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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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Hey, welcome back to your Daily Mindfulness. I think when a lot of people think about meditation or what it's all about, they know that it has to do with focusing on something. And often the first thing that comes up is the breath and they think, okay, so meditation is all about focusing on the breath. And I want to challenge that here. There is something to being able to stay present to the breath and following the breath and learning about the breath, seeing that it comes and it goes, it arises and passes.
And that's teaching us about the nature of experience. That it's impermanent. It shifts. There's a new beginning moment to moment. So we can learn that by focusing on the breath.
But in my experience, meditation is much less about what we're focusing on and much more about working with the mind that pulls us away from what we're focusing on. And I'm sure you've experienced this in your own meditation practice. You tried to maybe attune to the body. Or even right now, as you're trying to focus here. We can do it.
We know how to pay attention. We know how to be aware. We've all had moments of that. But where the real practice comes in. Is when the mind starts pulling us away or when all of the thoughts and the mental chatter and the judgment or the sensations or the emotions, the inner and outer chaos of our lives create some tension that makes our attention go someplace else.
So when we're talking about meditation, even if our anchor point, our stability point is something like the breath or the body, or perhaps even a mantra, it's important to keep in mind that it's not so much what we're focusing on, but how we're working with all of the things that are pulling our attention away from that. And each time the mind wanders, it's an opportunity. That's our practice. That's when we get to see how the mind seduces us into wanting to pay attention to something else. How two minutes into being with the breath, the mind goes, ah, this is boring.
I should check my phone instead. We're learning all the ways that that actually comes up in day-to-day life. In a conversation with someone, while we're trying to do work, we get distracted. The mind tells us we should be doing something else. But it's just like a jumpy little chipmunk going from one thing to the next, to the next to the next.
The more we can spot that, the more we can practice not getting caught up in it. And the more we can practice and train bringing the attention back, the more we develop that inner stability, that inner strength and that more grounded quality of peace. That's what we're working with. And it happens when we work with the mind that's wandering away from this moment. So we'll continue to explore this as we always do in our meditation practice.
But keeping in mind also as you go about your day. As always thank you for doing this practice because it's not easy. It takes some work, but it's a powerful resource to develop in your life. And I'm proud of you for continuing on that journey. I'll talk to you soon and take care.
Meditation Is Not About the Breath
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.
Hey, welcome back to your Daily Mindfulness. I think when a lot of people think about meditation or what it's all about, they know that it has to do with focusing on something. And often the first thing that comes up is the breath and they think, okay, so meditation is all about focusing on the breath. And I want to challenge that here. There is something to being able to stay present to the breath and following the breath and learning about the breath, seeing that it comes and it goes, it arises and passes.
And that's teaching us about the nature of experience. That it's impermanent. It shifts. There's a new beginning moment to moment. So we can learn that by focusing on the breath.
But in my experience, meditation is much less about what we're focusing on and much more about working with the mind that pulls us away from what we're focusing on. And I'm sure you've experienced this in your own meditation practice. You tried to maybe attune to the body. Or even right now, as you're trying to focus here. We can do it.
We know how to pay attention. We know how to be aware. We've all had moments of that. But where the real practice comes in. Is when the mind starts pulling us away or when all of the thoughts and the mental chatter and the judgment or the sensations or the emotions, the inner and outer chaos of our lives create some tension that makes our attention go someplace else.
So when we're talking about meditation, even if our anchor point, our stability point is something like the breath or the body, or perhaps even a mantra, it's important to keep in mind that it's not so much what we're focusing on, but how we're working with all of the things that are pulling our attention away from that. And each time the mind wanders, it's an opportunity. That's our practice. That's when we get to see how the mind seduces us into wanting to pay attention to something else. How two minutes into being with the breath, the mind goes, ah, this is boring.
I should check my phone instead. We're learning all the ways that that actually comes up in day-to-day life. In a conversation with someone, while we're trying to do work, we get distracted. The mind tells us we should be doing something else. But it's just like a jumpy little chipmunk going from one thing to the next, to the next to the next.
The more we can spot that, the more we can practice not getting caught up in it. And the more we can practice and train bringing the attention back, the more we develop that inner stability, that inner strength and that more grounded quality of peace. That's what we're working with. And it happens when we work with the mind that's wandering away from this moment. So we'll continue to explore this as we always do in our meditation practice.
But keeping in mind also as you go about your day. As always thank you for doing this practice because it's not easy. It takes some work, but it's a powerful resource to develop in your life. And I'm proud of you for continuing on that journey. I'll talk to you soon and take care.
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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.
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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.
- Babs312
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Excellent! Cory gently guides you into internal peace.
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A necessary tool for those who feel lost.
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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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