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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 back to your Daily Mindfulness. In today's session we're going to talk about anticipation of the future and whether or not you should practice focusing on a positive outcome or a negative outcome. So I think when many people put down thinking about the positive. The one argument is that, well, it's irrational. It's irrational to just be thinking about positive outcomes all the time, because we also need to think about what can go wrong, the potential negative outcomes.
And there's of course an argument for this, but I want to be really clear about something. Anticipating a negative outcome is just as irrational as anticipating a positive outcome because you really don't know what will happen. And or whether whatever does happen is perceived as positive or negative in the short-term or the long-term. So some say it's important to focus on the positive. Others say it's important to focus on the negative.
Some say you should focus on a combination of both and others still would say you shouldn't focus on any outcome, just be present in the moment. Well, I say there are many ways to use our mind effectively and to effectively live our lives. If you're trying to feel good, confident, and joyful, you might want to think about the future best case scenario, the positive outcome. You'll most likely notice that this kind of positive thinking can really lift your mood, can mitigate stress and gives you more energy. However, if you're trying to protect someone, a community of people or buffer against some sort of risk in your business, well you might want to think through the negative implications of a particular scenario, such as a certain political choice.
So this sort of negative thinking isn't so much negative, but rather an assessment of a potentially true future reality, which may inspire more important form of action in the present moment. Even if it includes a sense of fear, discomfort and some stress. So we can use imagined potential outcomes to inform a skillful response to our present moment context. And other times you may just want to let go and see how things unfold instead of using future oriented thinking, you just take care of the moment as best you can. The point is it's never as simple as just focus on the positive or just focus on the negative, or just let go of any thoughts about the future.
Mindfulness is more about cultivating an awareness of how your mind works and using that new understanding to be in a wiser relationship to your experience. So as always thank you for your practice and let's settle in for today's meditation.
Positive vs. Negative Thinking
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 back to your Daily Mindfulness. In today's session we're going to talk about anticipation of the future and whether or not you should practice focusing on a positive outcome or a negative outcome. So I think when many people put down thinking about the positive. The one argument is that, well, it's irrational. It's irrational to just be thinking about positive outcomes all the time, because we also need to think about what can go wrong, the potential negative outcomes.
And there's of course an argument for this, but I want to be really clear about something. Anticipating a negative outcome is just as irrational as anticipating a positive outcome because you really don't know what will happen. And or whether whatever does happen is perceived as positive or negative in the short-term or the long-term. So some say it's important to focus on the positive. Others say it's important to focus on the negative.
Some say you should focus on a combination of both and others still would say you shouldn't focus on any outcome, just be present in the moment. Well, I say there are many ways to use our mind effectively and to effectively live our lives. If you're trying to feel good, confident, and joyful, you might want to think about the future best case scenario, the positive outcome. You'll most likely notice that this kind of positive thinking can really lift your mood, can mitigate stress and gives you more energy. However, if you're trying to protect someone, a community of people or buffer against some sort of risk in your business, well you might want to think through the negative implications of a particular scenario, such as a certain political choice.
So this sort of negative thinking isn't so much negative, but rather an assessment of a potentially true future reality, which may inspire more important form of action in the present moment. Even if it includes a sense of fear, discomfort and some stress. So we can use imagined potential outcomes to inform a skillful response to our present moment context. And other times you may just want to let go and see how things unfold instead of using future oriented thinking, you just take care of the moment as best you can. The point is it's never as simple as just focus on the positive or just focus on the negative, or just let go of any thoughts about the future.
Mindfulness is more about cultivating an awareness of how your mind works and using that new understanding to be in a wiser relationship to your experience. So as always thank you for your practice and let's settle in for today's 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.
- 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
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