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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 be talking about the science of kindness. Specifically, I'm going to share with you four snippets of research on how being kind creates positive benefits in our own lives. So the first benefit is that being kind appears to make us happier overall. A 2010 Harvard study of 136 countries found that people who are altruistic what happiest overall in their lives.
So the second benefit is extended lifespan. Research suggests that giving help to others protects our overall wellbeing. Christine Carter, Executive Director of UC Berkeley's Greater Good Science Center notes that people 55 and older who volunteer for two or more organizations have an impressive 44% lower likelihood of dying early. Now that's actually a stronger effect than exercising four times a week. It's pretty impressive.
The third benefit is increased pleasure. So when you are kind to another person, your brain's pleasure and reward center lights up as if you were the recipient of the good deed, not the giver. The name often given to describe this phenomenon is the helper's high. And lastly, kindness is a powerful antidepressant. Now, like most medical antidepressants, kindness stimulates the production of serotonin in the brain.
This feel good chemical boosts your happiness, makes you feel more calm, and even heals your wounds faster. So in summary, kindness decreases depression and stress and improves overall health and happiness and quality of life, and increases your life span. So my invitation for today is that if you're feeling a little inspired in hearing all of this, then go out and spread a little bit of kindness around. It might be in small ways, like being a courteous driver, a warm smile to a stranger, or it might be offering a listening ear or a kind word of encouragement. Whatever it is, allow yourself to enjoy the joy of giving to another and also the boomerang effect of the benefits you'll enjoy in your own life.
And as always thank you for your practice and your presence here with us. And let's settle in now for today's meditation.
The Science of Kindness
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 be talking about the science of kindness. Specifically, I'm going to share with you four snippets of research on how being kind creates positive benefits in our own lives. So the first benefit is that being kind appears to make us happier overall. A 2010 Harvard study of 136 countries found that people who are altruistic what happiest overall in their lives.
So the second benefit is extended lifespan. Research suggests that giving help to others protects our overall wellbeing. Christine Carter, Executive Director of UC Berkeley's Greater Good Science Center notes that people 55 and older who volunteer for two or more organizations have an impressive 44% lower likelihood of dying early. Now that's actually a stronger effect than exercising four times a week. It's pretty impressive.
The third benefit is increased pleasure. So when you are kind to another person, your brain's pleasure and reward center lights up as if you were the recipient of the good deed, not the giver. The name often given to describe this phenomenon is the helper's high. And lastly, kindness is a powerful antidepressant. Now, like most medical antidepressants, kindness stimulates the production of serotonin in the brain.
This feel good chemical boosts your happiness, makes you feel more calm, and even heals your wounds faster. So in summary, kindness decreases depression and stress and improves overall health and happiness and quality of life, and increases your life span. So my invitation for today is that if you're feeling a little inspired in hearing all of this, then go out and spread a little bit of kindness around. It might be in small ways, like being a courteous driver, a warm smile to a stranger, or it might be offering a listening ear or a kind word of encouragement. Whatever it is, allow yourself to enjoy the joy of giving to another and also the boomerang effect of the benefits you'll enjoy in your own life.
And as always thank you for your practice and your presence here with us. And let's settle in now 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.
- 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.
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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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