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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 how to welcome all the different states of mind into your meditation. You know, when we practice meditation, it's common to start to think that we're aiming for a particular state of mind. And perhaps we had a previous meditation where we experienced a very pleasant state of calm or joy or contentment. And then sort of maybe this thought creeps in that somehow we got that particular meditation right that day.
So the idea kind of creeps in that that's what meditation is supposed to be like. So then we start to compare our next meditation's back to the pleasant one, instead of being fully open to just being with the mind as it is in the moment. You know, we may feel like we're not doing it right. Or even that we have a bad meditation, if it's not like that pleasant one. But if you think about mindfulness in its simplest definition, it's just being aware.
So that means being aware of the mind as it is in any moment. Awareness is not trying to make a particular state of mind happen. We can be aware of a busy mind, a still mind, an angry mind or a happy mind with total acceptance and equanimity. The point is that mindfulness isn't about getting into some special state of mind. In fact, from the perspective of meditation, every state is a special state of mind and every moment is a special moment.
Imagine a big, solid, majestic mountain. The mountain has sunshine and blue skies around it in summer, and then stones and hail and snow in winter. Springtime color and vibrancy all around. And, and then in the fall it might be still in calm. And as each season comes and goes, the mountain just remains steady, allowing all of that weather and all of those seasons to come and go, just welcoming everything.
And this is a good analogy for mindfulness. We allow all the mind states to come and go in a steady and welcoming awareness and viewing those mind states like the weather. You know, there's no right or wrong weather and there's no right or wrong way to feel. It's just feelings coming and going constantly. In the same way, we often learn the most valuable lessons of our lives in the difficult times.
We tend to learn the most about the mind when meditation is a bit more challenging. And of course we can enjoy those moments of calm and contentment as well. All of the seasons of life are welcome. So as much as possible in your practice, just letting go of the idea of aiming to get into a particular state of mind and just welcoming every mind state, every mood, every emotion into your meditation practice and into your life today. So as always thank you for your practice and for being here with us.
And now just inviting you to settle in for today's meditation.
Welcoming Every Mind State
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 how to welcome all the different states of mind into your meditation. You know, when we practice meditation, it's common to start to think that we're aiming for a particular state of mind. And perhaps we had a previous meditation where we experienced a very pleasant state of calm or joy or contentment. And then sort of maybe this thought creeps in that somehow we got that particular meditation right that day.
So the idea kind of creeps in that that's what meditation is supposed to be like. So then we start to compare our next meditation's back to the pleasant one, instead of being fully open to just being with the mind as it is in the moment. You know, we may feel like we're not doing it right. Or even that we have a bad meditation, if it's not like that pleasant one. But if you think about mindfulness in its simplest definition, it's just being aware.
So that means being aware of the mind as it is in any moment. Awareness is not trying to make a particular state of mind happen. We can be aware of a busy mind, a still mind, an angry mind or a happy mind with total acceptance and equanimity. The point is that mindfulness isn't about getting into some special state of mind. In fact, from the perspective of meditation, every state is a special state of mind and every moment is a special moment.
Imagine a big, solid, majestic mountain. The mountain has sunshine and blue skies around it in summer, and then stones and hail and snow in winter. Springtime color and vibrancy all around. And, and then in the fall it might be still in calm. And as each season comes and goes, the mountain just remains steady, allowing all of that weather and all of those seasons to come and go, just welcoming everything.
And this is a good analogy for mindfulness. We allow all the mind states to come and go in a steady and welcoming awareness and viewing those mind states like the weather. You know, there's no right or wrong weather and there's no right or wrong way to feel. It's just feelings coming and going constantly. In the same way, we often learn the most valuable lessons of our lives in the difficult times.
We tend to learn the most about the mind when meditation is a bit more challenging. And of course we can enjoy those moments of calm and contentment as well. All of the seasons of life are welcome. So as much as possible in your practice, just letting go of the idea of aiming to get into a particular state of mind and just welcoming every mind state, every mood, every emotion into your meditation practice and into your life today. So as always thank you for your practice and for being here with us.
And now just inviting you to 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.
- 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.
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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.
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A necessary tool for those who feel lost.
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- 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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