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A Hack to Unwind a Busy Mind
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Hi, and welcome to your Daily Mindfulness. Today, I'm going to talk about a secret hack to unwind a busy mind. And this is kind of important because, you know, there are some days when we sit down to meditate and the mind is really calm. And then there are other days, sometimes the mind is just really active, unruly, or full of thoughts that are really pulling at our attention. Now on days like this, we can use a practice called anapana.
Anapana is a Pali word meaning mindfulness of breathing. I really love this practice. I really appreciate it on these busy days. So what you do is you find one place in the body to rest your attention on the feeling of the breath. And that might be the tip of the nose, belly, chest.
And as we breathe in, we mentally note to ourselves, breathing in. And as we breathe out, we mentally note, breathing out. And as we keep doing that with each breath, it's really a way to anchor the mind in present moment experience. So the breathing here is totally normal. There's no special way to breathe, but we're just using this mental noting as a really helpful technique to steady and settle the mind.
The wonderful thing about this practice is that we can use it, not just in the meditation, but in daily life too. And whenever you feel stressed or anxious, or the mind is just racing at a million miles an hour, you can return to this more centered and present space of mind by using anapana. Breathing in. Breathing out. As Danna Faulds says in her poem, Birthright, you know, "there is a place inside where stillness and abiding peace reside.
And you can ride the breath to go there." So we'll give this a try in today's meditation. So inviting you to now settle in for that, but also just remembering that as you go about your day today, anapana is always accessible to you. It's just one mindful breath away. As always, thank you for your practice.
Melli O'Brien
4.8A Hack to Unwind a Busy Mind
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 a secret hack to unwind a busy mind. And this is kind of important because, you know, there are some days when we sit down to meditate and the mind is really calm. And then there are other days, sometimes the mind is just really active, unruly, or full of thoughts that are really pulling at our attention. Now on days like this, we can use a practice called anapana.
Anapana is a Pali word meaning mindfulness of breathing. I really love this practice. I really appreciate it on these busy days. So what you do is you find one place in the body to rest your attention on the feeling of the breath. And that might be the tip of the nose, belly, chest.
And as we breathe in, we mentally note to ourselves, breathing in. And as we breathe out, we mentally note, breathing out. And as we keep doing that with each breath, it's really a way to anchor the mind in present moment experience. So the breathing here is totally normal. There's no special way to breathe, but we're just using this mental noting as a really helpful technique to steady and settle the mind.
The wonderful thing about this practice is that we can use it, not just in the meditation, but in daily life too. And whenever you feel stressed or anxious, or the mind is just racing at a million miles an hour, you can return to this more centered and present space of mind by using anapana. Breathing in. Breathing out. As Danna Faulds says in her poem, Birthright, you know, "there is a place inside where stillness and abiding peace reside.
And you can ride the breath to go there." So we'll give this a try in today's meditation. So inviting you to now settle in for that, but also just remembering that as you go about your day today, anapana is always accessible to you. It's just one mindful breath away. As always, thank you for your practice.
Melli O'Brien
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This is the app I turn to when I want to feel calm and loved.
- Abby
Melli has a beautiful way of guiding and reminding us of the stillness within.
- Adrienne James
I have been on a journey of healing and learning self-love. Amidst the work, I have been using the mindfulness app for the gentle reminders, guides to the moment (especially the difficult ones).
Kelly Boys offers a fresh and illuminating take on how to step out of lifelong patterns that keep snagging us.
- Tara Brach, PhD
Truly life changing. This isn't solely meditation and mindfulness...this is about striving to be the best the versions of ourselves.
- Marisa, Plus+ Member
Relaxing and assuring beyond description... thank you, Cory.
- Babs312
This is the app I turn to when I want to feel calm and loved.
- Abby
Melli has a beautiful way of guiding and reminding us of the stillness within.
- Adrienne James
I have been on a journey of healing and learning self-love. Amidst the work, I have been using the mindfulness app for the gentle reminders, guides to the moment (especially the difficult ones).
Kelly Boys offers a fresh and illuminating take on how to step out of lifelong patterns that keep snagging us.
- Tara Brach, PhD
Truly life changing. This isn't solely meditation and mindfulness...this is about striving to be the best the versions of ourselves.
- Marisa, Plus+ Member
Relaxing and assuring beyond description... thank you, Cory.
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Shamash's guidance is a gift of wisdom to help us in our busy and stressful lives.
- Paul Gilbert, PhD, FBPsS, OBE, Centre for Compassion Research and Training, University of Derby, United Kingdom
Excellent! Cory gently guides you into internal peace.
- Steve Ericson
A necessary tool for those who feel lost.
- Piper
Just want to say a big thankyou to all involved as this has had a positive impact in my daily life 🙏 Valuable teachings that have allowed me to have a better relationship not only with those around me, but with myself. Heal ourselves and we heal the world 💫✨🌍
- Marty
I start every day with Cory or Melli for my daily practice. Including this app into my practice helps me continue to build more mental focus and understanding of my thought processes. What a welcome and powerful gift.
- Oku
Shamash's guidance is a gift of wisdom to help us in our busy and stressful lives.
- Paul Gilbert, PhD, FBPsS, OBE, Centre for Compassion Research and Training, University of Derby, United Kingdom
Excellent! Cory gently guides you into internal peace.
- Steve Ericson
A necessary tool for those who feel lost.
- Piper
Just want to say a big thankyou to all involved as this has had a positive impact in my daily life 🙏 Valuable teachings that have allowed me to have a better relationship not only with those around me, but with myself. Heal ourselves and we heal the world 💫✨🌍
- Marty
I start every day with Cory or Melli for my daily practice. Including this app into my practice helps me continue to build more mental focus and understanding of my thought processes. What a welcome and powerful gift.
- Oku
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