Meditation teaches us to focus and pay clear attention to our experiences and responses as they arise, and to observe them without judging them. That allows us to detect harmful habits of mind that were previously invisible to us.
For example, we may sometimes base our actions on unexamined ideas (I don't deserve love, you just can't reason with people, I'm not capable of dealing with tough situations) that keep us stuck in unproductive patterns. Once we notice these reflexive responses and how they undermine our ability to pay attention to the present moment, then we can make better, more informed choices. And we can respond to others more compassionately and authentically, in a more creative way. -- Sharon Salzberg
About Real Happiness: The Power of Meditation
Sharon Salzberg distills 30 years of teaching meditation into a 28-day program that has the power to transform your life. From the basics of posture, breathing, and the daily schedule to the finer points of calming the mind, distraction, and dealing with problem areas such as physical pain to the larger issues of compassion and awareness, Real Happiness is a complete guide. It explains how meditation works; why a daily meditation practice results in more resiliency, peace, clarity, and balance; and gives twelve meditation practices, including mindfulness meditation and walking meditation.
Sharon Salzberg co-founded the Insight Meditation Society at Barre, Massachusetts and is one of our favorite teachers. More of her teachings can be found here.
Meditation Basics Video with Dan Harris and Sharon Salzberg
ABC News anchor and meditator Dan Harris teams up with Sharon Salzberg to walk you through the basics of how to start a meditation practice. This light and sometimes funny 6 minute video includes a guided meditation with Sharon Salzberg. Video produced by and used with the permission of Happify.