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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 I'm going to talk about how we can defeat fear. So I'd like to share an old Buddhist story about this. Once upon a time, there was a young warrior and her teacher told her that she had to do battle with fear. She didn't want to do it.
It seemed too aggressive. It was scary. It seemed unfriendly. But the teacher said she had to do it and gave her instructions for the battle. And finally, the day arrived.
The student warrior stood on one side, fear stood on the other side. And the warrior was feeling really small and fear was looking really big and wrathful. They both had their weapons. The young warrior roused herself and went towards fear. And she prostrated three times and asked, may I have permission to go into battle with you? Fear said, Oh, thank you for showing me so much respect that you ask permission.
And then the young warrior said, how can I defeat you? Fear replied. Well, my weapons are that I talk fast. I get really close to your face. And then I get you completely unnerved so that you do whatever I say. If you don't do what I say, tell you I have no power.
You can listen to me. You can have respect for me. You can even be convinced by me, but if you don't do what I say, I have no power. And in that way, the student warrior learned how to defeat fear. So most of us struggle with fear, right, in one way or another.
Becoming overwhelmed by it or trying to push it away is what we often do. But shifting our relationship with fear really is central to our mindfulness journey. While fear is a perfectly natural emotion, when it takes us over, it hijacks our ability to act with awareness, purpose and clarity. But if we can learn to attend to fear with mindfulness, with compassion, it loosens its grip on us and no longer takes us over. Then we can reconnect with awareness, wisdom, and love.
So one of the very best practices I know to meet fear with mindfulness and compassion is a very popular meditation called the RAIN practice. And I'm going to guide you through that in today's meditation. And I really encourage you to give this practice a try today so then you can take it with you into your day. Then for the rest of the day and maybe for the rest of the week, just whenever you notice fear arising, whether it's fear of what other people might think of you, fear that you're not enough or fear of failure, just keep training yourself to gently meet the fear with mindfulness and compassion. Because as Buddhist teacher and author, Pema Chodron says, "Being courageous and having a great life is all about being intimate with fear in a wise and graceful way.
Feel the fear and then do what needs to be done. Rather than being depressed by fear, lean into it and see it as an opportunity to learn and grow." As always, thank you for your practice and your presence here with us. And inviting you now to settle in for today's meditation.
How to Defeat Fear
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 how we can defeat fear. So I'd like to share an old Buddhist story about this. Once upon a time, there was a young warrior and her teacher told her that she had to do battle with fear. She didn't want to do it.
It seemed too aggressive. It was scary. It seemed unfriendly. But the teacher said she had to do it and gave her instructions for the battle. And finally, the day arrived.
The student warrior stood on one side, fear stood on the other side. And the warrior was feeling really small and fear was looking really big and wrathful. They both had their weapons. The young warrior roused herself and went towards fear. And she prostrated three times and asked, may I have permission to go into battle with you? Fear said, Oh, thank you for showing me so much respect that you ask permission.
And then the young warrior said, how can I defeat you? Fear replied. Well, my weapons are that I talk fast. I get really close to your face. And then I get you completely unnerved so that you do whatever I say. If you don't do what I say, tell you I have no power.
You can listen to me. You can have respect for me. You can even be convinced by me, but if you don't do what I say, I have no power. And in that way, the student warrior learned how to defeat fear. So most of us struggle with fear, right, in one way or another.
Becoming overwhelmed by it or trying to push it away is what we often do. But shifting our relationship with fear really is central to our mindfulness journey. While fear is a perfectly natural emotion, when it takes us over, it hijacks our ability to act with awareness, purpose and clarity. But if we can learn to attend to fear with mindfulness, with compassion, it loosens its grip on us and no longer takes us over. Then we can reconnect with awareness, wisdom, and love.
So one of the very best practices I know to meet fear with mindfulness and compassion is a very popular meditation called the RAIN practice. And I'm going to guide you through that in today's meditation. And I really encourage you to give this practice a try today so then you can take it with you into your day. Then for the rest of the day and maybe for the rest of the week, just whenever you notice fear arising, whether it's fear of what other people might think of you, fear that you're not enough or fear of failure, just keep training yourself to gently meet the fear with mindfulness and compassion. Because as Buddhist teacher and author, Pema Chodron says, "Being courageous and having a great life is all about being intimate with fear in a wise and graceful way.
Feel the fear and then do what needs to be done. Rather than being depressed by fear, lean into it and see it as an opportunity to learn and grow." As always, thank you for your practice and your presence here with us. And inviting you now to settle in for today's meditation.
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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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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
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Excellent! Cory gently guides you into internal peace.
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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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