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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, welcome back to your Daily Mindfulness. In today's session, we're going to talk about how nothing can get in the way of meditation. So one of the biggest hiccups I see people get into with meditation is this subconscious perspective that there's something getting in the way of their practice. Things like sounds, an itch, the body not feeling okay. These things tend to naturally arise while we're meditating, but then the mind can quickly think these things are getting in the way of my practice.
Think about a cat crawling up to you while you're trying to meditate, or intrusive thoughts when you thought you were going to be peaceful, or even sounds that you hear in the background. The kids playing, a truck outside. All of which might seem agitating. And the reason this can be a dangerous relationship to take to our practice is because it can actually further separate us from our experience. They can further fracture us.
And at the heart of meditation, what we're cultivating is a mind that can be with the changing landscape of our life. The thoughts that are arising, emotions that are there, the sensations, and yes, all of the sensory experiences. If the peace that we get from our meditation practice is just contingent upon the moment being perfectly manufactured to our liking, well, that's not much of a practice and you're not developing anything that's really going to offer a sustainable happiness in the world. Because as soon as you go back into the world, Things are going to change. And so meditation really meets our life very honestly.
It acknowledges that things are going to happen randomly unexpectedly, even when you're trying to meditate. And the only way we're going to find some semblance of peace is to learn to be with that impermanence, that changing landscape of our life. So one thing you can do to work with this is at the beginning of your practice, just check to see, is there anything that's arising that you perceive to be getting in the way of your meditation? Something you're trying to skirt around, something you feel like is a hindrance or is intrusive. This isn't to say that you need to create the conditions of chaos for yourself. It is nice to find a place that's quiet and it's nice if there isn't a lot of agitation, that can be helpful for our practice.
So we do everything we can beforehand to maybe set that up. But as soon as we get into practice, if we're fending off these things, or if something does start to arise and it feels like, okay, this is getting in the way, that's a moment where that becomes your practice. And you've heard me say this phrase before, but in those moments you can say, you're welcome here too. Relax into it. Notice the tension that's arising in your body.
Invite the jaw to soften, the shoulders, the belly. And then just say, you're welcome here too. And practice connecting to that part of you that is spacious enough to hold this experience and reframe it as, not something that's getting in the way of your practice, but your practice itself. This is what you're working on. Anyone can be calm and peaceful when things are easy, when the moment is going exactly how they want it to go.
These are the moments that we're training, we're training for, and we get to train in. So when you find your mind taking that oppositional relationship to what's here, you just say, you're welcome here too. At least given it a moment of acknowledgement, softness, relaxing into it, and then you can redirect your attention back to whatever it is that you're focusing on. Thank you for your practice. Let's settle in for today's meditation.
Where Meditation Goes Wrong
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 how nothing can get in the way of meditation. So one of the biggest hiccups I see people get into with meditation is this subconscious perspective that there's something getting in the way of their practice. Things like sounds, an itch, the body not feeling okay. These things tend to naturally arise while we're meditating, but then the mind can quickly think these things are getting in the way of my practice.
Think about a cat crawling up to you while you're trying to meditate, or intrusive thoughts when you thought you were going to be peaceful, or even sounds that you hear in the background. The kids playing, a truck outside. All of which might seem agitating. And the reason this can be a dangerous relationship to take to our practice is because it can actually further separate us from our experience. They can further fracture us.
And at the heart of meditation, what we're cultivating is a mind that can be with the changing landscape of our life. The thoughts that are arising, emotions that are there, the sensations, and yes, all of the sensory experiences. If the peace that we get from our meditation practice is just contingent upon the moment being perfectly manufactured to our liking, well, that's not much of a practice and you're not developing anything that's really going to offer a sustainable happiness in the world. Because as soon as you go back into the world, Things are going to change. And so meditation really meets our life very honestly.
It acknowledges that things are going to happen randomly unexpectedly, even when you're trying to meditate. And the only way we're going to find some semblance of peace is to learn to be with that impermanence, that changing landscape of our life. So one thing you can do to work with this is at the beginning of your practice, just check to see, is there anything that's arising that you perceive to be getting in the way of your meditation? Something you're trying to skirt around, something you feel like is a hindrance or is intrusive. This isn't to say that you need to create the conditions of chaos for yourself. It is nice to find a place that's quiet and it's nice if there isn't a lot of agitation, that can be helpful for our practice.
So we do everything we can beforehand to maybe set that up. But as soon as we get into practice, if we're fending off these things, or if something does start to arise and it feels like, okay, this is getting in the way, that's a moment where that becomes your practice. And you've heard me say this phrase before, but in those moments you can say, you're welcome here too. Relax into it. Notice the tension that's arising in your body.
Invite the jaw to soften, the shoulders, the belly. And then just say, you're welcome here too. And practice connecting to that part of you that is spacious enough to hold this experience and reframe it as, not something that's getting in the way of your practice, but your practice itself. This is what you're working on. Anyone can be calm and peaceful when things are easy, when the moment is going exactly how they want it to go.
These are the moments that we're training, we're training for, and we get to train in. So when you find your mind taking that oppositional relationship to what's here, you just say, you're welcome here too. At least given it a moment of acknowledgement, softness, relaxing into it, and then you can redirect your attention back to whatever it is that you're focusing on. Thank you for your practice. Let's settle in for today's meditation.
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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.
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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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