April 2022 TDM
Welcome to the 36th issue of The Daily Meditator. This is your monthly resource for fun, quirky, interesting, and noteworthy happenings in and around the worldwide meditation community, curated by Light Watkins and co. Our mission is simple: to help broaden the horizon of what a daily meditator looks like while providing you with relevant information and timely inspiration for staying committed to your daily practice.
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[ MEDITATION & NEWS ]
There’s A New Filter. It’s Called “Mindfulness”
Need to level up your online dating game? Meditation can help you stand out in the crowd, sort of. A recent study published in the Royal Society Open Science found that people who appear “mindful” radiate more attractive qualities like being “more likable, possessing higher self-transcendence values, and performing more moral behaviors.”
However, since this wasn’t a controlled, randomized trial, they weren’t able to definitively state that those who become meditators come off as sexier. Yet.
Bottom line: Either way, the real glow-up is taking your meditation practice seriously.
[ MEDITATION & RELATIONSHIP ]
How To Get Better At Taking Responsibility
When is the last time you sincerely apologized? If you struggle with saying “I’m sorry,” then all you have to do is keep meditating, because according to greatergood.berkeley.edu, only 15 minutes of mindfulness a day makes you much more likely to accept responsibility for your mistakes.
The survey included 120 participants who practiced a daily, guided mindfulness exercise. And afterward, they were asked to craft a note without any prior instructions to apologize. In analyzing the notes, the researchers found that the mindfulness practitioners were far more likely to apologize over non-practitioners.
Botton line: There are two words that can extinguish most fires: “I’m sorry.”
Join Light’s 108-Day Movement Challenge: Light Watkins created this challenge to provide you with a daily exercise that can be completed within 10-15 minutes, a daily step-count goal, and a daily stretch—plus community, support, and accountability. It will get you in the habit of moving your body each day, and will be the perfect complement to your daily meditation and inner work. Click here to join.
[ MEDITATION & RESEARCH ]
Mindfulness Won’t Let You Give Up
Are you thinking about abandoning a difficult commitment? If so, you might want to go meditate on it. Because a research team at the University of Quebec in Montreal found that mindfulness meditation can give you an extra push when you think you’re at a dead end with a personal challenge.
They discovered two ways that meditation can help:
It reduces the chances that you’ll feel the need to give up
You’ll cope with these types of situations easier and bounce back stronger.
Bottom line: Let’s be honest, we can all use a little more motivation to keep going.
[ MEDITATION & RESEARCH ]
A New Weapon to Help Recover from Post-Gun Violence Trauma
Some good news related to gun violence: Mindful-Way, a purveyor of mindfulness-based seminars and workshops has introduced a Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) program aimed to help grieving individuals, many of whom are parents of victims of mass shootings mourn in peace, and avoid maladaptive or addictive coping mechanisms, according to an article by eurekalert.org.
The MBSR program consisted of eight 2.5-hour weekly classes and a day-long silent meditation retreat. After completing the 8-week program, participants reported 37% reductions in trauma and 52% in post-traumatic stress and depression. Sleep difficulties were reduced by 26%, and overall life satisfaction increased by 16%.
Bottom line: Since gun laws aren’t changing anytime soon, we need to start treating mindfulness like a weapon for good.
Do you think you could meditate for 108 days in a row? Light Watkins has been facilitating this fun meditation challenge, which has an incredibly high rate of completion. It’s designed to make you a bonafide daily meditator and includes access to Light’s popular 7-Day Meditation Kickstart video course. Your $39 entry fee will be credited back to you once you complete all 108 days in a row. Click here if you’re up for the challenge?
[ MEDITATION & LIFESTYLE ]
Cycle in Moon Gazing to Your Meditation Routine
Did you know that the moon can help you connect with your inner guidance? Although ancient cultures were deeply in sync with the moon phases, humans these days often spend their time post-sunset getting hypnotized by other sources of light: screens. But occasionally gazing at the moon and stars at night can help us stay connected to our inner compass. And luckily, there are a few different ways that you can start a moon gazing practice—from embracing your astrological moon sign to syncing your own monthly cycle with the moon cycle, according to an article by news.yahoo.com.
Seattle-based therapist and astrologer, Lauren Donelson, LMFTA, says, "Many people experience intuitive information through their bodies, like a gut feeling, and working with the moon can help strengthen your intuition."
Bottom line: When feeling in doubt, don’t forget to look up!
[ REALITY CHECK ]
It’s Our Anniversary
This is our third-anniversary issue of The Daily Meditator. It started after I got an idea (in meditation of course) to start a monthly e-zine with news summaries of the happenings in and around the growing meditation community. I also wanted to show the diverse faces of meditators, and real-world topics that meditators are facing.
I want to thank you for your support over the months and years. The Daily Meditator has very much been a labor of love. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve thought about throwing in the towel. But as we reported on above, there’s something about meditating that keeps you connected to the bigger picture—and you’re somehow able to keep the important things going.
So if you have something that is close to your heart and aligns with your values, we hope you make the hard choice to be the change you want to see. And even though it may never get easy, you have a practice that will make it look easy. And the world will be a better place because you said “yes” to what was in your heart.
Light
Founder of The Daily Meditator
[ READ. WATCH. LISTEN. ]
Read: Ego Conspiracy: How Mindful Awareness Can Reveal a Hidden Truth and Restore Our Integrity
From author, Miles Sherts, Ego Conspiracy, suggests the cause of our inertia is plain and simple, yet remains invisible to most of us. We are under the illusion that our ego is who we are, and we can’t see how our mind has been programmed to perpetuate this deception. This book reveals the programming that distorts our vision, limits our perspective, and disables us from caring for our real needs. It explains how direct awareness can interrupt the trance of ego and enable us to see the patterns controlling our thinking process. Read more
Watch: They’re Trying to Kill Us
They’re Trying to Kill Us is a groundbreaking documentary from Executive Producers seven-time NBA All-Star, Chris Paul and 7X Grammy winner, Billie Eilish. The film features notable influencers from the fields of Hip Hop, medicine, sports, entertainment, policy, and politics weighing in on the singular most deadly threat to American society that mainstream media doesn't want to talk about. Watch now
Listen: The Happy Pear Podcast
Hosted by the iconic vegan duo, Dave and Steve Flynn, this podcast series will demystify the healthy living clutter and bring you on a journey through conversations with real changemakers unfold the secrets of good health for the mind, body and soul. Listen now
Have you listened to Light’s podcast At the End of the Tunnel? If inspiration was a drop of water, At the End of the Tunnel would be like an ocean. Each candid interview is sure to leave you uplifted, inspired, and motivated to follow your heart, take a leap of faith, and believe in yourself. Listen or watch now.
[ REPORT FROM THE FIELD ]
Meditation has saved my life, period.
What have you gotten from Meditation? Meditation saved my life, period.
Strangest meditation moment? Channeling spirit guides and hearing an audible voice.
Most unexpected benefit of meditation? Meditation healed my gut.
[Gabby has a 21-day Meditation Challenge starting today, April 1. This challenge will help you have a positive attitude, a calm mind, and the ability to attract what you desire. Click here for more information.]
Two of Our Favorite Instagram Accounts with a Purpose
Suleika Jaouad (left) is a New York Times bestselling author, Emmy Award-winning journalist, Creator of the Isolation Journals, & TED Speaker. At age 22, Suleika was diagnosed with leukemia. She began writing her New York Times column “Life, Interrupted” from her hospital room and has since become a fierce advocate for those living with illness and enduring life’s many other interruptions. Suleika has recently announced her relapse of cancer and is now undergoing a bone marrow transplant once again. We’re wishing her a speedy recovery. Send her some love @suleikajaouad
Max Lugavere (right) is a filmmaker, health and science journalist and the author of the New York Times best-selling book Genius Foods: Become Smarter, Happier, and More Productive While Protecting Your Brain for Life. He is also the host of the #1 iTunes health podcast The Genius Life. Lugavere appears regularly on the Dr. Oz Show, the Rachael Ray Show, and The Doctors. Follow him @maxlugavere
An ounce of patience is worth more than a tonne of preaching.
— Mahatma Gandhi
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