Headspace_logo_svg
Try for freeTry for free
PodcastStep Away From the Thought!

Step Away From the Thought!

Thoughts are neither good nor bad. Through mindfulness, we can learn to step back from our thoughts, and see them for what they are before we assign meaning.

Try 14 days free
Share:

Better 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.

Better mental health starts with Headspace

(gentle music) Headspace Studio. Hi, I'm Dora from Headspace and welcome back to another Sunday Scaries. So when it comes to Sunday, it's important to consider how we relate to what passes through the mind. Some responses to an active brain are helpful and some aren't. So there are a lot of myths or misconceptions when it comes to meditation. And one that I've heard quite frequently is that thinking is bad. And here's the thing, thinking is neither good nor bad, it just is. But how we respond, how we relate to our thoughts, the meaning that we give our thoughts, is what matters most. So if we can learn to take a step back from those thoughts and see them for what they are, just thoughts, then we can become aware of the meaning that we've associated with them. Once we can become aware, we can take action and engage with them, the helpful thoughts and the not so helpful thoughts, too. Try and notice how your mind processes what's going on around you. See if you can acknowledge your thoughts, whatever they may be, and then try letting them go, coming back to whatever you're doing in the present moment. If it's something positive, we can acknowledge it, maybe make note of it, engage with it if necessary, but ultimately letting that go as well. By learning to let go and learning to engage with that which is helpful, we can start to embrace the positive aspects of our life, the things that are going well and the things that we can look forward to in the week ahead. So with that in mind, just take a moment right now to take a big, deep breath, breathing in through the nose and out through the mouth. And as you breathe out, just allowing the eyes to close, feeling the weight of the body pressed down. Allowing any and every thought to just come and go. And as you sit there, just starting to notice the movement of the breath in the body, the rising and the falling sensation, and just gently placing a hand on your stomach. So just feeling that movement without engaging in any particular thought. Allowing any positive thoughts to leave a feeling of positivity in the body and in the mind. And just choosing to acknowledge and let go of any thoughts that are difficult, troubling, challenging in some way. And then just bringing the attention back to the body, coming back to that feeling of contact, setting the intention to be more aware of the positive thoughts that arise in your mind throughout the week. And then whenever you're ready, just gently opening the eyes again. (gentle music) Before you move or do anything else, just take a moment here to connect to that sense of positivity. Oftentimes, we search for these feelings outside of ourselves. We may think that the source of our positivity is in people, places, or things, when...

Details

TypePodcast
Duration5 min

About your teachers

  • 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 Andy
  • 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 Eve
  • 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 Dora
  • Kessonga has been an acupuncturists, therapist, and meditation teacher, working to bring mindfulness to the diverse populations of the world.

    More about Kessonga
  • 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.

    More about Rosie
Your lifelong guide to better mental health

Your lifelong guide to better mental health

Stress, sleep, and all the challenging emotions — care for your mind with the everyday mental health app that's shown to make a difference.

Try 14 days free
Look After Your Mind

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

Science-backed

Studies show that using Headspace for 30 days can reduce stress, increase resilience, and improve overall well-being

Explore Content

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

Member-Icon-01

Changing my thoughts has allowed me to change my life.

Davide

London

Member-Icon-04

The stress and loneliness courses … taught me how to comfort myself.

Alicia

Canada

Member-Icon-03

Headspace provides me with … a connection to myself, and a disconnection from negative thoughts, feelings, and sensations.

Keri

UK

Member-Icon-02

Related to 'Step Away From The'

More to explore

Beginning Meditation

Explore-More-Icon-02

Reframe Stress and Relax

Explore-More-Icon-01

New and Popular

Explore-More-Icon-03

Becoming a Mindful Parent

Explore-More-Icon-04
    • Terms & conditions
    • Privacy policy
    • Consumer Health Data
    • Your privacy choices
      Privacy Choices Icon
    • CA Privacy Notice
  • © 2024 Headspace Inc.
  • Terms & conditions
  • Privacy policy
  • Consumer Health Data
  • Your privacy choices
    Privacy Choices Icon
  • CA Privacy Notice