The Happier Life Project

Host Gabby guides you through a meditation to examine your mindset, boost your mood and create and welcome in positive energy. 

A Beginner's Mind is an aspect of mindfulness that is very important. To have the beginner's mind is to look at things as if you were seeing them for the first time. A Beginner's mind can help us to see things in a new light, rather than automatically respond to them with the same old patterns of behavior—this is because we are “letting go” of and not using our automatic, everyday interpretations of people, things, and events.

The Eye of the Hurricane meditation offers a way for you to disengage from the hectic world around you (the hurricane) and turn inward toward peace (the eye). The use of a hurricane as a metaphor guides you to explore inner peace by using your breath to become like the eye of the hurricane; the silent part of yourself that can become aware of challenges but not get caught up in them and get carried away.

Too many people suffer from low-self esteem and low confidence. Why? Because of negative thoughts.

The body scan is one of the most effective ways to begin a mindfulness meditation. The purpose is to tune in to your body—to reconnect to your physical self—and notice any sensations you're feeling without judgment. While many people find the body scan relaxing, done correctly, the body scan will build your ability to focus and be fully present in your life.

Not everyone has time to incorporate hours of mindfulness into their daily life. But you can reap the benefits of meditation, even in short bursts. Host Gabby guides you through a quick mindful meditation exercise for when you feel uneasy; specifically to help to reduce and relieve symptoms of anxiety in the belly. Feeling like that sinking feeling, butterflies, tightness, nausea, digestive problems, pain… and a general feeling of unease. 

There are many different causes of negative thoughts, including stress, worry and upsetting life events. Mindfulness is a useful tool for noticing and extracting yourself from the cycle of unhelpful thoughts. In fact, research and science continue to point toward mindfulness leading to positive physical, mental and emotional changes in the brain and behavior. Dr Elisha Goldstein shares three simple ways you can transform negative thinking. 

When we meditate, we experiment with how to increase or develop patience each and every time we notice that the mind has wandered. In Day 11 of the Month of mindfulness Challenge, host Gabby offer's two mindful patience exercises for you to try.

The first is simple practice you can do to build patience and help prepare for high-frustration moments called the bell exercise.

The second takes a little longer where Gabby guides you into a meditative state to practice cultivating patience to help you enjoy the present moment and accept the unfolding of life.

Mindful walking has the benefits of both exercising and incorporating mindfulness, which can in turn promote both your mental and physical well-being. Rather than trying to hurry to get from one location to another, a mindful walk allows you to pay attention to the sensations of your body, and use these sensations to note and appreciate your surroundings.

The benefits of adding mindful walking into your week have some really great benefits, such as reducing the effects of stress, reducing symptoms of anxiety and depression, improving focus and attention, improving your heart health and immune system and boosting your mood.

So grab some comfy shoes and let's go!

“Dropping Anchor” is a way of keeping yourself safe and steady in the midst of an emotional storm. You can use it for handling difficult thoughts, feelings, emotions, memories, urges and sensations more effectively. Based on ACT (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy) principles, as taught and narrated by therapist, trainer of health professionals, and author of The Happiness Trap (plus eight other books) Dr Russ Harris, this is a fantastic centering exercise to have in your toolkit.