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 the difference between fighting the old and building the new. So let's start with a quote by Socrates. He said, "The secret of change is to focus all of your energy, not on fighting the old, but on building the new." Now as a general prescription for our growth, I do think there is a lot of wisdom in this quote.
I also think it could be misinterpreted because one of the key things about this quote, as it relates to relating to the old stuff, is he's talking about not putting energy on fighting the old. It's not saying not to address the old. And there's a difference between fighting the old versus going into the old with a curiosity, a spaciousness, and an interest in, you know, where's this coming from, how might I work to heal this, what sort of attention does this need? That's very different than feeling the old and trying to overcome, it power through it, resent it, create an enemy in relationship to. However, I do think though what Socrates is pointing to is that if we want to change and we want to create a future that we're excited to live into, we need to put a lot of our energy in that direction. What are we trying to build? Get our thoughts aligned with that, our emotions lined with that, our actions aligned with that.
So my personal prescription is, is that there's a balance. If we're on that path to building something, but we feel like we're caught up in self-sabotage and it's like, we get closer to it, but then something in a stops or we turn around or we actually destruct the whole thing, which is a common experience, then we might want to look at what's going on in our past that may be leading to this, that maybe has some subconscious fear of actually having a certain kind of life. And if that's the case, then, you know, therapy can be really useful and even just holding space for those difficult emotions so that they can process integrate and be seen. The main thing I want you to ask following this Daily Mindfulness is just, where do you direct most of your energy? Do you direct it toward fighting the old stuff? Or do you direct it toward building the new and an excitement of who you're growing into? And if you are primarily in the former category of fighting the old, then what would it look like for you to invest more time and energy toward getting excited about the life you're excited to live and you want to live and is compelling to you? And how could you align your energy, your thoughts, your behaviors, your emotions in that direction, rather than just focusing on, I need to fix all of this stuff or overcome all this stuff before I can start living that life? It may be the case that a lot of that stuff takes care of itself as you start walking this new journey. Something to consider.
Thank you for your practice. Let's settle in for today's meditation.
Resisting vs. Building
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 the difference between fighting the old and building the new. So let's start with a quote by Socrates. He said, "The secret of change is to focus all of your energy, not on fighting the old, but on building the new." Now as a general prescription for our growth, I do think there is a lot of wisdom in this quote.
I also think it could be misinterpreted because one of the key things about this quote, as it relates to relating to the old stuff, is he's talking about not putting energy on fighting the old. It's not saying not to address the old. And there's a difference between fighting the old versus going into the old with a curiosity, a spaciousness, and an interest in, you know, where's this coming from, how might I work to heal this, what sort of attention does this need? That's very different than feeling the old and trying to overcome, it power through it, resent it, create an enemy in relationship to. However, I do think though what Socrates is pointing to is that if we want to change and we want to create a future that we're excited to live into, we need to put a lot of our energy in that direction. What are we trying to build? Get our thoughts aligned with that, our emotions lined with that, our actions aligned with that.
So my personal prescription is, is that there's a balance. If we're on that path to building something, but we feel like we're caught up in self-sabotage and it's like, we get closer to it, but then something in a stops or we turn around or we actually destruct the whole thing, which is a common experience, then we might want to look at what's going on in our past that may be leading to this, that maybe has some subconscious fear of actually having a certain kind of life. And if that's the case, then, you know, therapy can be really useful and even just holding space for those difficult emotions so that they can process integrate and be seen. The main thing I want you to ask following this Daily Mindfulness is just, where do you direct most of your energy? Do you direct it toward fighting the old stuff? Or do you direct it toward building the new and an excitement of who you're growing into? And if you are primarily in the former category of fighting the old, then what would it look like for you to invest more time and energy toward getting excited about the life you're excited to live and you want to live and is compelling to you? And how could you align your energy, your thoughts, your behaviors, your emotions in that direction, rather than just focusing on, I need to fix all of this stuff or overcome all this stuff before I can start living that life? It may be the case that a lot of that stuff takes care of itself as you start walking this new journey. Something to consider.
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.