6 minAngela Lee Duckworth
About this talk
Former monk Andy Puddicombe asks when you last did nothing at all for 10 minutes. He explains mindfulness simply: not stopping your thoughts, but stepping back to watch them come and go, with a mind that is relaxed and focused at the same time.
- 9 min
- Growth
- by Andy Puddicombe
Key notes
What to take away.
- 01We never rest our minds
We look after our cars, clothes and hair, but rarely take time to look after our mind.
- 02Lost in thought
He cites Harvard research suggesting our minds wander almost 47 percent of the time, and that this is linked to unhappiness.
- 03Meditation isn't stopping thoughts
It's stepping back and watching thoughts and feelings come and go, without judging them.
- 04Relaxed and focused
Too much focus feels tight and stressful; too much relaxing and you fall asleep. Aim for a balance.
- 05Stop feeding the story
Like poking a wobbly tooth, we keep replaying worries. Watching the mind helps us let them go.
- 06Ten minutes a day
No incense or sitting on the floor needed, just 10 minutes to step back and notice the present moment.
Watch next
More talks like this
Press play on Sunday
One talk worth watching, every Sunday.
Plus a quote to carry, a five-minute read and one tiny challenge. Free, one email a week.