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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 folly of fitting in. So there's a great story about this. One day, an old man, a boy, and a donkey are happily making their way to the nearest town. The boy was riding on the donkey and the old man was happily walking beside them.
As they went along, they passed some people who remarked that it was wrong that the old man was walking and the young boy was riding on the donkey. It should be the other way around they said. So the man and the boy took on what the critics said, changed their positions and continued on down the road. Soon enough, they passed a group of people who berated the old man. What a cruel thing to make that poor little boy walk.
In response to those critics, the boy and the old man both decided to walk. So a little later they passed a farm. People there said you have a perfectly good, strong donkey to ride. What are you doing? It can carry you both. You must be stupid.
So hearing this, they both jumped on and rode the donkey. And all was well until they came to the outskirts of town and people there shamed them saying, how could you be so awful as to put this big load on this poor little donkey? The boy and the man felt so bad that they hopped off the donkey, picked it up and carried it on there backs. And as they crossed the town bridge in quite a bizarre spectacle, trying to carry this donkey, they lost their balance, they lost their grip on the donkey and it fell into the river. So what's the moral of this story? If you try to fit in and please everyone all the time, you're probably going to lose your sanity, and in this case, also your donkey. We can probably all relate to this story in some way because we all share a common challenge.
The way that the human mind is wired from evolution means that we're always going to feel a strong pull to fit in, be liked and be part of the pack. But that internal pressure to fit in means that we will sometimes deny our own feelings and our own wisdom instead of listening to them. So sometimes we do something, even though it doesn't feel right, it doesn't make sense to us just because of other people's opinions. So part of the invitation of what mindful living is all about is really cultivating more self-trust and more authenticity. In other words, it helps us get more in touch with ourselves and teaches us to trust our own authority and our own direct experience rather than always relying on the opinions of others or the direction of others.
So the next time you find yourself feeling that pressure to conform, fit in or get others' approval, just remembering that we don't have to be defined by other people's expectations of us or the desire to fit in. Just trusting that you can be authentic, stand your ground in what feels wise and right for you in your heart. And most importantly, share the real you, the most authentic you with the world. As always, thank you for your practice and your presence here in this community. Let's settle in for today's meditation.
The Folly of Fitting In
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 folly of fitting in. So there's a great story about this. One day, an old man, a boy, and a donkey are happily making their way to the nearest town. The boy was riding on the donkey and the old man was happily walking beside them.
As they went along, they passed some people who remarked that it was wrong that the old man was walking and the young boy was riding on the donkey. It should be the other way around they said. So the man and the boy took on what the critics said, changed their positions and continued on down the road. Soon enough, they passed a group of people who berated the old man. What a cruel thing to make that poor little boy walk.
In response to those critics, the boy and the old man both decided to walk. So a little later they passed a farm. People there said you have a perfectly good, strong donkey to ride. What are you doing? It can carry you both. You must be stupid.
So hearing this, they both jumped on and rode the donkey. And all was well until they came to the outskirts of town and people there shamed them saying, how could you be so awful as to put this big load on this poor little donkey? The boy and the man felt so bad that they hopped off the donkey, picked it up and carried it on there backs. And as they crossed the town bridge in quite a bizarre spectacle, trying to carry this donkey, they lost their balance, they lost their grip on the donkey and it fell into the river. So what's the moral of this story? If you try to fit in and please everyone all the time, you're probably going to lose your sanity, and in this case, also your donkey. We can probably all relate to this story in some way because we all share a common challenge.
The way that the human mind is wired from evolution means that we're always going to feel a strong pull to fit in, be liked and be part of the pack. But that internal pressure to fit in means that we will sometimes deny our own feelings and our own wisdom instead of listening to them. So sometimes we do something, even though it doesn't feel right, it doesn't make sense to us just because of other people's opinions. So part of the invitation of what mindful living is all about is really cultivating more self-trust and more authenticity. In other words, it helps us get more in touch with ourselves and teaches us to trust our own authority and our own direct experience rather than always relying on the opinions of others or the direction of others.
So the next time you find yourself feeling that pressure to conform, fit in or get others' approval, just remembering that we don't have to be defined by other people's expectations of us or the desire to fit in. Just trusting that you can be authentic, stand your ground in what feels wise and right for you in your heart. And most importantly, share the real you, the most authentic you with the world. As always, thank you for your practice and your presence here in this community. Let's 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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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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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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