Meditation offers a way to quiet racing thoughts and reduce stress in uncertain times.
Dan Harris' journey shows how mindfulness can transform panic into calmness through meditation practices.
Deep dives
Meditation for Mental Health
Meditation holds the key to quieting racing thoughts amidst uncertainty and anxiety. A practiced routine can help control the mind's relentless pondering, reducing stress and improving mental well-being. Embracing meditation allows for a scientific and ancient tradition-inspired approach to managing overwhelming thoughts, enhancing self-awareness, and fostering calmness in the face of life's challenges.
Dan Harris: From Panic to Mindfulness
Dan Harris, an ABC News correspondent, shifted from skepticism to embracing mindfulness after facing debilitating panic attacks while anchoring the news. He vividly recalls the physical and mental turmoil during live broadcasts, exacerbated by substance abuse. Harris' journey towards meditation blossomed through insightful encounters, pivotal realizations, and deliberate actions, offering a transformative path from panic to mindfulness.
Integrating Meditation into Daily Life
Practicing meditation doesn't demand extensive time commitments; even a minute counts in reaping benefits. Meditation's flexibility allows for continuous integration into daily activities, from washing dishes to winding down before bed. By blending formal meditation sessions with on-the-go mindfulness practices, individuals can optimize the calming effects of meditation in their routines.
The Power of Loving-Kindness Meditation
Amidst challenging times, loving-kindness meditation emerges as a potent practice fostering compassion, resilience, and interconnectedness. Despite initial reluctance towards its cheesy reputation, this practice of envisioning well wishes for oneself and others has proven powerful in enhancing physiology, psychology, and behavior. Embracing simple acts of care and compassion can be a collective lifeline during turbulent periods.
In normal times our minds can be filled with unhelpful thoughts, but during this crisis you might be finding it even harder to calm your anxious internal monologue. Meditation could be helpful.
Dan Harris (host of the Ten Percent Happier podcast) had a panic attack while reading the news live on ABC - and found that meditating brought him a calm he'd never previously known. He tells Dr Laurie Santos how we can all use simple meditations to help us and our families during the pandemic.
The show includes a guided meditation from Dr Santos.