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MeditationThe First Step to Self-Discovery

The First Step to Self-Discovery

How you see yourself changes how you care for yourself. In this episode from Jamila, take a moment to breathe and meet your thoughts and feelings as they are today, without judgment.

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Better mental health starts with Headspace

Welcome. It's Jamila here. I'm a transformational coach and lifestyle designer committed to living a beautiful life, and helping others do the same. I'm excited to share a new meditation to help you discover your true self. It's a topic I'm so passionate about. I truly believe that how you see yourself changes how you take care of yourself, and how you take care of yourself changes how you show up in the world. Today's meditation is all about the first step to self-discovery, looking inward, and getting to know the you you are right now. Self-discovery is a continuous practice. We are always changing, becoming and unbecoming different versions of ourselves. Showing up as your true self requires that you're able to meet yourself in every moment. You have to be able to get present, to be still and quiet, so you can know what's going on in your inner world. Today we'll practice that together. Find a comfortable position, sitting or lying down, and close your eyes. Get grounded by imagining roots, or a cord extending from your tailbone, all the way to the center of the earth. Let your body settle into the seat or ground below you, and start to bring your attention to your breathing. There's no need to make any adjustments to your breathing right now, just see if you can observe it. I like to imagine that I am a scientist, or a really curious child, watching my breath as if it's a physical object moving through my body. Focus on the feeling of breath traveling through you. Feel it moving from your belly, up to your ribs, and into your chest. Feel the way your body rises and falls with each breath. Now we'll do a body scan, noticing any sensations you might be feeling right now. Sensations are anything you might experience physically, like tingling or tightness, warmth or coolness, tension or numbness. So starting at the crown of your head, scan your body slowly, bringing awareness to each part of your body, and see what sensations you notice. Scan your forehead, then move down to your cheeks, your jaw, your neck, your shoulders, and all the way down, until you reach your toes. As you scan, just tune in to what's present, without judgment. Stay curious and open to whatever you notice, focusing fully on the feeling, before moving on to the next area to explore. I'll give you a moment. Really take your time and remember to breathe as you go. Make sure you're breathing deeply, and letting your breaths be long and full. If your attention wanders, gently direct your focus back to exploring sensations in the body. Now, with that same focus and attention you just used to scan your physical body, check in and see what's present in your inner world. Your inner world is made up of your thoughts and emotions. Scan your inner world, and see what you're carrying with you right now. Take...

Details

TypeMeditation
Duration13 min

About your teachers

  • A former Buddhist monk, Andy has guided people in meditation and mindfulness for 20 years. In his mission to make these practices accessible to all, he co-created the Headspace app in 2010.

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  • Eve is a mindfulness teacher, overseeing Headspace’s meditation curriculum. She is passionate about sharing meditation to help others feel less stressed and experience more compassion in their lives.

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  • As a meditation teacher, Dora encourages others to live, breathe, and be with the fullness of their experiences. She loves meditation’s power to create community and bring clarity to people’s minds.

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  • Kessonga has been an acupuncturists, therapist, and meditation teacher, working to bring mindfulness to the diverse populations of the world.

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  • Rosie Acosta has studied yoga and mindfulness for more than 20 years and taught for over a decade. Rosie’s mission is to help others overcome adversity and experience radical love.

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