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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 talk about how to work with impatience. Now, I'm just going to say up front here that this has been something that I have had to work on since I was a very, very young infant. I was so impatient when I was young that my mother took me to the local priest for help. They got me to memorize this really funny song about patience and take deep breaths.
But I think my driven and determined nature still got the better of me for many, many years, much to my mother's dismay. But as time has gone on, I have come to see that the stress, tension and inner turmoil that impatience causes, especially in my meditation practice, is not worth it. And I've learned to let it go, most of the time. But what I've come to see is the impatience arises within us not because things are necessarily moving too slowly, but because of a series of thoughts arising in the mind. Thoughts about how we want life to be.
We want life to be a certain way. We want it to be different than it is right in that present moment. So we have this idea of how we think life should be, and then we just fixate on it. These thoughts then give rise to emotions such as boredom, frustration, irritation or even anger. And the more we buy into those thoughts, the greater and the stronger our experience of impatience will be.
So during a meditation, you might have a thought like, you might be listening to a guided meditation and thinking, Oh, for goodness sake, stop talking, get on with the meditation. Or you might think, Oh, this is going on too long. I've got all these important things to do today. Or you might just be looking at your watch and thinking, when is this going to be over? You might start to be impatient with yourself in not progressing in meditation the way you want to or expect to, or perhaps you get frustrated because your mind won't settle. Maybe you even have a sort of broader impatience with the way that your life is unfolding.
Whatever the impatience is, it all starts with a thought. A thought that has an underlying theme, this moment should be different than it is right now. Once you see that clearly, then you can simply make the choice to let go of what you think life should be. And instead, just relax into the present moment as it is. So we don't need to cultivate more patience per se.
What we're doing here is actually simply learning to let go of impatience so we can live our lives with more ease and happiness. So the next time you feel impatience arising, either in meditation or daily life, perhaps in slow traffic, in the checkout line or in a conversation, don't see the impatience as an obstacle, rather see it as a reminder to let go of the storyline that things need to be different and then simply be present with the moment as it is. As always, thank you for your practice and your presence here with us. And now let's settle in for today's meditation.
Working With Impatience
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 talk about how to work with impatience. Now, I'm just going to say up front here that this has been something that I have had to work on since I was a very, very young infant. I was so impatient when I was young that my mother took me to the local priest for help. They got me to memorize this really funny song about patience and take deep breaths.
But I think my driven and determined nature still got the better of me for many, many years, much to my mother's dismay. But as time has gone on, I have come to see that the stress, tension and inner turmoil that impatience causes, especially in my meditation practice, is not worth it. And I've learned to let it go, most of the time. But what I've come to see is the impatience arises within us not because things are necessarily moving too slowly, but because of a series of thoughts arising in the mind. Thoughts about how we want life to be.
We want life to be a certain way. We want it to be different than it is right in that present moment. So we have this idea of how we think life should be, and then we just fixate on it. These thoughts then give rise to emotions such as boredom, frustration, irritation or even anger. And the more we buy into those thoughts, the greater and the stronger our experience of impatience will be.
So during a meditation, you might have a thought like, you might be listening to a guided meditation and thinking, Oh, for goodness sake, stop talking, get on with the meditation. Or you might think, Oh, this is going on too long. I've got all these important things to do today. Or you might just be looking at your watch and thinking, when is this going to be over? You might start to be impatient with yourself in not progressing in meditation the way you want to or expect to, or perhaps you get frustrated because your mind won't settle. Maybe you even have a sort of broader impatience with the way that your life is unfolding.
Whatever the impatience is, it all starts with a thought. A thought that has an underlying theme, this moment should be different than it is right now. Once you see that clearly, then you can simply make the choice to let go of what you think life should be. And instead, just relax into the present moment as it is. So we don't need to cultivate more patience per se.
What we're doing here is actually simply learning to let go of impatience so we can live our lives with more ease and happiness. So the next time you feel impatience arising, either in meditation or daily life, perhaps in slow traffic, in the checkout line or in a conversation, don't see the impatience as an obstacle, rather see it as a reminder to let go of the storyline that things need to be different and then simply be present with the moment as it is. As always, thank you for your practice and your presence here with us. And now 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.
- 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
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Excellent! Cory gently guides you into internal peace.
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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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