with the banana underneath. Then they hide. A short while later, a monkey smells the banana, comes down the tree and reaches its hand into the coconut to grab the banana. But the hole is just big enough for the monkey to put its hand through, not to pull it out with the banana in hand. So what happens? The monkey pulls and pulls, but can't get the banana through.
This is where the poachers come in. They see the, the monkey struggling. They start walking toward it. The monkey sees the poachers. Pulling, pulling, pulling.
Poachers come closer. Eventually all they need to do is pick the monkey up. All the while, the monkey completely blind to the fact that holding onto the banana is the very thing that leads to its own demise. So, I'm curious, what things in your life are you holding onto that are no longer serving you in a positive way, that may actually be causing you more suffering? Is it a past relationship and wanting to get back to that feeling you had with someone? Or is it an identity you once had? A way of being in the world or a job title that created a sense of ego or sense of self that you're trying to recreate, but it's actually getting in the way of you evolving into the person you can become? A lot of times, you know, it's natural for the mind to hold onto the things it wants. But if we don't pay careful enough attention, we miss that, that holding on is actually getting in the way of the happiness we could be experiencing.
So as you go throughout your day to day and beyond, see if you can notice where this might be coming up for you. Where are you still grasping at things, things that aren't actually here anymore, but you're trying to recreate for a sense of happiness or wellbeing? And what would it be like to practice letting go of some of those so that you can evolve into the person you are trying to become. Try this out. Thank you for your practice. And we'll talk to you soon.
Until then, take care.
How to Let Go
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.
Hey, welcome back to your Daily Mindfulness. Today, we're going to talk about holding on and letting go. There's a story about how hunters used to catch monkeys in India. It's kind of a sad story. They would cut a coconut in half, hollow out one side and drill a hole in the center that was just big enough for the monkey to put its hand through.
After this, they drill two smaller holes on each side of the coconut, pass a wire through and secure the coconut to the base of a tree with the banana underneath. Then they hide. A short while later, a monkey smells the banana, comes down the tree and reaches its hand into the coconut to grab the banana. But the hole is just big enough for the monkey to put its hand through, not to pull it out with the banana in hand. So what happens? The monkey pulls and pulls, but can't get the banana through.
This is where the poachers come in. They see the, the monkey struggling. They start walking toward it. The monkey sees the poachers. Pulling, pulling, pulling.
Poachers come closer. Eventually all they need to do is pick the monkey up. All the while, the monkey completely blind to the fact that holding onto the banana is the very thing that leads to its own demise. So, I'm curious, what things in your life are you holding onto that are no longer serving you in a positive way, that may actually be causing you more suffering? Is it a past relationship and wanting to get back to that feeling you had with someone? Or is it an identity you once had? A way of being in the world or a job title that created a sense of ego or sense of self that you're trying to recreate, but it's actually getting in the way of you evolving into the person you can become? A lot of times, you know, it's natural for the mind to hold onto the things it wants. But if we don't pay careful enough attention, we miss that, that holding on is actually getting in the way of the happiness we could be experiencing.
So as you go throughout your day to day and beyond, see if you can notice where this might be coming up for you. Where are you still grasping at things, things that aren't actually here anymore, but you're trying to recreate for a sense of happiness or wellbeing? And what would it be like to practice letting go of some of those so that you can evolve into the person you are trying to become. Try this out. Thank you for your practice. And we'll talk to you soon.
Until then, take care.
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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.
- Kirtus
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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