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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 seeing the root causes of our suffering. So when we go through internal struggles, we often focus on what may have initially triggered out difficult emotions in the external environment. For instance, maybe someone said something or did something that hurt or angered us, or maybe we experienced a big setback or a loss or a disappointment. And so the tendency that we all have is to focus on the person or the situation and blame that situation for how we're feeling.
But as long as we continue to ruminate, to place blame by thinking about the situation over and over again, we only continue to kind of throw more fuel on the fire of our suffering and inner turmoil. But if we can learn to gently reorient our focus from looking outwards to looking inwards, if we can become present to what we're feeling in our own body and what's going on in our own mind, then we can start to discover the root sources of our ongoing suffering and also the way to more freedom and peace within. So when we look within, for instance, we might start to see that it's not actually the evental person that is the true problem right now, but rather it's our own mental reaction to it. As Greek philosopher, Epictetus, once observed," We're not so much disturbed by what happens to us, but by our thoughts about what happens to us." And this is really true, much of the time. So while the initial event may have set off our emotional turbulence, the rest of the harm we tend to do to ourselves through thinking, you know, thinking about how we've been wronged, thinking about what should or shouldn't have happened, blaming, resisting, telling ourselves stories about our failures, our brokenness, and maybe how someone's a victim or a villain.
So if we can see how certain thoughts generate suffering and stress, then we have the power to let them go so we can stop kind of consuming that suffering in the same way that we would stop consuming a food that makes us feel really sick. Right? We simply choose to stop indulging. We see that these thoughts are simply thoughts. They're not necessarily reality. And we see that to keep buying into them and playing them out and playing them over and over again, just hurts.
So this week's invitation is to see if you can be alert to when inner turmoil is arising and when it does, tune into what's going on in the mind with a kindly curiosity. So without judging yourself in any way, just notice if the mind is thinking thoughts that are creating more suffering. And whenever you notice this, see if you can simply let go of the stories in the mind by bringing your full awareness back into the peace, fullness and wholeness of the present moment, making the present moment your refuge. In today's meditation I'm going to share a practice with you called mental noting, which can be incredibly helpful in letting go of unhelpful thinking. So inviting you to settle in for that now, and I'll guide you through.
And as always, thank you for your practice and your presence here with us.
The Root Causes of Suffering
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 seeing the root causes of our suffering. So when we go through internal struggles, we often focus on what may have initially triggered out difficult emotions in the external environment. For instance, maybe someone said something or did something that hurt or angered us, or maybe we experienced a big setback or a loss or a disappointment. And so the tendency that we all have is to focus on the person or the situation and blame that situation for how we're feeling.
But as long as we continue to ruminate, to place blame by thinking about the situation over and over again, we only continue to kind of throw more fuel on the fire of our suffering and inner turmoil. But if we can learn to gently reorient our focus from looking outwards to looking inwards, if we can become present to what we're feeling in our own body and what's going on in our own mind, then we can start to discover the root sources of our ongoing suffering and also the way to more freedom and peace within. So when we look within, for instance, we might start to see that it's not actually the evental person that is the true problem right now, but rather it's our own mental reaction to it. As Greek philosopher, Epictetus, once observed," We're not so much disturbed by what happens to us, but by our thoughts about what happens to us." And this is really true, much of the time. So while the initial event may have set off our emotional turbulence, the rest of the harm we tend to do to ourselves through thinking, you know, thinking about how we've been wronged, thinking about what should or shouldn't have happened, blaming, resisting, telling ourselves stories about our failures, our brokenness, and maybe how someone's a victim or a villain.
So if we can see how certain thoughts generate suffering and stress, then we have the power to let them go so we can stop kind of consuming that suffering in the same way that we would stop consuming a food that makes us feel really sick. Right? We simply choose to stop indulging. We see that these thoughts are simply thoughts. They're not necessarily reality. And we see that to keep buying into them and playing them out and playing them over and over again, just hurts.
So this week's invitation is to see if you can be alert to when inner turmoil is arising and when it does, tune into what's going on in the mind with a kindly curiosity. So without judging yourself in any way, just notice if the mind is thinking thoughts that are creating more suffering. And whenever you notice this, see if you can simply let go of the stories in the mind by bringing your full awareness back into the peace, fullness and wholeness of the present moment, making the present moment your refuge. In today's meditation I'm going to share a practice with you called mental noting, which can be incredibly helpful in letting go of unhelpful thinking. So inviting you to settle in for that now, and I'll guide you through.
And as always, thank you for your practice and your presence here with us.
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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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