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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 the highest giving. So when we do a favor or a kind deed for another person, we sometimes don't realize that in the back of our mind, we're giving with a subtle expectation for something in return, or we have an assumption that people should act the way that we act. So we might not actually set out thinking that we want anything to come back our way, but then when nothing much does, we realize that we're feeling resentful or we're kind of keeping score in our heads of how many things we've done in comparison. And so in some way, there's been a subconscious expectation there all along.
So then we might get a bit resentful towards others or disappointed. So I recently had a friend tell me a story that he and his partner went camping. And before they went camping, they joyfully went to the store and got all this food so that they could do a surprise feast for the people they were camping with. And, you know, each night they made these feasts and they gathered everybody's dishes and did the dishes after the meals. But after doing this day after day, they found that they were feeling a bit resentful because they felt they were doing all of this work for others, but no one was doing the same kind of gestures in return for them.
After they went home, they were feeling really irritated and they complained to each other about what had happened. But then one day his wife paused and said, you know what, no one actually asked us to do anything, did they? We just wanted to make it special so we kept doing those things. She said it was actually fun in the beginning when we were just giving, when we weren't expecting anything in return. So he then told me how they were able to let go of the negativity. And after that, they actually started to get excited about cooking more feasts for friends again.
So it feels really wonderful to do kind deeds, but it can be really subtle how we start keeping score in our minds or how these expectations start creeping in. But when we're training in awareness and compassion, there's a real emphasis on the intention behind our actions. And so when we're giving to others in some way, the highest form of giving really is just to give, simply with the intention that your actions lead to the happiness of that person, nothing more. Each time we give in this way, we're planting the seeds of compassion, joy, and wisdom in our own minds, even as we share a good deed with others. So the invitation for practice today, and if you care to, throughout the rest of the week is to see if you can find opportunities to practice the highest form of giving.
As always, thank you for your practice and your presence here with us. And let's now settle in for today's meditation.
The Highest Giving
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 the highest giving. So when we do a favor or a kind deed for another person, we sometimes don't realize that in the back of our mind, we're giving with a subtle expectation for something in return, or we have an assumption that people should act the way that we act. So we might not actually set out thinking that we want anything to come back our way, but then when nothing much does, we realize that we're feeling resentful or we're kind of keeping score in our heads of how many things we've done in comparison. And so in some way, there's been a subconscious expectation there all along.
So then we might get a bit resentful towards others or disappointed. So I recently had a friend tell me a story that he and his partner went camping. And before they went camping, they joyfully went to the store and got all this food so that they could do a surprise feast for the people they were camping with. And, you know, each night they made these feasts and they gathered everybody's dishes and did the dishes after the meals. But after doing this day after day, they found that they were feeling a bit resentful because they felt they were doing all of this work for others, but no one was doing the same kind of gestures in return for them.
After they went home, they were feeling really irritated and they complained to each other about what had happened. But then one day his wife paused and said, you know what, no one actually asked us to do anything, did they? We just wanted to make it special so we kept doing those things. She said it was actually fun in the beginning when we were just giving, when we weren't expecting anything in return. So he then told me how they were able to let go of the negativity. And after that, they actually started to get excited about cooking more feasts for friends again.
So it feels really wonderful to do kind deeds, but it can be really subtle how we start keeping score in our minds or how these expectations start creeping in. But when we're training in awareness and compassion, there's a real emphasis on the intention behind our actions. And so when we're giving to others in some way, the highest form of giving really is just to give, simply with the intention that your actions lead to the happiness of that person, nothing more. Each time we give in this way, we're planting the seeds of compassion, joy, and wisdom in our own minds, even as we share a good deed with others. So the invitation for practice today, and if you care to, throughout the rest of the week is to see if you can find opportunities to practice the highest form of giving.
As always, thank you for your practice and your presence here with us. And let's now 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.
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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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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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