September 2022 TDM
Welcome to the 41st 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 ]
Meditating Will Make Your More Likely To Vote
Want to become more politically engaged? Start meditating. A recent sociology study has found that while church attendance is on the decline (only 40% of adults identify as “religious” today, compared to 70% in the early 1990s), the number of adults who identify as meditators is on the rise, from 4.1% in 2012 to 14.2% in 2017. And get this: daily meditators are apparently 30% more likely than non-meditators to vote and engage in other civic activities. We’re simplifying the results, but that’s the gist of it. The report doesn’t get into how meditators vote—it just says that meditators and yogis vote significantly more than non-meditators. It’s a fascinating report if you care to read it.
Bottom Line: Looks like there’s a new side effect of daily meditation: you go from being a “slacktivist” to an activist.
[ MEDITATION & COMMUNITY ]
Mindfulness Shown To Turn “Bad Apples” Back Into Humane Apples
Breaking: stress contributes to “bad apple” behavior in police officers. And meditation reverses it. An Oregon police department ran a study showing that a quarter of police officers suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) due to the stress associated with their job. Another study suggested that officers were 16% more likely to use force each year on the job.
But after eight weeks of mindfulness training, those officers improved in nearly every aspect of mental and physical health. They reported less anger, less fatigue, and lower levels of burnout. They were less impulsive when stressed. And most importantly, they reported finding it easier to manage their emotions. This was a fascinating before and after comparison that you can check out here.
Bottom line: Maybe mindfulness training should become a mandatory part of all police trainings.
Light is gearing up for his next Vedic Meditation Teaching Tour. He will be in Los Angeles, Atlanta, New York, and London starting in October 2022. Spaces are limited! And you can take advantage of the $200 Early-Registration discount if you book your spot TODAY.
“I have not missed a session since I started with Light. I don't even want to miss a session. I can't wait to see what further benefits I gain in the years to come.” — Abigail G.
[ MEDITATION & TECHNOLOGY]
The Meditation Apps Are Feeling The Crash
Meditation app employees need meditation more than ever. Calm recently announced that they are laying on 20% of its staff (90 employees). The CEO said that the changes will “help us prioritize the future, focus on growth and become a more efficient organization.”
Many meditation apps are experiencing a decline in user sessions. For the top 10 apps, usage decreased 48% between Q2 2020 and Q2 2022, with a 30% decline in the last 90 days alone.
The only apps that aren’t experiencing a decline are Breethe and BetterMe (a Ukraine company).
Bottom line: Looks like pandemics are better for meditation apps than normal times.
[ MEDITATION & HEALTH ]
How To Get Rid of a Migraine
We’re pretty sure that everyone agrees: migraines suck! So we’re sharing a list of migraine-busters that have been shown to help ease the tension, according to womenshealthmag.com.
Take non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID) - With a prescription from your doctor, of course.
Have some but not too much caffeine - Caffeine can relieve some of the pain but be mindful of the amount you take as it can also trigger the thing that you’re trying to get rid of.
Meditate - Stress sometimes can be the cause of migraines, so having a daily “release valve” for the stress will certainly help.
Exercise - This is a little tricky but light movements such as walking can trigger the brain to release pain relievers.
Try to get some sleep or rest - Again, in the tricky category when in pain but option #3 can help with this.
Use a cold compress - It helps to send the brain “cold” signals to ease the pain.
Bottom line: Looks like we can add “clearing up migraines” to the list of meditation benefits.
Join Light’s 108-Day Strength Challenge: This challenge is the next step up from the 108-Day Movement Challenge which had an astonishing completion rate of over 80%. If you want a stronger, fitter, and more agile physique to complement your strong and agile mind, the 108-Day Strength Challenge is perfect for you. Click here to join
“I’ve benefitted from the shift in mindset that I can commit to sustaining this fitness routine and proved that I can keep this up. No more excuses.” — Peter R.
[ MEDITATION & LIFESTYLE ]
Who Else Meditates In The Shower?
We’ve heard of singing in the shower. But meditating? According to crunchytales.com, a Mathematician named Dr. Katie Nall discovered “Shower Meditation” while working full-time at a community college.
Now, what is shower meditation? Also known as waterfall meditation, shower meditating is the practice of using your shower routine to refresh your mind by focusing your attention on your current intentions, movements, and feelings. It combines breath work, sensory awareness, and gratitude to achieve a state of relaxation, according to the article.
The practice had such a profound effect on Dr. Nall’s life that she wrote a book about shower meditation titled Shower Blessings- Finding Meditation Time in a Busy Life. Can you imagine her pitch to the publishers? Dr. Nall attributes her approach to dissolving what she calls WAFFLES - worries, anxiety, fear, frustration, lethargy, exhaustion, and stress in her life.
Bottom line: The shower meditation gives new meaning to the word “multitasking.” Just don’t drop the soap.
New Masterclass on The Happiness Insiders: Do you consider yourself as an Overthinker? This new Masterclass in Light’s “inner work curriculum” is now available for enrollment. The How To Stop Overthinking Masterclass will provide you with real-world tools for navigating situations that are beyond your control while staying rooted in your purpose. Click here to stop overthinking now
"With these masterclasses, my life has become a continuous lesson in awareness."
— Elizabeth B.
[ REALITY CHECK ]
Your “100%” is An Evolving Target
Recently, I just had a follow-up appointment with my doctor. When she asked me about my exercise regimen, I told her that I was training for a half marathon but kept getting injured and easily exhausted. Instead, I started doing more Pilates and restorative yoga.
She said that’s great, because exercise is a type of stressor and that it’s okay for it to change depending on how our overall stress levels are at that time.
This is just one example of how some days, giving it your all looks drastically different than other days.
For instance, your “100%” could look like a PR-setting day such as running a sub-7-minute mile, cooking all your meals at home that week, finishing a major home renovation or cleaning project, or even not splurging on that thing that you so desperately wanted to buy but didn’t need (yet).
Maybe today, you’re only operating at 60% capacity due to stress, lack of sleep, being burnt out from the week, or any of the other zillion things our modern lives have going on.
Maybe today, drinking iced tea or coffee outside is the most you can do to get out and exercise.
Maybe today, your plans shift to resemble recovery rather than productivity.
Can you still give the best you can today, even when that looks different than before?
[By regular TDM contributor Jordan Pletzer]
[ READ. WATCH. LISTEN. ]
Read: ‘Lost in a meditation’: rural American life – in pictures
Lost in a meditation: rural American life in pictures is a mesmerizing compilation of photos by Photographer Holly Lynton. It depicts the spiritual state of being that emerges from nature and tradition. Lynton returns to specific communities year after year to take stunning photos of what seem to be random scenes; although, for the people that live in those communities, there is no such thing as randomness which therein lies the beauty. See more here
Watch: Untold: The Girlfriend Who Didn't Exist
Untold: The Girlfriend Who Didn’t Exist is a Netflix documentary featuring a rising American football star, Manti T’eo, who was a victim of an elaborate catfishing hoax that cost him, not only his dignity but millions of dollars and his NFL career. In the documentary, Manti openly talks about the struggles that he went through after finding out that he was being catfished and how the scandal affected his draft stock in the NFL. It was quite impressive how he handled the controversy thrown at him. Watch now
Listen: Dare to Lead Podcast by Brene Brown
Dare to Lead with Brené Brown is an advice podcast that is based on Brown's best-selling book that has become the ultimate courage-building playbook for leaders at every level. It is a mix of solo episodes and conversations with change catalysts, culture shifters, and as many troublemakers as possible. Listen now
Have you listened to Light’s podcast, The Light Watkins Show? If inspiration was a drop of water, The Light Watkins Show 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 made me much less concerned with getting life "right”. Instead, I follow life’s charm.
What have you gotten from Meditation? I am able to think more clearly in a crisis. I am much less concerned with getting life "right” instead, I follow the charm. I do not measure myself versus others anymore. I rebound from disappoint light-years faster. I no longer take myself or others too seriously—as in power. My general disposition is looser and more flexible. I am a better listener and more willing to embrace the unknown/unseen/unheard. Here is a perspective I have: Humans are sources of energy here but for a moment in the great time continuum.
Strangest meditation moment? I felt my skin burning off—hundreds of hot metal utensils being poked into my limbs.
Most unexpected benefit of meditation? Decrease in desire for alcohol.
[For more info about J Smiles, check out jsmilescomedy.com. And to listen to her podcast, Parenting UP!, click here.]
Two of Our Favorite Instagram Accounts with a Purpose
Koya Webb (left) is an internationally renowned wellness visionary, author, & entrepreneur. She’s an advocate of daily holistic health rituals to nurture her community to optimal health mentally, spiritually, and physically. Koya is the founder of Get Loved Up Yoga School and hosts a podcast with the same name. She is also the author of Let Your Fears Make You Fierce which is a daily self-love guide to practicing holistic wellness for optimal health and vitality. Follow her @koyawebb
Doug Evans (right) is the author of the best-seller The Sprout Book and founder of Wonder Valley Hot Springs, a 20-acre hot springs oasis with 14 natural soaking pools in Los Angeles, CA. Doug has been on a mission to disseminate the knowledge and wonders of sprouting to the world. Follow him @dougevans
Accept — then act. Whatever the present moment contains, accept it as if you had chosen it. Always work with it, not against it.
— Eckhart Tolle
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