We Hate Uncertainty. But This Practice Can Make You Hate It Less. | Bonus Meditation with Alexis Santos
Nov 8, 2024
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In this insightful discussion, Alexis Santos, a seasoned Insight Meditation practitioner and teacher, dives into the universal discomfort surrounding uncertainty. He shares practical meditation techniques to help listeners relax and allow life’s rhythm to unfold. The conversation emphasizes the importance of mindful breathing and emotional awareness, transforming fear into curiosity. By embracing uncertainty, Alexis encourages a more accepting relationship with life’s unpredictability, making it a vital practice for modern challenges.
Accepting and engaging with uncertainty can lead to greater ease and personal freedom in navigating life's unpredictability.
Mindfulness techniques, including breath awareness, promote calmness and help confront the discomfort associated with uncertain situations.
Deep dives
Embracing Uncertainty
Uncertainty is a fundamental aspect of life that often triggers fear and anxiety, making it crucial to learn how to cope with it. In discussions about mindfulness, it's noted that instead of resisting uncertainty, individuals can find greater ease and freedom by accepting and engaging with it. This acceptance is likened to the philosophy of surfing the waves of life, where acknowledging the ebb and flow allows for a more peaceful existence. Practicing awareness of one's reaction to uncertainty can help in recognizing patterns of control and anxiety, enabling a shift towards a more receptive attitude toward life's unpredictability.
Mindfulness Practices
Mindfulness techniques can assist individuals in navigating uncertain situations by promoting a calm and relaxed state of being. The process involves settling into a comfortable posture, focusing on the breath, and observing one's feelings without the need to change them. This mindful awareness encourages individuals to confront the discomfort associated with uncertainty, allowing for deeper self-understanding and acceptance of their current state. By recognizing these habitual responses, one can cultivate curiosity and presence, facilitating a more adaptive approach to life’s challenges.
Discomfort with the unknown is a natural human response. This meditation will help you relax as you practice allowing the rhythm of life to unfold.
About Alexis Santos:
Alexis has practiced and taught Insight Meditation in both the East and West since 2001. He has been a long-time student of Sayadaw U Tejaniya (a well respected meditation teacher in Burma whose teachings have attracted a global audience), and his teaching emphasizes knowing the mind through a natural and relaxed continuity -- a style of practice that's particularly useful during our crazy lives. Alexis has completed the Spirit Rock/IMS Teacher Training, teaches retreats across the globe, and currently lives in Portland, Maine.
To find this meditation in the Happier app, you can search for “Facing Uncertainty.”