meditation

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Meditation Creates Space

Matthew sitting in a room with a large window at a Buddhist retreat center overlooking the cliffs of Ireland
Ever notice how your best ideas don’t come when you’re trying? Meditation creates the space for insights to arise, not by thinking harder, but by allowing stillness. In this reflection, I share how sitting quietly helps me make sense of daily life and find clarity where there was once noise.

Ground in the Moment

Episode Number
83
This calming meditation practice will guide you into deep relaxation and presence. You'll be invited to tune into the sensations of your body, release tension, and cultivate a sense of peace with every breath. Whether you’re seeking to relax, ground yourself, or simply be present, this meditation will help you reconnect with the moment and embrace stillness within.

Embracing Gravity

Episode Number
80
This guided meditation focuses on embracing the grounding force of gravity to promote relaxation and stability. You are invited to connect with your bodies, letting go of tension and distractions while visualizing yourself as anchored and supported. The practice encourages a sense of calm, nurturing the awareness of being centered and present.

Between Stimulus and Response

Episode Number
79
In this meditation, we explore the vital space between stimulus and response, encouraging mindfulness over autopilot. By reflecting on daily stimuli and our reactions to them, we cultivate calm and learn the importance of pausing to create awareness and intention. The practice emphasizes breathing, noticing sensations, and envisioning the potential within moments of stillness. Ultimately, it invites us to carry this awareness into our daily routines, enhancing our ability to respond thoughtfully to life's challenges.

Warming Up to Mindful Mornings

Matthew sitting in hoodie, an oversized wearable blanket, and wrapped in yet another blanket
I've been creating a cozy space for morning meditation on colder mornings. This practice helps me start my day feeling grounded. While a long morning meditation works for me, research suggests that frequent, shorter mindfulness sessions throughout the day can be just as effective. Simple breathing exercises and mindfulness breaks can reduce stress and improve mental well-being. Even a quick pause to breathe deeply can offer significant benefits, showing that consistency matters more than the length of the practice.

Breathe. You've Arrived. A Reflection on Slowing Down at Kripalu

A sign with a brown backgroud and tan letters that reads Breathe. You've Arrived.

Last week, I returned to Kripalu, a place that feels like a home for my practice and personal growth. I arrived just after lunch, with a few hours before anything was officially planned. In years past, this would have been a green light for me to jump into “maximizing” my time — mapping out a hike in the woods, a stroll by the lake, and maybe squeezing in a class or two. But this time, I did something different. I did pretty much … nothing.

Letting Go of Doing

Episode Number
73
Our society conditions us to be "human doings" rather than "human beings." But what might it be like to let go of our TODO lists, our goals, and our compulsion to always be "doing"? In this meditation we pause to feel the body and attune to our feelings in this moment.

To leave a comment about this episode, visit matthewtift.com/prettygood/73. The theme music is "Maxixe" performed by Edson Lopes under CC BY 3.0.

Youer than You

Episode Number
71
Many of us get so wrapped up in ideas of trying to "become"" or to "get rid of" that we fail to notice the moments in our life. This meditation uses a quote by the wise sage, Dr. Seuss, to help us wake up to the present moment: "Today you are you, that is truer than true. There is no one alive who is youer than you!"

To leave a comment about this episode, visit matthewtift.com/prettygood/71. The theme music is "Maxixe" performed by Edson Lopes under CC BY 3.0.
meditation