Jeff Warren, former journalist and meditation teacher, discusses meditation for busy brains and how to overcome the belief that you can't meditate. They explore the role of meditation in living with depression, the constant chatter in our minds, and the importance of changing our relationship with our thoughts. They also emphasize finding joy and pleasure in meditation practice and cultivating an attitude of welcoming experience and bemusement.
Meditation is not about stopping thoughts, but changing our relationship to them and shifting our attention away from negative thoughts to our point of focus.
Enjoying the practice of meditation by cultivating an attitude of curiosity and pleasure enhances the experience and spills over into daily life, making everything more vibrant and meaningful.
Deep dives
Shifting the Relationship to Thoughts
The key to meditation is not to stop thoughts, but to change our relationship to them. Instead of strengthening negative thoughts or allowing ourselves to be overwhelmed by them, we can consciously shift our attention away from them. By recognizing that getting lost in thoughts is part of the practice and returning to our point of focus, we are succeeding in meditation.
The Misconception of Good Meditation
Many people believe that they are not good at meditation because they think they should be able to stop thinking entirely. However, this is a misconception. Thoughts will inevitably arise during meditation, and our goal is not to suppress them, but to change our relationship to them. Shifting our attention away from thoughts and back to our breath or another point of focus is the essence of the practice, and it allows us to develop concentration and presence.
Finding Joy in Meditation
One of the greatest accelerators in meditation is learning to enjoy the practice. By cultivating an attitude of curiosity and pleasure, we make the experience more interesting and engaging. Rather than viewing meditation as a chore or something we are not good at, we can look for moments of joy and appreciation during the practice. This shift in attitude not only enhances our meditation, but also spills over into our daily lives, making everything more vibrant and meaningful.
The Power of Equanimity
Equanimity, the ability to remain balanced and open towards our experiences, is a transformative aspect of meditation. Instead of pushing and pulling on our thoughts and emotions, we practice allowing them to arise without judgment or resistance. Through developing greater equanimity, we let go of reactivity and create space for insights and positive changes in our lives. Cultivating equanimity enables us to experience the full richness of the present moment and fosters a deep sense of gratitude and love for ourselves and others.
Jeff Warren is a former journalist and more recently is a researcher, writer, and teacher of meditation and personal growth practices. His most recent book, written with Dan Harris, is called, Meditation for Fidgitty Skeptics: A 10% Happier How to Book. Jeff is a likable, relatable guy who carries a lot of practical wisdom in his conversational style of communicating. If you've ever felt like you're not good at meditating or that meditation just isn't for you because your brain never turns off, this interview is for you because that's how Jeff would describe himself, particularly at the beginning of his practice years ago. We all know that meditation is good for us but for many, it just feels inaccessible and out of reach. If that is how you feel, what Jeff has to share in this interview will make that gap shrink in size so much so that you can hop right over it and try again.