The Aware Mind

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In this episode, Sarah and Jacob explore why pain changes our brain chemistry and heightens our emotions, and why this makes our pain worse. Sarah shares mindfulness techniques and self-compassion strategies that can reduce your pain experiences. Additionally, Jacob explains how his personal training clients reduce their pain with mindful breathing. And Sarah addresses and remedies the most common challenges people face during meditation when they are struggling with pain. Don't miss this episode if you struggle with pain (including headaches, head colds and allergies) or have a loved one who does.

Important links:
The Aware Mind blog: http://www.tsdmind.org/blog  
TSD Mindfulness Virtual Meditation Center http://www.tsdmind.org  
Sarah's Mindfulness Coaching website: http://www.sarahvallely.com  
Jacob's Personal Training website http://www.jacobderossett.com 
Jacob's YouTube Channel https://tinyurl.com/9yykwne9
The Aware Mind on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/aware_mind_podcast/

This episode is a meditation for beginners, and mindfulness for beginners resource. Intermediate and advanced meditators will also benefit. The Aware Mind produces content that supports stress reduction, anxiety relief, better concentration and focus, and trauma healing.

Download supplemental handouts from our blog to support your practice. A transcript is also available on our blog. The Aware Mind is produced by TSD Mindfulness, a virtual meditation center, offering mindfulness classes, certifications and private coaching. 

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In this episode, Sarah and Jacob explore why mindfulness, mental neutrality and humility support us to experience more flow in our lives.  Sarah admits she finds it difficult to move into humility personally and gives Jacob a test to see how much humility he practices. Sarah challenges our drive to be above average and redefines what makes us worthy.  Being in a flow experience does not mean everything is working out perfectly in our lives, it simply means we are easing through the hard times with compassion and a certain type of comfort with uncertainty. 

Important links:
The Aware Mind blog: http://www.tsdmind.org/blog  
TSD Mindfulness Virtual Meditation Center http://www.tsdmind.org  
Sarah's Mindfulness Coaching website: http://www.sarahvallely.com  
Jacob's Personal Training website http://www.jacobderossett.com 
Jacob's YouTube Channel https://tinyurl.com/9yykwne9
The Aware Mind on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/aware_mind_podcast/

This episode is a meditation for beginners, and mindfulness for beginners resource. Intermediate and advanced meditators will also benefit. The Aware Mind produces content that supports stress reduction, anxiety relief, better concentration and focus, and trauma healing.

Download supplemental handouts from our blog to support your practice. A transcript is also available on our blog. The Aware Mind is produced by TSD Mindfulness, a virtual meditation center, offering mindfulness classes, certifications and private coaching. 

Send a text

In this episode, Sarah and Jacob explore the question,  "Is enlightenment an isolated experience or a permanent state?" Sarah details her brief enlightenment experiences and argues that a mindfulness practice supports mental health more than "enlightenment" experiences.  Jacob details his personal quest to become more enlightened and how his insights from his practice thus far have helped him become a better human being. Sarah and Jacob also discuss simulation theory in relation to existential experiences resulting from Buddhist practice. 

Important links:
The Aware Mind blog: http://www.tsdmind.org/blog  
TSD Mindfulness Virtual Meditation Center http://www.tsdmind.org  
Sarah's Mindfulness Coaching website: http://www.sarahvallely.com  
Jacob's Personal Training website http://www.jacobderossett.com 
Jacob's YouTube Channel https://tinyurl.com/9yykwne9
The Aware Mind on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/aware_mind_podcast/

This episode is a meditation for beginners, and mindfulness for beginners resource. Intermediate and advanced meditators will also benefit. The Aware Mind produces content that supports stress reduction, anxiety relief, better concentration and focus, and trauma healing.

Download supplemental handouts from our blog to support your practice. A transcript is also available on our blog. The Aware Mind is produced by TSD Mindfulness, a virtual meditation center, offering mindfulness classes, certifications and private coaching. 

Send a text

In this episode, Sarah and Jacob explore the questions,  "Are fear and worry the same?" "Are they different?" "Do they have a relationship?" "Can we decrease fear and worry with mindfulness?" Sarah explains how to identify the three components of our fear/worry cycles. Additionally, Sarah analyzes Jacob's fears of flying and snakes and shares practical tips for disengaging from the worry around the fear and leaning into and healing the fear. This is an episode not to be missed if you experience fear, worry or anxiety and are interested in how to use mindfulness to move through it all in a healthy way.

Important links:
The Aware Mind blog: http://www.tsdmind.org/blog  
TSD Mindfulness Virtual Meditation Center http://www.tsdmind.org  
Sarah's Mindfulness Coaching website: http://www.sarahvallely.com  
Jacob's Personal Training website http://www.jacobderossett.com 
Jacob's YouTube Channel https://tinyurl.com/9yykwne9
The Aware Mind on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/aware_mind_podcast/

This episode is a meditation for beginners, and mindfulness for beginners resource. Intermediate and advanced meditators will also benefit. The Aware Mind produces content that supports stress reduction, anxiety relief, better concentration and focus, and trauma healing.

Download supplemental handouts from our blog to support your practice. A transcript is also available on our blog. The Aware Mind is produced by TSD Mindfulness, a virtual meditation center, offering mindfulness classes, certifications and private coaching. 

Send a text

In this episode, Sarah and Jacob explore the question "What if I sat and did nothing for a period of time, would I gain the same physical and mental health benefits if I were practicing mindfulness instead?" Sarah shares research about the differences in brain activity when we are sitting and resting versus when we are meditating. Experts claim the quality of our mental health is dependent on the activity in our brain at rest. Listen to learn how mindfulness improves our brain activity when we are at rest.

Important links:
The Aware Mind blog: http://www.tsdmind.org/blog  
TSD Mindfulness Virtual Meditation Center http://www.tsdmind.org  
Sarah's Mindfulness Coaching website: http://www.sarahvallely.com  
Jacob's Personal Training website http://www.jacobderossett.com 
Jacob's YouTube Channel https://tinyurl.com/9yykwne9
The Aware Mind on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/aware_mind_podcast/

This episode is a meditation for beginners, and mindfulness for beginners resource. Intermediate and advanced meditators will also benefit. The Aware Mind produces content that supports stress reduction, anxiety relief, better concentration and focus, and trauma healing.

Download supplemental handouts from our blog to support your practice. A transcript is also available on our blog. The Aware Mind is produced by TSD Mindfulness, a virtual meditation center, offering mindfulness classes, certifications and private coaching. 

Send a text

In this episode, Sarah and Jacob explore research about the connections between procrastination and health issues, such as cardiovascular disease, hypertension and lowered immunity.  Sarah also shares four driving forces behind our procrastination habits--optimism, fear, doubt and trauma.  Sarah shares strategies for becoming mindful of the cycles these driving forces cause and their consequences on your mind and body.  Sarah and Jacob discuss the benefits of sitting with these cycles and using awareness and self-compassion to move you forward.

Important links:
The Aware Mind blog: http://www.tsdmind.org/blog  
TSD Mindfulness Virtual Meditation Center http://www.tsdmind.org  
Sarah's Mindfulness Coaching website: http://www.sarahvallely.com  
Jacob's Personal Training website http://www.jacobderossett.com 
Jacob's YouTube Channel https://tinyurl.com/9yykwne9
The Aware Mind on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/aware_mind_podcast/

This episode is a meditation for beginners, and mindfulness for beginners resource. Intermediate and advanced meditators will also benefit. The Aware Mind produces content that supports stress reduction, anxiety relief, better concentration and focus, and trauma healing.

Download supplemental handouts from our blog to support your practice. A transcript is also available on our blog. The Aware Mind is produced by TSD Mindfulness, a virtual meditation center, offering mindfulness classes, certifications and private coaching. 

Send a text

In this episode, Sarah and Jacob explore the differences between concentration and mindfulness, and what is important about each of these skills individually and jointly.  Sarah also shares some theories as to why we become distracted by our thinking during meditation that could transform your meditation practice. If you follow the strategies shared you could find yourself easily disconnecting from your own thinking during your mindfulness practice and experiencing contentment in the quiet. 

Important links:
The Aware Mind blog: http://www.tsdmind.org/blog  
TSD Mindfulness Virtual Meditation Center http://www.tsdmind.org  
Sarah's Mindfulness Coaching website: http://www.sarahvallely.com  
Jacob's Personal Training website http://www.jacobderossett.com 
Jacob's YouTube Channel https://tinyurl.com/9yykwne9
The Aware Mind on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/aware_mind_podcast/

This episode is a meditation for beginners, and mindfulness for beginners resource. Intermediate and advanced meditators will also benefit. The Aware Mind produces content that supports stress reduction, anxiety relief, better concentration and focus, and trauma healing.

Download supplemental handouts from our blog to support your practice. A transcript is also available on our blog. The Aware Mind is produced by TSD Mindfulness, a virtual meditation center, offering mindfulness classes, certifications and private coaching. 

Send a text

In this episode, Sarah and Jacob explore the circumstances when we need self-compassion the most.  Sarah also explains the mental component of compassion, since it is our own thinking that can get in the way of our compassion. Jacob and Sarah also talk about the work of Kristin Neff, lead researcher in the field of self-compassion, sharing the three pillars of a complete self-compassion practice. 

Important links:
The Aware Mind blog: http://www.tsdmind.org/blog  
TSD Mindfulness Virtual Meditation Center http://www.tsdmind.org  
Sarah's Mindfulness Coaching website: http://www.sarahvallely.com  
Jacob's Personal Training website http://www.jacobderossett.com 
Jacob's YouTube Channel https://tinyurl.com/9yykwne9
The Aware Mind on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/aware_mind_podcast/

This episode is a meditation for beginners, and mindfulness for beginners resource. Intermediate and advanced meditators will also benefit. The Aware Mind produces content that supports stress reduction, anxiety relief, better concentration and focus, and trauma healing.

Download supplemental handouts from our blog to support your practice. A transcript is also available on our blog. The Aware Mind is produced by TSD Mindfulness, a virtual meditation center, offering mindfulness classes, certifications and private coaching. 

Send a text

This episode answers questions about whether mindfulness is a viable approach to addressing the problems of racism and implicit bias. Sarah shares much research on the negative consequences of implicit bias and the ways mindfulness helps us become aware of and reduce implicit bias. Learn what structural racism looks like in America and what groups and individuals can do to reduce these effects. This is an important topic, some of the information might be alarming. This is not an episode to miss.

Important links:
The Aware Mind blog: http://www.tsdmind.org/blog  
TSD Mindfulness Virtual Meditation Center http://www.tsdmind.org  
Sarah's Mindfulness Coaching website: http://www.sarahvallely.com  
Jacob's Personal Training website http://www.jacobderossett.com 
Jacob's YouTube Channel https://tinyurl.com/9yykwne9
The Aware Mind on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/aware_mind_podcast/

This episode is a meditation for beginners, and mindfulness for beginners resource. Intermediate and advanced meditators will also benefit. The Aware Mind produces content that supports stress reduction, anxiety relief, better concentration and focus, and trauma healing.

Download supplemental handouts from our blog to support your practice. A transcript is also available on our blog. The Aware Mind is produced by TSD Mindfulness, a virtual meditation center, offering mindfulness classes, certifications and private coaching. 

Send a text

This episode is not one of our typical shows. We usually address topics such as anxiety, depression, and insight in relation to mindfulness. However, this episode was recorded in front of a live audience. Jacob and I tell our story of how we met and how The Aware Mind came to be. If you like “the making  of” shows or backstories, then this episode is for you. If not, you might want to skip this particular episode and listen to one of our previous shows. 

Important links:
The Aware Mind blog: http://www.tsdmind.org/blog  
TSD Mindfulness Virtual Meditation Center http://www.tsdmind.org  
Sarah's Mindfulness Coaching website: http://www.sarahvallely.com  
Jacob's Personal Training website http://www.jacobderossett.com 
Jacob's YouTube Channel https://tinyurl.com/9yykwne9
The Aware Mind on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/aware_mind_podcast/

This episode is a meditation for beginners, and mindfulness for beginners resource. Intermediate and advanced meditators will also benefit. The Aware Mind produces content that supports stress reduction, anxiety relief, better concentration and focus, and trauma healing.

Download supplemental handouts from our blog to support your practice. A transcript is also available on our blog. The Aware Mind is produced by TSD Mindfulness, a virtual meditation center, offering mindfulness classes, certifications and private coaching.