A Daily Meditation Practice
A transformative app for meditation
A transformative app for meditation
“The goal of meditation is not to become a great meditator. Rather, to discover something about the nature of your mind so you can experience clarity and freedom at any moment in your life. It’s not about creating an island of calm in your day and it’s not about merely reducing stress. The purpose of meditation is to transform your moment-to-moment perception of the world, and of yourself in the world.”
This is a quote via Sam Harris on one of the daily Moments on the app. At a random time every day, a Moment is delivered as a notification and only takes a minute to listen to. This is one of my favorite ways to check in with myself on a regular basis and take a moment to process how I’m feeling.
The potential benefits of meditation can include:
Gaining a new perspective on stressful situations
Building skills to manage your stress
Increasing self-awareness
Focusing on the present
Reducing negative emotions
Increasing imagination and creativity
Increasing patience and tolerance
The Waking Up App has truly shifted the way that I view meditation over the last year: I used to feel stressed out by the idea of ‘clearing my mind,’ but I’ve learned that it’s about simply observing your thoughts with interest, spending time acutely aware of your own perceptions as they arrive moment by moment, and isn’t about adding something complex to your day.
I’d highly recommend the 28 day introductory course which offers 10-20 minute guided meditations meant to remind you that you don’t have to worry about being productive or having a completely empty mind.
You’ll also find an array of recorded conversations, Q&A’s and lessons ranging from topics like the illusory self, mysteries and paradoxes to free will and doing good in the world. All in all, this is a lovely resource for someone looking to get into meditation and learn more about the mind.
Lastly, the app aims to be accessible to all and is available to anyone who needs an account for free: simply send them an email and they’ll activate your subscription, no questions asked.
Get a free month to the Waking Up App here.
Disclosure: this post is sponsored by the Waking Up App. All opinions are my own.