Living Authentically
Find inner safety so you can overcome uncertainty and show up in the world authentically.
Try 14 days freeBetter mental health starts with Headspace. Unrivaled expertise to make life feel a little easier, using guided meditations, mindfulness tips, focus tools, sleep support, and dedicated programs.
Meditation is an opportunity to practice authenticity and vulnerability with ourselves. We are allowing all parts of ourselves to show up, just as they are, accepting the thoughts, feelings, and sensations that arise to be acknowledged with kindness and acceptance. And this encourages us to show up in the world authentically as well. As we show up authentically, we naturally wanna support and encourage others to do the same. Becoming more authentic also involves clarifying our values, getting really clear on what's most important to us. Identifying values like community, kindness, sustainability, and fairness. It can be difficult to access authenticity when we feel fear or uncertainty about how we'll be received. Mindfulness allows us to ride the waves of fear and uncertainty by building our awareness of it, and strengthening our capacity to be with it as it is without compromising our authentic selves. Getting clear on what we value, and acting in accordance with our values is another way to strengthen our authenticity. This gives us the courage to act in alignment with our values, even when we're risking criticism or rejection. Meditation is like the lab where we try out these new accepting attitudes toward ourselves. Life off the cushion is where we apply the attitudes toward ourselves and others when difficult feelings arise, or when we feel compelled to shrink ourselves instead of showing up authentically. When we show up to our meditation, we're giving ourselves the inner security and confidence to show up in the world more authentically. We are creating the conditions for inner safety. Accepting what arises can be difficult. It's important to acknowledge your progress through the small steps that are helping you to greet yourself with more kindness, compassion, and acceptance. Let's start by finding a comfortable seated, or lying down position, and you can close your eyes or leave them open. Just resting your gaze softly on a spot in front of you. And take a moment just to allow yourself to land here. Letting go of what you were doing before, or what you have to do later, and just inviting your whole self to arrive. And we'll take a moment just to feel the points of contact between your body and the surfaces that they're resting on. So starting with your feet, just feel where your feet are resting, and making contact with the floor. And then feel the support of the chair or the ground underneath you holding you up. And then notice where your hands are making contact with your legs or the floor. Maybe you notice warmth or coolness in the hands. Just noticing that point of contact. And we'll just take a few slower deeper breaths in and out of our nose. Feeling your abdomen and your chest expand as you inhale, and feeling them deflate as you exhale. And then see if you can allow your breath to be natural and easy, just letting go of any effort, and notice how your natural...
Details
About your teachers
- More about Andy
A former Buddhist monk, Andy has guided people in meditation and mindfulness for 20 years. In his mission to make these practices accessible to all, he co-created the Headspace app in 2010.
- More about Eve
Eve is a mindfulness teacher, overseeing Headspace’s meditation curriculum. She is passionate about sharing meditation to help others feel less stressed and experience more compassion in their lives.
- More about Dora
As a meditation teacher, Dora encourages others to live, breathe, and be with the fullness of their experiences. She loves meditation’s power to create community and bring clarity to people’s minds.
- More about Kessonga
Kessonga has been an acupuncturists, therapist, and meditation teacher, working to bring mindfulness to the diverse populations of the world.
- More about Rosie
Rosie Acosta has studied yoga and mindfulness for more than 20 years and taught for over a decade. Rosie’s mission is to help others overcome adversity and experience radical love.
Look after your mind
Proven guided meditations and programs to help you stress less, sleep more soundly, and better navigate life’s challenges
Science-backed
Studies show that using Headspace for 30 days can reduce stress, increase resilience, and improve overall well-being
Explore 1000+ expert-led exercises
Access our library of meditations, breathing exercises, and guidance videos for stress, sleep, focus, everyday anxiety , parenting, and more.
Member reviews
Hear from some of our members
Your app brings so much peace and tolerance to our home.
Rachel
UK
Changing my thoughts has allowed me to change my life.
Davide
London
The stress and loneliness courses … taught me how to comfort myself.
Alicia
Canada
Headspace provides me with … a connection to myself, and a disconnection from negative thoughts, feelings, and sensations.
Keri
UK
- © 2024 Headspace Inc.
- Terms & conditions
- Privacy policy
- Consumer Health Data
- Your privacy choices
- CA Privacy Notice