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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
idea of the struggle switch, which
is a really wonderful metaphor
taught by best-selling author, Dr.
Russ Harris.
So I want you to imagine that in the back
of your mind, there is a struggle switch.
And what it does is that every single
time anything uncomfortable or unpleasant
arises in your present moment experience,
whether it's a painful emotion, experience
or memory, the struggle switch goes on.
So let's say, a painful emotion
arises, loneliness, for instance.
A very natural emotion that
we're all probably going to
experience from time to time.
As soon as that emotion arises,
the struggle switch goes on.
So we mentally start to
resist what's happening.
I don't want to feel this.
I hate this.
I want this to go away.
What's wrong with me?
Why can't I just feel okay by myself?
Right?
So once we start to struggle with the
loneliness mentally, we now actually
start to amplify it and pile more
layers of stress and suffering on top.
Now, in this example, here
we are we're getting angry at
ourselves for the loneliness.
We're getting anxious
about the loneliness.
And you know, what's wrong with me?
Why am I feeling this?
Adding shame to the loneliness,
that feeling of unworthiness.
So now with the struggle switch on like
this, as we continue to mentally struggle
with it, the emotion actually tends
to get bigger and stay around longer.
So with the struggle switch
on, we automatically struggle
with every unpleasant experience
and emotion that comes along.
And when we do, our stress and
our suffering get amplified.
But if we can learn to turn off
the struggles switch, then when any
difficult emotion or experience arises,
we simply don't add fuel to the fire.
It's not that we have
to like it or want it.
It's simply a choice not to struggle
with it because we don't want to
add more suffering to our already
difficult moment in our lives.
So now there's no such thing really as
a human life without difficult emotions.
They happen to all of us as a
natural part of the flow of life.
But when they do show up and
the struggle switch is off,
things are much more easeful.
You know, much more easeful than
living with the struggle switch on.
And with the struggle switch off, we can
accept that a difficult feeling is here.
It may stay for a long time
or just a little bit of time.
We don't try to get it to move on quickly.
We simply allow it to be there while
we choose to get on with our lives in
meaningful ways, whether that's, you
know, spending time with loved ones, doing
our work, or maybe watching a sunset.
So today the invitation is to see if
you can turn your struggle switch off.
In this way, when the unpleasant stuff
happens, it doesn't get amplified.
And instead the mind is free to engage
in the stuff that really matters.
As always, thank you for your practice
and your presence here with us.
And let's now start to 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.
- 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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