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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 be talking about the science of kindness. Specifically, I'm going to share with you four snippets of research on how being kind creates positive benefits in our own lives. So the first benefit is that being kind appears to make us happier overall. A 2010 Harvard study of 136 countries found that people who are altruistic what happiest overall in their lives.
So the second benefit is extended lifespan. Research suggests that giving help to others protects our overall wellbeing. Christine Carter, Executive Director of UC Berkeley's Greater Good Science Center notes that people 55 and older who volunteer for two or more organizations have an impressive 44% lower likelihood of dying early. Now that's actually a stronger effect than exercising four times a week. It's pretty impressive.
The third benefit is increased pleasure. So when you are kind to another person, your brain's pleasure and reward center lights up as if you were the recipient of the good deed, not the giver. The name often given to describe this phenomenon is the helper's high. And lastly, kindness is a powerful antidepressant. Now, like most medical antidepressants, kindness stimulates the production of serotonin in the brain.
This feel good chemical boosts your happiness, makes you feel more calm, and even heals your wounds faster. So in summary, kindness decreases depression and stress and improves overall health and happiness and quality of life, and increases your life span. So my invitation for today is that if you're feeling a little inspired in hearing all of this, then go out and spread a little bit of kindness around. It might be in small ways, like being a courteous driver, a warm smile to a stranger, or it might be offering a listening ear or a kind word of encouragement. Whatever it is, allow yourself to enjoy the joy of giving to another and also the boomerang effect of the benefits you'll enjoy in your own life.
And as always thank you for your practice and your presence here with us. And let's settle in now for today's meditation.
The Science of Kindness
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 be talking about the science of kindness. Specifically, I'm going to share with you four snippets of research on how being kind creates positive benefits in our own lives. So the first benefit is that being kind appears to make us happier overall. A 2010 Harvard study of 136 countries found that people who are altruistic what happiest overall in their lives.
So the second benefit is extended lifespan. Research suggests that giving help to others protects our overall wellbeing. Christine Carter, Executive Director of UC Berkeley's Greater Good Science Center notes that people 55 and older who volunteer for two or more organizations have an impressive 44% lower likelihood of dying early. Now that's actually a stronger effect than exercising four times a week. It's pretty impressive.
The third benefit is increased pleasure. So when you are kind to another person, your brain's pleasure and reward center lights up as if you were the recipient of the good deed, not the giver. The name often given to describe this phenomenon is the helper's high. And lastly, kindness is a powerful antidepressant. Now, like most medical antidepressants, kindness stimulates the production of serotonin in the brain.
This feel good chemical boosts your happiness, makes you feel more calm, and even heals your wounds faster. So in summary, kindness decreases depression and stress and improves overall health and happiness and quality of life, and increases your life span. So my invitation for today is that if you're feeling a little inspired in hearing all of this, then go out and spread a little bit of kindness around. It might be in small ways, like being a courteous driver, a warm smile to a stranger, or it might be offering a listening ear or a kind word of encouragement. Whatever it is, allow yourself to enjoy the joy of giving to another and also the boomerang effect of the benefits you'll enjoy in your own life.
And as always thank you for your practice and your presence here with us. And let's settle in now for today's meditation.
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- 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.
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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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