BalanceSeptember2016 - 62
M A STERCL ASS
HOW TO LET GO
using meditation
You don't have
to be a Buddhist to
meditate - it is not
all about sitting in
the Lotus position
and chanting
It will improve
relationships
- less conflict in
your mind will lead
to less conflict
with others
with H eadspace's
ANDY PUDDICOMBE
It all started on Christmas Eve,
1992, when a drunk driver
ploughed into me and my friends
and two of them were killed. A
short time later, my stepsister
was killed while cycling, and my
ex-girlfriend died during heart
surgery. I felt overwhelmed with
emotion and by life's big questions.
One afternoon, I thought, 'I really
want to become a Buddhist monk'.
So I left uni, sold my possessions,
and went off to the Himalayas.
B USTING MYTHS
With the Headspace
programme, I really wanted to
share the knowledge I'd built
up during my time as a monk so
others could benefit. I wanted
to make meditation accessible,
relevant and beneficial for as
many people as possible - to
get away from the idea that
it's just a spiritual practice for
Buddhists. We now have seven
million users in 200 countries.
COMPASSION WITHIN
Meditation doesn't ask you to
believe in anything. Inner dialogue
is based on opinions, beliefs and
judgements. Having a busy mind,
I struggled to let go of thought to
experience something beyond it.
It isn't usually linked to kindness,
but meditation teaches you to be
kind to yourself. That compassion
filters through to others.
62
❶
Just do it
Meditation only
works if you actually
do it. For just 10
minutes each day,
sit down, close your
eyes, and focus on
your breath, letting
thoughts float
by. You can do
it anywhere,
anytime. It's
portable
stress relief.
'My passion is understanding
how we can learn to step out
of the endless inner chatter
that so dominates our lives'
THE ANTIDOTE
Due to the current
pace of life, the mind
is experiencing a
potentially harmful
degree of pressure,
particularly for those
in high-intensity work
environments. People
assume this kind of stress
is simply part of life, but
meditation shows us how to
live more skilfully.
❷
Make it a habit
Just like any other
skill, meditation
requires practise.
It's not about doing
as much as possible,
but rather regular,
consistent practise
which will allow your
brain to rewire itself.
Anchor it to your
morning routine.
VIEW POINT
True peace of mind is always
there, you just have to learn
how to find it. When this idea
becomes part of your everyday
experience, your perspective
changes and you start to feel
differently about the world.
You begin to experience a less
reactive and more responsive
mind. But the biggest change
comes with relationships,
which inevitably improve as
your mind becomes more open.
s pREAD THE LOVE
❸
Headspace app
co-founders Andy
and Rich head to
the White House.
Right, Andy gives
a TED talk
A limited mind is a limited
practice, so think big. When
meditating, remember it's not
just for you. It has a ripple effect.
Don't judge
Yourself, that is.
A common worry
is 'Am I doing this
right?' Try to let
go of judgement
and just sit
in meditation.
Even if nothing
else, it's a
great way
to practise
non-judgement.
the outcome
Research has found meditation promotes
'divergent thinking' - a type of thinking that allows
new ideas to be generated. It also activates the
'rest and digest' part of our nervous system, which
helps with stress management, improves
sleep and aids creativity. B
BALANCE September 2016
WORDS: NILUFER ATIK MAIN IMAGE: HEADSPACE.COM
A bit about me
3
STEPS
TO GET
STARTED
http://www.HEADSPACE.COM
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