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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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Hey, welcome back to your Daily Mindfulness. Today, we're going to talk about stress. Chances are, if you're a human being, you have some experience with stress. And while sometimes a little stress can be useful, helping us to meet a deadline or indicating when we need to make a change in our life, too much stress can compromise our health, our productivity, and our wellbeing. So let's start with what stress is.
One definition we have is that stress is when our perceived demands are greater than our perceived resources to meet those demands. Perceived demands greater than perceived resources. So what's the key word perceived. Now, why is that the key word? Well, often what we perceive to be demanding is very different than what is actually demanding. So for instance, when you're in the shower in the morning or you're actually in the shower.
Okay. Lost you there, Cory. Yeah. I have no doubt that your body is in the shower, but is your mind in the shower with you? Mm, probably not. Or it might be, but you might be bringing other things in the shower with you.
Uh, your, your 401k might be in the shower. Uh, that person you don't want to see later, they might be in the shower. Your boss might be in the shower. Your kids might be in the shower. Your kids might literally be in the shower.
So here you are standing in the shower, but what happens? Your perceived demands become: I got to have that meeting with my boss. I need to take care of the kids. I need to plan out my retirement. And then be angry, I can't retire when I want to retire. Right? Who has the resources to be able to meet all of those demands in any given moment? No one, but your brain is not very good.
We're good at distinguishing the difference between the thoughts about those things and the reality of those things. However, when you drop your attention into what is actually happening right now, you're just rubbing soap on your body, you're just shampooing your hair. You're just standing in the shower. Most of us have the resources to be able to meet those demands. Now you might hear this and go, alright.
Well, it's easy for me to be calm in the shower, Cory. I don't have an issue with that. What about real life? When things are fast paced and I have a lot going on and I have a hundred emails to take care of? Well, let's look at it in those contexts. We'll take the example of the hundred emails. So you sit down, you start working on your first email.
But are you only doing one email or are you also thinking about the 99 other emails you have to take care of, how much you hate email, how much life was better when you didn't have to deal with email, et cetera, et cetera. In those moments, your perceived demands are not one email. They actually become a hundred emails. None of us are going to have the resources to be able to meet those demands. But if you really drop your attention to what is actually happening right now, you're just doing one email and not just one email.
It's just one sentence. And not just one sentence. It's just one word. That's not Pollyanna. That's not putting on rose colored glasses.
It's not positive thinking and it's not denying the reality of your life. If anything, it's dropping more intimately into the reality of your life. Often what we see when we bring this quality of mindfulness into our moments is that the catastrophe that the mind is making this moment out to be is a little less than it actually is. So my encouragement to you today is to see where are you creating more stress for yourself by being caught up in your perceived demands. And when that happens, can you drop your attention into what is actually here.
Oftentimes, I think you'll, you'll see this moment as a little less of a catastrophe than your mind is making it out to be. So thank you for your practice. I'll talk to you soon and take care.
Reduce Stress
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 stress. Chances are, if you're a human being, you have some experience with stress. And while sometimes a little stress can be useful, helping us to meet a deadline or indicating when we need to make a change in our life, too much stress can compromise our health, our productivity, and our wellbeing. So let's start with what stress is.
One definition we have is that stress is when our perceived demands are greater than our perceived resources to meet those demands. Perceived demands greater than perceived resources. So what's the key word perceived. Now, why is that the key word? Well, often what we perceive to be demanding is very different than what is actually demanding. So for instance, when you're in the shower in the morning or you're actually in the shower.
Okay. Lost you there, Cory. Yeah. I have no doubt that your body is in the shower, but is your mind in the shower with you? Mm, probably not. Or it might be, but you might be bringing other things in the shower with you.
Uh, your, your 401k might be in the shower. Uh, that person you don't want to see later, they might be in the shower. Your boss might be in the shower. Your kids might be in the shower. Your kids might literally be in the shower.
So here you are standing in the shower, but what happens? Your perceived demands become: I got to have that meeting with my boss. I need to take care of the kids. I need to plan out my retirement. And then be angry, I can't retire when I want to retire. Right? Who has the resources to be able to meet all of those demands in any given moment? No one, but your brain is not very good.
We're good at distinguishing the difference between the thoughts about those things and the reality of those things. However, when you drop your attention into what is actually happening right now, you're just rubbing soap on your body, you're just shampooing your hair. You're just standing in the shower. Most of us have the resources to be able to meet those demands. Now you might hear this and go, alright.
Well, it's easy for me to be calm in the shower, Cory. I don't have an issue with that. What about real life? When things are fast paced and I have a lot going on and I have a hundred emails to take care of? Well, let's look at it in those contexts. We'll take the example of the hundred emails. So you sit down, you start working on your first email.
But are you only doing one email or are you also thinking about the 99 other emails you have to take care of, how much you hate email, how much life was better when you didn't have to deal with email, et cetera, et cetera. In those moments, your perceived demands are not one email. They actually become a hundred emails. None of us are going to have the resources to be able to meet those demands. But if you really drop your attention to what is actually happening right now, you're just doing one email and not just one email.
It's just one sentence. And not just one sentence. It's just one word. That's not Pollyanna. That's not putting on rose colored glasses.
It's not positive thinking and it's not denying the reality of your life. If anything, it's dropping more intimately into the reality of your life. Often what we see when we bring this quality of mindfulness into our moments is that the catastrophe that the mind is making this moment out to be is a little less than it actually is. So my encouragement to you today is to see where are you creating more stress for yourself by being caught up in your perceived demands. And when that happens, can you drop your attention into what is actually here.
Oftentimes, I think you'll, you'll see this moment as a little less of a catastrophe than your mind is making it out to be. So thank you for your practice. I'll talk to you soon and take care.
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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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