Browse
Top articles
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
00:00
00:00
Personalized support for learning how to integrate mindfulness into your life. Delivered fresh everyday by our world renowned experts. Choose meditation duration:
Hi, welcome back to your Daily Mindfulness. In today's session we're going to talk about your relationship to taking care of other people. Now taking care of other people and other beings is a beautiful part of being human and living in a world where we are interconnected. It can be a great way to nurture your heart. Uh, to feel more connection with other people and to just connect to greater meaning in life.
I think we've all had that experience of really doing something selflessly for another person, or again, it could be an animal or a tree. Just doing something, uh, out of a sense of, of service and care and compassion can actually feel profoundly good. What I want to talk about though, is when we can take that to the, the extreme and sometimes obsessively taking care of other people can be a subtle of form bypassing the potentially more painful and difficult work of taking care of yourself. So notice how that lands for you. I'll say that again, and really just let that sink in.
Obsessively taking care of other people can be a subtle form of bypassing the more difficult work of taking care of yourself. Now, this might not feel relevant at this point in your life or for you. Or you may be hearing this and going, Oh boy, is he talking to me right now? And you know, I'm talking to all of us because sometimes the hardest work is, is actually connecting to ourselves and practicing self care and giving ourselves some, some love, some compassion, some forgiveness, some acceptance. And it can feel easier to do that for other people, to take care of other people too, obsessive really take care of other people. But it's one thing to take care of other people because you're, you're genuinely trying to offer something and it's coming from a place of fullness and love and compassion.
It's another thing to be taking care of people because we don't know how to take care of ourselves and we're trying to avoid that. So this is nuanced territory, and I don't want to shame any of us for, for serving other people, even if it is because we're struggling with taking care of ourselves. But it's more of just an invitation to check in with yourself and notice, is this a habit of yours? Is this a pattern? And, and if so, what would it be like to notice in those moments where you quickly, uh, neglect yourself or turn your attention to someone else and stay with yourself? Ask yourself, what do I need right now? What would be a form of self care? And can you stay with the discomfort of really trying to offer that to yourself and then try doing it? And the more we do that, the more we start to change that pattern. And then we get full from the inside out. And, at least with my experience of it, it's as if the cup gets, it starts overflowing.
And then everything that we were offering to other people is just coming from a more organic, full place. So something to think about. Again, no shame in this at all. Uh, I've been there and I think many of us can resonate with, with this pattern at times. So as always, thank you for your practice and let's get settled for our meditation.
Selfless or Self-Avoidant?
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 your relationship to taking care of other people. Now taking care of other people and other beings is a beautiful part of being human and living in a world where we are interconnected. It can be a great way to nurture your heart. Uh, to feel more connection with other people and to just connect to greater meaning in life.
I think we've all had that experience of really doing something selflessly for another person, or again, it could be an animal or a tree. Just doing something, uh, out of a sense of, of service and care and compassion can actually feel profoundly good. What I want to talk about though, is when we can take that to the, the extreme and sometimes obsessively taking care of other people can be a subtle of form bypassing the potentially more painful and difficult work of taking care of yourself. So notice how that lands for you. I'll say that again, and really just let that sink in.
Obsessively taking care of other people can be a subtle form of bypassing the more difficult work of taking care of yourself. Now, this might not feel relevant at this point in your life or for you. Or you may be hearing this and going, Oh boy, is he talking to me right now? And you know, I'm talking to all of us because sometimes the hardest work is, is actually connecting to ourselves and practicing self care and giving ourselves some, some love, some compassion, some forgiveness, some acceptance. And it can feel easier to do that for other people, to take care of other people too, obsessive really take care of other people. But it's one thing to take care of other people because you're, you're genuinely trying to offer something and it's coming from a place of fullness and love and compassion.
It's another thing to be taking care of people because we don't know how to take care of ourselves and we're trying to avoid that. So this is nuanced territory, and I don't want to shame any of us for, for serving other people, even if it is because we're struggling with taking care of ourselves. But it's more of just an invitation to check in with yourself and notice, is this a habit of yours? Is this a pattern? And, and if so, what would it be like to notice in those moments where you quickly, uh, neglect yourself or turn your attention to someone else and stay with yourself? Ask yourself, what do I need right now? What would be a form of self care? And can you stay with the discomfort of really trying to offer that to yourself and then try doing it? And the more we do that, the more we start to change that pattern. And then we get full from the inside out. And, at least with my experience of it, it's as if the cup gets, it starts overflowing.
And then everything that we were offering to other people is just coming from a more organic, full place. So something to think about. Again, no shame in this at all. Uh, I've been there and I think many of us can resonate with, with this pattern at times. So as always, thank you for your practice and let's get settled for our meditation.
Available everywhere.
Access on the web or in our mobile app.
Duration
Available everywhere.
Access on the web or in our mobile app.
Play in-app
Scan the following QR code with your camera app to open it on our mobile app
Already purchased?
Get Unlimited Access
A Mindfulness Plus+ subscription gives you unlimited access to a world of premium mindfulness content.
Email Missing
We couldn’t detect your email with the SSO provider you have selected.We are here to make a positive impact on the world. We never want to sell you something that hasn’t helped you live a better life. That’s why if you’re unhappy with any purchase from us, you have 30 days to get a full refund and your money back.
If you subscribed to Mindfulness Plus+ and are unhappy with your purchase, please get in contact with us within the 30-day period and we’ll refund your purchase.
Learn more about our Mindfulness Guarantee.
Mindfulness
We believe in a world where everybody has access to the life-changing skills of mindfulness.
Private Browsing
Congratulations on taking the first step towards a more mindful life! As a token of our appreciation, we want to offer you an exclusive opportunity to upgrade to Mindfulness Plus+ for a price you won't find anywhere else.
Mindfulness Plus+ is our premium membership that includes everything you need to learn mindfulness and keep practicing throughout all stages of life.
Take this exclusive offer to further your mindfulness skills and experience deeper levels of well-being.
Annual membership
$0
Just a small sample of the life-changing 5-star reviews we get on a daily basis.
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.
-
Claim your free access
Create a mindfulness account and we’ll unlock this premium session in your account forever.
7-Days free trial, cancel anytime.
Complete a few quick questions to make your own personalized mindfulness plan.