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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, we're going to be talking
about two common areas in thinking
and how we can overcome them.
Okay.
So the two fundamental areas of
thought that actually really warp
the way we humans tend to see and
experience the world are these.
The first is that we tend to
overestimate the bad in life.
And two, we tend to
underestimate the good in life.
So why do we have these two
common errors in thinking?
It's because of the brain's
built in negativity bias.
This is also known as
positive-negative asymmetry.
So this bias that the mind has towards
the negative is totally normal, for
all of us, because as human beings
evolved, it was vitally important to
pay attention to and react to negative
experiences really quickly so that we
could outwit predators and avoid danger.
So, you come out of your cave when
you're a caveman in the morning and see
a rainbow on one side, a dark shadow of
a predator on the other side, and your
attention needs to go to that shadow
really fast and ignore the rainbow.
Otherwise you might never
see a rainbow again.
Right?
So our brains evolved to highlight
those negative experiences, store them
in memory so that we could remember
how to avoid future potential threats.
Now, the thing is that we don't live in a
world anymore where there was a constant
sense of threat and danger, like for
our caveman ancestors in years gone by.
But our brains still
operate in the same way.
And because of the negativity
bias, a few things tend to happen.
We stew on our problems and
what's wrong more than dwelling
on what's right in our lives.
We recall insults more than complements.
Remember painful and negative
experiences much more effectively
than we do positive ones.
And we tend to think about negative things
much more frequently than positive things.
And we also actually tend to react
to and be impacted by negative
events much more than positive ones.
So over the long-term, this bias
towards the negative can develop
in us a growing tendency to be
pessimistic, stressed, and negative.
So how do we correct this
kind of error in perception?
I'm going to share with
you today three tips.
The first one is to deliberately take
time each day to focus on gratitude.
Gratitude is a powerful
antidote to the negativity bias.
You might start by writing down three
things that you're grateful for every day.
Do that before bed, or when
you wake up in the morning.
The second thing that's really easy
to do is when you find your mind
dwelling on the negative over and
over, just try questioning the thoughts
and challenging them and offering
yourself a more balanced perspective.
So this doesn't mean denying
that there are unpleasant things.
There are unpleasant things might be
happening such as a criticism at work,
but also offering yourself a reminder
that their were compliments too.
Right?
So don't allow yourself to
only focus on the negative.
The third thing to do is
to just take in the good.
So as you're going about your
daily life, deliberately notice
the simple pleasures around you.
A lovely piece of music, a bird song in
the garden, a cozy, comfortable chair,
the feeling of sunlight on your skin.
Allow yourself, when those good things
arise, to pause and really soak them
in, take in the good all around you.
So these are three practices that
will bring balance to your mind,
give you greater clarity and more
enjoyment and contentment in your life.
We're going to focus on this a
little more in today's meditation.
So let's settle in now for that.
And as always, thank
you for your practice.
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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
I am very new to meditation, and am so happy that my first introduction to it has been through this app
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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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