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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
Visualize a switch in your mind, aptly named the 'struggle switch'. This switch flips on whenever we encounter uncomfortable or unpleasant experiences in our present moment, be it a painful emotion, memory, or experience. Take, for instance, the feeling of loneliness – a natural and universally experienced emotion. When loneliness arises, the struggle switch activates, and we begin to mentally resist this feeling. Thoughts like "I shouldn't feel this way" or "What’s wrong with me?" proliferate. This mental resistance, or struggle, with the emotion only serves to intensify it, adding layers of stress and suffering to the original emotion.
Such amplification manifests in various forms – anger at ourselves for feeling lonely, anxiety about the loneliness, or even shame, which compounds the initial emotion with a sense of unworthiness. With the struggle switch turned on, we automatically grapple with every unpleasant experience, inadvertently increasing our stress and suffering.
The secret to a more peaceful existence lies in our ability to turn off this struggle switch. Turning off the switch doesn’t imply that we have to like or want the difficult emotions or experiences; rather, it's about choosing not to engage in a struggle with them. By refraining from adding fuel to the fire, we prevent an escalation of suffering. It's crucial to recognize that difficult emotions are an integral part of life's rhythm. They are not anomalies but common experiences that do not reflect personal failure.
When such emotions surface, and our struggle switch is off, we can handle them with greater ease. This doesn't mean the emotions vanish instantly; they might linger or pass quickly. The difference lies in our response – we don't push them away forcefully. Instead, we allow them to be, while we continue to engage in our lives meaningfully. This could involve nurturing relationships, focusing on work, or finding joy in simple pleasures like watching a sunset.
The invitation today extends beyond a singular practice session; it’s an encouragement to integrate this approach into your everyday life. Begin by noticing moments throughout your day when you feel the struggle switch activating. It could be during a challenging work task, a moment of personal doubt, or when dealing with a difficult relationship. In these moments, pause and consciously decide to turn off the switch.
Turning off the switch involves acknowledging the discomfort or emotional pain, but not allowing it to dominate your actions or thoughts. It means accepting these feelings without judgment, recognizing them as transient parts of your experience. As you go about your day, remind yourself of this choice – to not struggle against the tide of your emotions but to flow with them. This doesn't mean being passive; it’s about actively choosing where to focus your energy.
Practice this in various settings – at work, while interacting with family or friends, or even during moments of solitude. Each time you feel the impulse to resist or fight an emotion, remember the switch. Imagine yourself turning it off, and observe how this changes your interaction with the moment. Over time, this practice can become a reflex, allowing you to face life’s challenges with a more centered, calm perspective.
Embracing life with the struggle switch turned off is a journey that requires practice and persistence. It's about developing a new relationship with our emotions, where they are acknowledged but not allowed to overpower us. This approach leads to a life managed with grace and understanding, where difficult emotions are navigated with wisdom rather than fear. As we continue our mindfulness practice, let’s strive to keep our struggle-switch off, embracing the full spectrum of life’s experiences with equanimity and presence.
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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.
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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.
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A necessary tool for those who feel lost.
- Piper
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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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