If you find the following useful, learn about our online, self-paced program - Awareness-based therapy (ABT).
Confused about meditation?
What is meditation? Why should I do it?
These are common questions, and we enjoy discussing the answers in detail (see our writing index for examples).
But, over the years, it became necessary to come up with a simple explanation to use in short conversations.
The simple explanation seems to resonate with people. We share several versions below (all less than 60 seconds!) - feel free to use them when talking to friends and family.
These are common questions, and we enjoy discussing the answers in detail (see our writing index for examples).
But, over the years, it became necessary to come up with a simple explanation to use in short conversations.
The simple explanation seems to resonate with people. We share several versions below (all less than 60 seconds!) - feel free to use them when talking to friends and family.
Meditation explained in around 12 seconds:
Meditation isn't about "shutting everything out" or trying to stop thoughts. It's about becoming aware of thoughts. It's learning to observe them without getting caught up in them.
Meditation explained in around 45 seconds:
Our normal state is "lost in thought."
This state conditions our behavior (including decisions, actions, and reactions) and leads to the struggles we all face:
> Stress
> Anxiety
> Self-doubt
> A lack of focus
> Fear
> Regret
> Depression
> Endless worry
> Sleep issues
> And on and on...
Meditating is a dedicated exercise that strengthens awareness of your compulsive mind and its non-stop activity. You develop the skill of observing it all without getting caught up in it.
Through consistent practice, you learn to stop following your mind wherever it leads (to stop being "lost in thought"). This allows you to break free from conditioned behavior and the struggles it leads to.
Put another way, you are no longer held hostage by the next thought, emotion, or urge that pops into your head.
This state conditions our behavior (including decisions, actions, and reactions) and leads to the struggles we all face:
> Stress
> Anxiety
> Self-doubt
> A lack of focus
> Fear
> Regret
> Depression
> Endless worry
> Sleep issues
> And on and on...
Meditating is a dedicated exercise that strengthens awareness of your compulsive mind and its non-stop activity. You develop the skill of observing it all without getting caught up in it.
Through consistent practice, you learn to stop following your mind wherever it leads (to stop being "lost in thought"). This allows you to break free from conditioned behavior and the struggles it leads to.
Put another way, you are no longer held hostage by the next thought, emotion, or urge that pops into your head.
Meditation explained in one sentence:
Your mind creates A LOT of drama - meditationSHIFT teaches you how to overcome it.
"You don't have to control you mind, you just have to stop letting your mind control you." - meditationSHIFT
Want more? Here's a transcript of a video we made explaining mindfulness and meditation in 3 minutes.
Awareness-based therapy (ABT)
Do you struggle with thoughts and emotions? Our online, self-paced program can help. It teaches you how your mind works, and provides a path to move beyond "coping" to achieving and maintaining a more consistent state of well-being.
Find out more about the ABT program here.
