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How to Meditate: Meditation 101 for Beginners
10 Science-Backed Benefits of Meditation
What is Meditation?
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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 talk about the relationship between thinking and stress. There's a story about this. A psychology professor was teaching a class one day. At one point, she raised a glass of water out to the audience and asked, how heavy is this glass of water? Now the students started shouting out all their guesses and answers, but after a while, she simply replied, "You know, from my perspective, the total weight of this glass, it doesn't really matter.
What does matter is how long I keep holding it. If I hold this glass for a minute or so, it's pretty light. It's pretty easy. But if I hold it for an hour, my arm out like this, that's really going to start to burn. And if I hold this glass for a day, it's going to be agonizing.
At some point, my arm would probably become paralyzed, numb, and I'll smash the glass on the floor. I wouldn't be at a hold it." "Now, the weight of the glass in each scenario of time didn't change. But the longer I hold it, the heavier and harder it feels for me," she said. "This glass of water is like your stressful thoughts. Think about them for awhile.
And that's going to feel okay. Think about them a little bit more, that's going to begin to burn a little. Think about them all day long, every day and you will probably feel consumed by suffering and stress. You could even end up at the point where you crash completely or become so paralyzed by the suffering that you're incapable of getting on with your life until you learn to stop carrying the weight of all those thoughts." This story beautifully illustrates the vital importance of learning how to manage our stressful thoughts. So how can we do this? Well, of course, you know, the most effective way that I know of, that I've ever encountered in my life is through practicing mindfulness.
And practicing meditation regularly really trains in this specific skill of learning how to unhook from thoughts and ground ourselves back in a calm, steady awareness. But in daily life too, one of the simplest ways is just to keep catching yourself whenever your mind is getting caught in stressful thoughts and just mentally noting to yourself in those moments in a really warm and playful tone, just thinking. And then returning your focus to the present moment. So we really want to catch ourselves here. Every time you catch yourself, mentally note and then let go.
You're setting down stress, reclaiming more peace of mind. And as Buddhist teacher, as Ajahn Chah said, "If you let go a little, you'll have a little happiness. If you let go a lot, you'll have a lot of happiness. And if you let go completely, you will be completely happy." So as always, thank you for your practice and your presence here with us. I hope this practice serves you well in daily life.
And now let's settling for our meditation.
Carrying the Weight of the World
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, we're going to talk about the relationship between thinking and stress. There's a story about this. A psychology professor was teaching a class one day. At one point, she raised a glass of water out to the audience and asked, how heavy is this glass of water? Now the students started shouting out all their guesses and answers, but after a while, she simply replied, "You know, from my perspective, the total weight of this glass, it doesn't really matter.
What does matter is how long I keep holding it. If I hold this glass for a minute or so, it's pretty light. It's pretty easy. But if I hold it for an hour, my arm out like this, that's really going to start to burn. And if I hold this glass for a day, it's going to be agonizing.
At some point, my arm would probably become paralyzed, numb, and I'll smash the glass on the floor. I wouldn't be at a hold it." "Now, the weight of the glass in each scenario of time didn't change. But the longer I hold it, the heavier and harder it feels for me," she said. "This glass of water is like your stressful thoughts. Think about them for awhile.
And that's going to feel okay. Think about them a little bit more, that's going to begin to burn a little. Think about them all day long, every day and you will probably feel consumed by suffering and stress. You could even end up at the point where you crash completely or become so paralyzed by the suffering that you're incapable of getting on with your life until you learn to stop carrying the weight of all those thoughts." This story beautifully illustrates the vital importance of learning how to manage our stressful thoughts. So how can we do this? Well, of course, you know, the most effective way that I know of, that I've ever encountered in my life is through practicing mindfulness.
And practicing meditation regularly really trains in this specific skill of learning how to unhook from thoughts and ground ourselves back in a calm, steady awareness. But in daily life too, one of the simplest ways is just to keep catching yourself whenever your mind is getting caught in stressful thoughts and just mentally noting to yourself in those moments in a really warm and playful tone, just thinking. And then returning your focus to the present moment. So we really want to catch ourselves here. Every time you catch yourself, mentally note and then let go.
You're setting down stress, reclaiming more peace of mind. And as Buddhist teacher, as Ajahn Chah said, "If you let go a little, you'll have a little happiness. If you let go a lot, you'll have a lot of happiness. And if you let go completely, you will be completely happy." So as always, thank you for your practice and your presence here with us. I hope this practice serves you well in daily life.
And now let's settling for our meditation.
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Melli has a beautiful way of guiding and reminding us of the stillness within.
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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.
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Truly life changing. This isn't solely meditation and mindfulness...this is about striving to be the best the versions of ourselves.
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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.
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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
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