Why I recommend meditation practices

Meditation practices have been used for thousands of years to develop awareness of what your brain is doing and how you respond to the world around you.  

Most meditation practices have mindfulness and values at their core.  Whether you choose mindfulness meditation from Buddhist psychology, contemplative prayer from Judeo-Christian, Muslim, or other faiths, or moving meditation like yoga or tai chi, you should notice these benefits: 
  • Increased calm and contentment 
  • Increased compassion for self and others
  • Feelings, sensations, and thoughts dissolving on their own
  • More flexible and gentle-minded thought patterns 
  • Ability to nourish positive, beneficial thoughts 
  • Ability to break habits of fueling negative, non-beneficial thoughts 
  • Clearing away obstacles to wellness

How do I start a meditation practice?

The New York Times published an excellent primer on meditation practice called How to Meditate.  Doubters may enjoy following journalist Dan Harris as he learned how meditation prevents anxiety and other obstacles from interfering with quality of life.  For deeper insight into how Buddhist psychology can help you understand how your mind handles thoughts and emotions, check out Thubten Chodron's book Open Heart, Clear Mind. 

Without further ado, here are my faves

The classics:  
Free moving meditation on YouTube: 
Modern meditation to cultivate self-compassion: 
Science shows that much of happiness comes from learning and practicing.  Here are some great tools: 
Enjoy!