Browse
Top articles
How to Meditate: Meditation 101 for Beginners
10 Science-Backed Benefits of Meditation
What is Meditation?
Try free for 7 days.
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
00:00
00:00
Personalized support for learning how to integrate mindfulness into your life. Delivered fresh everyday by our world renowned experts. Choose meditation duration:
Hi, welcome back to your Daily Mindfulness. In today's session, we're going to talk about your heart. I'll share a quick story. The other week, I was navigating something difficult, something that I needed to makean important decision around. And a friend reached out to me who knew I was in this struggle.
And she asked, are you doing okay? Is your heart settled? And the first thing I felt in myself in response to that was that, no, my heart isn't settled. And also that I wouldn't know what it would feel like for my heart to actually be settled. And my response, which was very impulsive, which was, I don't know if my heart is ever settled. I'm just noticing that it's either open or closed. And I wanted to share that with you here because I, I do think it's pointing to something that is true about the vulnerability of being human.
And what we often perceive as arriving or being settled as the, the lack of agitation or that we're no longer feeling the, the vulnerability of being human. When the reality is, is to live a life of presence and openness and intimacy and connection, this comes with a wild journey where there are times where things might feel smooth and they might feel easy, but we're also more susceptible to the sensitivity of a relationship breakup or a job loss, or the pain that we see in the world around us. The alternative though, is to live with a closed heart, where we put up our guard and we don't let ourselves feel some of these emotions or the depth of all that there is to feel. It can guard us and protect us from the painful experiences, but it also tends to guard us from the positive experiences, the love, the connection, the aliveness that we feel when we really do live with an open heart. The cool thing about all of this though, is that the heart can hold it all.
And the heart, I'm using as a metaphor to refer to that place within us that is expansive, that is not your thoughts. It's not your emotions. It's not your sensations. It's not your sensory experience. It's that part of you that knows all that is happening and has this orientation of you'll be okay, you'll get through this.
Some people might think of this as their higher power, their higher self, their soul, their spirit, awareness. I like to think of it as the heart. But that part of you is expansive. It's spacious. And while being connected to it might mean that you feel more of your human experience, you also get to experience the aliveness of being human.
That can be vulnerable, but it's rich and it's beautiful. And a meditation practice is helping us access that on a deeper level. So I'm not sure if the heart is ever settled, but I do know when my heart is closed and I do know when it's open. And these days, I'm choosing for it to be more open. Thank you for your practice.
Let's settle in for today's meditation.
A Settled Heart
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, welcome back to your Daily Mindfulness. In today's session, we're going to talk about your heart. I'll share a quick story. The other week, I was navigating something difficult, something that I needed to makean important decision around. And a friend reached out to me who knew I was in this struggle.
And she asked, are you doing okay? Is your heart settled? And the first thing I felt in myself in response to that was that, no, my heart isn't settled. And also that I wouldn't know what it would feel like for my heart to actually be settled. And my response, which was very impulsive, which was, I don't know if my heart is ever settled. I'm just noticing that it's either open or closed. And I wanted to share that with you here because I, I do think it's pointing to something that is true about the vulnerability of being human.
And what we often perceive as arriving or being settled as the, the lack of agitation or that we're no longer feeling the, the vulnerability of being human. When the reality is, is to live a life of presence and openness and intimacy and connection, this comes with a wild journey where there are times where things might feel smooth and they might feel easy, but we're also more susceptible to the sensitivity of a relationship breakup or a job loss, or the pain that we see in the world around us. The alternative though, is to live with a closed heart, where we put up our guard and we don't let ourselves feel some of these emotions or the depth of all that there is to feel. It can guard us and protect us from the painful experiences, but it also tends to guard us from the positive experiences, the love, the connection, the aliveness that we feel when we really do live with an open heart. The cool thing about all of this though, is that the heart can hold it all.
And the heart, I'm using as a metaphor to refer to that place within us that is expansive, that is not your thoughts. It's not your emotions. It's not your sensations. It's not your sensory experience. It's that part of you that knows all that is happening and has this orientation of you'll be okay, you'll get through this.
Some people might think of this as their higher power, their higher self, their soul, their spirit, awareness. I like to think of it as the heart. But that part of you is expansive. It's spacious. And while being connected to it might mean that you feel more of your human experience, you also get to experience the aliveness of being human.
That can be vulnerable, but it's rich and it's beautiful. And a meditation practice is helping us access that on a deeper level. So I'm not sure if the heart is ever settled, but I do know when my heart is closed and I do know when it's open. And these days, I'm choosing for it to be more open. Thank you for your practice.
Let's settle in for today's meditation.
Duration
Play in-app
Scan the following QR code with your camera app to open it on our mobile app
Get Unlimited Access
A Mindfulness Plus+ subscription gives you unlimited access to a world of premium mindfulness content.
Email Missing
We couldn’t detect your email with the SSO provider you have selected.We are here to make a positive impact on the world. We never want to sell you something that hasn’t helped you live a better life. That’s why if you’re unhappy with any purchase from us, you have 30 days to get a full refund and your money back.
If you subscribed to Mindfulness Plus+ and are unhappy with your purchase, please get in contact with us within the 30-day period and we’ll refund your purchase.
Learn more about our Mindfulness Guarantee.
Mindfulness
We believe in a world where everybody has access to the life-changing skills of mindfulness.
Private Browsing
We believe in a world where everybody has access to the life-changing skills of mindfulness.
Annual membership
$0
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.
- 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.
- Babs312
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
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
Thank you for joining us
Dive into the full library and enjoy all it has to offer!
Claim your free access
Create a mindfulness account and we’ll unlock this premium session in your account forever.
7-Days free trial, cancel anytime.
Complete a few quick questions to make your own personalized mindfulness plan.
Sign up or login to your mindfulness account to proceed.
Sign up or login to your mindfulness account to proceed.
Mindfulness
One membership to gain access to a world of premium mindfulness content created to help you live happier and stress less.