Is meditation actually beneficial? Can practicing mindful meditation really make you happier? Like, we've all had moments where our emotions took the wheel and drove us to make choices we later kicked ourselves for. Whether it was losing it in anger or just having a bad day. In those moments, our feelings took over and we acted in ways we wished we could take back. Would meditation allow you to master your emotions in situations like these? Discover the answers...
Practice Meditation For A Chance At Happiness And Fulfillment!
First things first, we have to understand that situations are beyond our control most of the time. The only thing we can control is how we respond to them. And yet so often, we react out of habit rather than respond consciously. This is where meditation helps - it builds mindfulness. Mindfulness means having awareness and control over how we respond to life, rather than just instinctively reacting. Meditation helps increase mindfulness by training us to stay fully present in...
Cultivating Calmness And Compassion Through Meditation
Let's get into the behind-the-scenes for meditation and mindfulness. Buddhists say we usually respond to stuff in 3 basic ways - either wanting it, rejecting it, or spacing out. But meditation gives you a fourth way - just observing in a calm, non-judgy way. When you sit to meditate, you train your mind to stay chill and present, observing your thoughts without getting caught up. Imagine this: you're meditating and an itch or soreness comes up. You observe how it...
The Ego Always Wants More Until You Stop It!
Let's begin with the ego. What is ego? Your ego is that nonstop voice in your head that is always hyping you up or talking trash about your every move. Not the delusions kinda voice. More like your sense of 'I'. But, have you ever opened the kitchen cupboard when you're absolutely not hungry? Or gotten sucked into an argument online that you know is pointless? Or bought some new gadget you don't really need? Why do 'I' do this?...
Embrace Impermanence To End Suffering And Dissatisfaction!
Let us talk about Dan Harris’ panic attack moment and how it changed his life forever. The backstory first: the ABC news journo had fallen into depression after covering war stories and like many others before him, succumbed to drug abuse to deal with the pain. Therapists believe that drug abuse increases the chances of a panic attack and that’s what happened with the author, as well. The episode encouraged Harris to seek help: therapy and spiritual wisdom, he tried it...
Practice Mindfulness To Deal With The Monkey Mind!
Just close your eyes and observe the continuous chatter of your mind: it jumps from a present desire to a childhood memory within a second. Ancient thinkers have an actual term for this. They call it a monkey mind - a permanent state of activity, distraction, and agitation! The chain of thoughts is like monkeys, always chattering, craving attention, and allowing no real rest, satisfaction, or peace in the present moment. Essentially, humans have an inbuilt impulse to always seek rewards...
The Impact Of Meditation On Physical And Mental Health!
Look, we get it - when stuff happens that stresses us out, our minds go nuts. We get amped up, worried, frantic even. But, it's just the good ol' fight-or-flight kicking in. We are essentially wired to respond to stressful situations like that. See, the early man lived in a jungle full of predators where flight/flight was a survival tactic. By releasing hormones like adrenaline and cortisol, our minds prompt us to react. But, we ain't living in a dangerous...
How To Meditate?
Sit comfortably in loose clothes and just focus on breathing. You will notice that your monkey mind wanders immediately. And that is alright! Let it be. Calmly bring your attention back to your breathing without beating yourself up about it. Just witness the content of the mind with a detached, non-judgmental eye. You can always bring back the attention to your breath once you are aware of your mind's wandering. Anchor your attention on your breath, body sensations, or the...
Chapter 10
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Summary
Modern life is becoming more and more complex, and most of us are in a constant state of rush and panic. But once we understand the impact of stress on physical and mental well-being, we can utilize the ultimate tool of meditation to lead a compassionate, fulfilling, and happy lifestyle.
And might just lead a 10% happier life!
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About the Author
Dan Harris is a correspondent for ABC News and the co-anchor for the weekend edition of Good Morning America. Before that, he was the anchor of the Sunday edition of World News. He regularly contributes stories for such shows as Nightline, 20/20, World News with Diane Sawyer and GMA. Harris has reported from all over the planet, covering wars in Afghanistan, Israel/Palestine and Iraq, and producing investigative reports in Haiti, Cambodia, and the Congo. He has also spent many years covering America’s faith scene, with a focus on evangelicals -- who have treated him kindly despite the fact that he is openly agnostic. He has been at ABC News for 13 years. Before that, he was in local news in Boston and Maine. He grew up outside of Boston and currently lives with his wife, Bianca, in New York City.
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