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5 Essential Mindfulness Books for Inner Peace and Focus · Deep Thoughts

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  Speaker 1: Welcome back everybody. Today's deep dive. Well we're taking a
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  Speaker 1: look at mindfulness.
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  Speaker 2: Oh, very cool, and.
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  Speaker 1: We've got like a whole bunch of stuff to go through.
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  Speaker 2: We've got like a stack.
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  Speaker 1: Yeah, it is a stack. Wherever you go. There you
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  Speaker 1: are by John cabot Zim. That's like a classic. So
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  Speaker 1: we've got a lot to cover. But I think this
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  Speaker 1: is going to help people achieve more.
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  Speaker 2: Yeah, and not just achieve more in the sense of,
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  Speaker 2: you know, getting more done, but like actually getting more
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  Speaker 2: out of life, which is something mindfulness can rewire our brains,
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  Speaker 2: help us focus better, have better relationships, all that.
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  Speaker 1: Yeah, they're rewiring thing is kind of what's stuck out
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  Speaker 1: to me, Like how does that even work?
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  Speaker 2: Like what does that look like?
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  Speaker 1: Right?
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  Speaker 3: Yeah?
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  Speaker 2: Yeah, So imagine your brain is like you know, a muscle,
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  Speaker 2: and you can strengthen it with mindfulness like when you
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  Speaker 2: lift weights. And the Mindful Way through Depression, which we
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  Speaker 2: have here that actually shows what's going on, Like they
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  Speaker 2: do MRI scans and they show that people who practice
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  Speaker 2: mindfulness they have more gray matter really yeah, in the
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  Speaker 2: areas of the brain that handle like emotions, empathy, making decisions.
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  Speaker 1: So that part gets bigger.
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  Speaker 2: Yeah, it's like you know, strength training for your brain.
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  Speaker 1: So then you're not just reacting, you're like actually thinking
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  Speaker 1: about it first, you're hitting.
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  Speaker 2: That pause button.
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  Speaker 1: I like that the pause button, Yeah, because I feel
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  Speaker 1: like I just react sometimes I know me too, and
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  Speaker 1: then I'm like, oh, I wish I hadn't done that exactly.
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  Speaker 1: And that's something that.
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  Speaker 3: Kabbat Zen talks about a lot, and wherever you go
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  Speaker 3: there you are like he actually defines mindfulness as being present,
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  Speaker 3: so like noticing what's happening around.
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  Speaker 2: You right, like being aware of what's happening right now.
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  Speaker 1: Yeah. But like for people like me who are like
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  Speaker 1: go go go.
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  Speaker 2: Yeah, Like how do you even do that?
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  Speaker 1: Like how do you even stop to be mindful?
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  Speaker 2: Yeah, It's like there's so much going on, Like right now,
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  Speaker 2: I'm thinking about what I'm geting eat for dinner, what
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  Speaker 2: I have to do later.
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  Speaker 1: I get it.
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  Speaker 2: It's just like I know.
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  Speaker 1: So that's where stuff like uh, mindful breathing comes in.
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  Speaker 1: It's a miracle of mindfulness by Fitch net Hand. He
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  Speaker 1: explains it really well. He says, by like focusing on
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  Speaker 1: your breath, you can actually like anchor yourself in the
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  Speaker 1: present moment. Okay, Like like you're creating this like still
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  Speaker 1: point in the middle of all this chaos, and the
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  Speaker 1: more you practice it, the better you get it bringing
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  Speaker 1: that stillness to everything else you do.
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  Speaker 2: That makes sense. Yeah, and you know what else I
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  Speaker 2: was thinking about that whole like hidden power thing, Like
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  Speaker 2: I feel like when I'm actually present, like when I'm
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  Speaker 2: in the moment, I have like better ideas.
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  Speaker 1: Oh that's so interesting you say that because Fitch net
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  Speaker 1: Hand he talks about quieting the mind and like how
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  Speaker 1: when you do that you actually make space for new ideas.
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  Speaker 2: He says, We're always like thinking about stuff, you know, anxieties,
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  Speaker 2: to do lists, and it's like our mind is too
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  Speaker 2: full to be creative. So mindfulness is like, you know,
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  Speaker 2: decluttering your mind.
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  Speaker 1: It's like you're cleaning up all that clutter exactly, and
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  Speaker 1: then the good stuff can come through.
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  Speaker 2: Yeah.
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  Speaker 1: Yeah, and I bet that helps you get more done too, right,
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  Speaker 1: Oh for sure.
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  Speaker 2: Cabat Zen and Fitch net Hand the talk about how
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  Speaker 2: focus and mindfulness they go hand in hand, Like when
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  Speaker 2: you're mindful, you're less distracted.
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  Speaker 1: So you're actually able to use your energy.
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  Speaker 2: Yeah, instead of going everywhere.
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  Speaker 1: Yeah.
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  Speaker 2: Yeah, it's like you're actually using all your brain power.
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  Speaker 1: So it's not about working harder, it's about working smarter exactly.
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  Speaker 1: Now that's something I can get behind, and.
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  Speaker 2: That actually connects to something else, emotional intelligence. Remember how
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  Speaker 2: the article talked about that. Yeah, it's like for success
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  Speaker 2: in life, in work, in relationships, emotional intelligence is super important. Yeah.
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  Speaker 1: But how does mindfulness like make you more emotionally intelligence? Right?
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  Speaker 2: Is it like you know, you just stop feeling emotions.
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  Speaker 1: Yeah, I was wondering that too.
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  Speaker 2: No, it's not about that. It's about becoming more aware
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  Speaker 2: of your emotions. Ye, both your own and the emotions
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  Speaker 2: of other people. Gotch Kristin Neff in her book Self Compassion,
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  Speaker 2: She's got a whole thing about this. She says, mindfulness
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  Speaker 2: helps you develop this non judgmental awareness of what's happening
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  Speaker 2: inside you, so you can like handle tough emotions without
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  Speaker 2: being totally overwhelmed by them.
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  Speaker 1: That makes sense, and that reminds me of the mindful
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  Speaker 1: way through depression, Like creating space between yourself, yeah, in
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  Speaker 1: your thoughts and feelings.
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  Speaker 2: Yeah, exactly. That space is key, Yeah, because then you
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  Speaker 2: can choose how to respond instead of.
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  Speaker 1: Just reacting, so you can think before you act exactly.
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  Speaker 2: That's huge, and that's really important for relationships too. How
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  Speaker 2: so think about all the times like we misunderstand each
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  Speaker 2: other all the time, or you know, arguments happen because
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  Speaker 2: we're not really paying attention.
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  Speaker 1: Yeah, like you're not really listening.
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  Speaker 2: Yeah, you're thinking about what you're going to say next,
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  Speaker 2: or like replaying some old fight in your head, and.
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  Speaker 1: You're missing what's actually happening exactly.
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  Speaker 2: Yeah, But mindfulness it helps you actually listen, like really listen. Yeah,
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  Speaker 2: Like you're actually present in the conversation.
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  Speaker 1: Okay, I get it. So it's like you're not just
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  Speaker 1: there physically, you're there mentally too, exact, and that's how
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  Speaker 1: you actually connect with people.
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  Speaker 2: Yes, that that's where the real connection happens.
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  Speaker 1: Wow, this is really making me think about mindfulness in
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  Speaker 1: a whole new way.
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  Speaker 2: I know. Right, it's not just like a relaxation technique.
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  Speaker 2: It's like it can actually change how you live your life.
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  Speaker 1: I like that.
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  Speaker 2: Yeah, and you know, speaking of how you live your
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  Speaker 2: life with all the crazy stuff happening in the world
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  Speaker 2: these days, mmm, it feels like mindfulness get help with
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  Speaker 2: that too.
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  Speaker 1: Yeah, with all the uncertainty and change, right, I mean
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  Speaker 1: even kabat Zen talks about that and the updated intro
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  Speaker 1: to Wherever you Go, there you Are he does.
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  Speaker 2: And the Mindful Way through Depression too, Like they both
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  Speaker 2: talk about how mindfulness can make you more resilient, like.
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  Speaker 1: Able to handle the ups and downs.
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  Speaker 2: Yeah, it's not about avoiding problems, it's about facing them
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  Speaker 2: in a different way.
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  Speaker 1: Yeah, I see that.
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  Speaker 2: So what do you think feeling a little more mindful already?
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  Speaker 1: I think so, And I'm definitely ready to learn more
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  Speaker 1: me too. Let's dive in.
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  Speaker 2: They're okay, let's do it. You know, it's funny we're
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  Speaker 2: always talking about like achieving happiness. Yeah, but maybe happiness
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  Speaker 2: isn't about achieving something. Maybe it's more about just like
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  Speaker 2: being aware, being present, Like instead of always chasing happiness,
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  Speaker 2: maybe we should just like stop and appreciate what's already here.
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  Speaker 1: I like that.
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  Speaker 2: It's like with thish nuthand calls Beginner's.
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  Speaker 1: Mind, beginner's mind.
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  Speaker 2: Yeah, it's in the miracle of mindfulness. Okay, he says, like,
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  Speaker 2: approach every experience with curiosity, like you're seeing it for
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  Speaker 2: the first time. Yeah, I get that, but it's hard, right,
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  Speaker 2: Like we're so used to judging everything. Oh, yeah for sure,
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  Speaker 2: even ourselves.
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  Speaker 1: Ugh, tell me about it.
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  Speaker 2: It's like we're always criticizing ourselves.
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  Speaker 1: Yeah, I'm like my own worst critic.
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  Speaker 2: I know me too.
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  Speaker 1: It's like not good enough, not doing enough exactly.
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  Speaker 2: And that's where self compassion comes in. You know Kristin Neff. Yeah,
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  Speaker 2: she's got this whole book about it self compassion, and
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  Speaker 2: she says, like, we need to treat ourselves with kindness. Okay,
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  Speaker 2: like the same kindness we would give to to a
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  Speaker 2: friend who's struggling.
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  Speaker 1: So instead of being mean to myself, I should be
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  Speaker 1: nice to myself basically.
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  Speaker 2: Yeah. It sounds kind of weird, I know, yeah it does,
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  Speaker 2: but like what if being kind to yourself actually helped
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  Speaker 2: you achieve more?
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  Speaker 1: Hmm. I never thought about it like that.
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  Speaker 2: And you know, this whole self compassion thing ties into
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  Speaker 2: relationships too, how So remember mindfulness helps us create space
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  Speaker 2: between our feelings and our actions.
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  Speaker 1: The pause button, Yeah exactly.
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  Speaker 2: Yeah, and that's so important in relationships.
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  Speaker 1: Yeah, because if you're angry, you don't want to just.
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  Speaker 2: Like lash out right, you don't want to say something
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  Speaker 2: you'll regret.
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  Speaker 1: So mindfulness helps you like calm down and think before
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  Speaker 1: you speak exactly.
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  Speaker 2: And it also helps you understand the other person, like empathy. Yeah, empathy.
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  Speaker 2: When you're present, you can actually see things from their
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  Speaker 2: point of view.
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  Speaker 1: That makes a lot of sense. So mindfulness isn't just
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  Speaker 1: about me. It's about how I connect with other people exactly.
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  Speaker 2: It's about like becoming more aware of the whole world
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  Speaker 2: around you.
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  Speaker 1: Okay, I'm starting to get the bigger picture here.
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  Speaker 2: And you know, mindfulness can even help us with our work.
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  Speaker 1: Really, I thought it was more about like relaxation and
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  Speaker 1: stress relief.
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  Speaker 2: It is, but it can also help us be more productive.
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  Speaker 2: Interesting Cabods in in Wherever You Go, There You Are,
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  Speaker 2: he talks about how mindfulness can change our whole relationship
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  Speaker 2: with work, like instead of just grinding it out, we
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  Speaker 2: can find more meaning in what we do.
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  Speaker 1: So it's not about working less, it's about working differently exactly.
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  Speaker 1: I like that.
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  Speaker 2: And the article The Hidden Power of Mindfulness is says
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  Speaker 2: mindfulness can help us focus better.
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  Speaker 1: Oh yeah, because we're less distracted.
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  Speaker 2: Right, instead of checking our phones every five seconds, we
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  Speaker 2: can actually stay on task.
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  Speaker 1: So it's like that mental muscle we were talking about earlier.
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  Speaker 2: Yeah, it's like we're training our brains to be more focused.
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  Speaker 1: And that can make us more productive. Exact, I can
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  Speaker 1: definitely see that.
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  Speaker 2: And Thitch Nuthand in the Miracle of Mindfulness, he talks
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  Speaker 2: about these micro moments of mindfulness.
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  Speaker 1: Micro moments.
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  Speaker 2: Yeah, it's like, you know, taking a few breaths before
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  Speaker 2: you answer an email, Oh okay, or just like in
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  Speaker 2: noticing how your body feels when you're sitting at your desk.
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  Speaker 1: So it's about finding little ways to be present throughout the.
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  Speaker 2: Day exactly, and those little moments can actually make a
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  Speaker 2: big difference.
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  Speaker 1: I'm starting to realize that mindfulness is more than just meditation.
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  Speaker 2: It's a way of life. Yeah, it's about bringing awareness
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  Speaker 2: to everything.
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  Speaker 1: You do, and that can actually help you achieve more
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  Speaker 1: in all areas of your life exactly. Now that's something
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  Speaker 1: I'm interested in you too, all Right, So how do
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  Speaker 1: we actually do this mindfulness thing? Like where do we
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  Speaker 1: even start?
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  Speaker 2: Yeah?
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  Speaker 1: Good question, Like give us the step.
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  Speaker 2: Okay, So first off, there's mindful breathing. Okay, super simple,
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  Speaker 2: but super powerful. I like simple you too, So, like
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  Speaker 2: you can do it anywhere, anytime, even if you're, like
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  Speaker 2: you know, in the middle of a crazy day.
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  Speaker 1: Yeah, those are the days I need at most, right, okay,
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  Speaker 1: so walk me through it, all right.
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  Speaker 2: So you just find a comfy spot you can sit,
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  Speaker 2: you can lie down, whatever feels good, and if you want,
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  Speaker 2: close your eyes. Now, just focus on your breath, okay,
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  Speaker 2: just notice it, the inhales, the exhales. Okay, you don't
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  Speaker 2: have to like change your breathing or anything, just observe it.
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  Speaker 1: And what if I start thinking about other stuff?
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  Speaker 2: Oh, that's totally.
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  Speaker 1: Normal because my mind does that a lot.
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  Speaker 2: Yeahn too.
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  Speaker 1: It's like squirrel exactly. So what do I do?
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  Speaker 2: Just notice those thoughts uh huh, don't judge them, just
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  Speaker 2: let them be okay, and then gently bring your attention
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  Speaker 2: back to your breath.
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  Speaker 1: Okay. So it's like I'm not trying to get rid
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  Speaker 1: of the thoughts now, and I'm just like noticing them
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  Speaker 1: exactly and then going back to the breath.
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  Speaker 2: Yeah, it takes practice, but you'll get better at it.
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  Speaker 2: I like that, And even just a few minutes a
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  Speaker 2: day can make a difference. Start with like five minutes.
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  Speaker 2: Then you can do more if you want.
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  Speaker 1: Okay, that's doable, and you can do it.
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  Speaker 2: Like anytime, right like before work, after a tough meeting, Okay,
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  Speaker 2: just like little moments throughout your day, little moments. Yeah.
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  Speaker 1: And you know what else? I remember you were talking
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  Speaker 1: about mindful observation.
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  Speaker 2: Oh yeah, that's a good one.
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  Speaker 1: Like how does that work?
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  Speaker 2: So basically you can make anything mindful? Really anything?
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  Speaker 1: Yeah, pretty much.
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  Speaker 2: Like even doing the dishes.
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  Speaker 1: Even doing the dishes.
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  Speaker 2: Okay, that's kind of cool, right, So how do I
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  Speaker 2: do it?
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  Speaker 1: So pick something you do every day, like eating, Okay,
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  Speaker 1: we're walking or showering, and as you're doing it, just
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  Speaker 1: like pay attention to all the details.
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  Speaker 2: The details.
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  Speaker 1: Yeah, like if you're eating, notice the colors of the
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  Speaker 1: food okay, the textures, the smells, like, really savor each bite.
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  Speaker 2: So it's like instead of just scarfing down my food, yeah,
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  Speaker 2: slow down, I actually like taste it exactly. That's interesting.
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  Speaker 1: You might be surprised by how much you've been missing.
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  Speaker 1: And what about gratitude. I know that's a big part
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  Speaker 1: of mindfulness.
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  Speaker 2: It is, and it's so easy to do.
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  Speaker 1: Okay, tell me more so every day, just.
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  Speaker 2: Think about a few things you're grateful for, like what
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  Speaker 2: like you know, your family, your friends, your health, a
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  Speaker 2: roof over your head, like the simple things. Yeah, the
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  Speaker 2: simple things. I like that you can write them down
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  Speaker 2: or just think about them. Okay, and it actually helps,
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  Speaker 2: like train your brain to focus on the good stuff.
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  Speaker 1: Really.
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  Speaker 2: Yeah, mindful way through depression. They talk about that.
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  Speaker 1: So gratitude is like a superpower.
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  Speaker 2: It kind of is. I like that me too.
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  Speaker 1: Oh what about mindful walking.
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  Speaker 2: Oh yeah, that's a good one too.
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  Speaker 1: So I like to move, you know here, like I
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  Speaker 1: can't just sit still all the time.
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  Speaker 2: Yeah, mindful walking is perfect for that.
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  Speaker 1: So how do I do it?
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  Speaker 2: So find a place where you can walk for a bit,
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  Speaker 2: like back and forth. Okay, And as you're walking, pay
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  Speaker 2: attention to how your body feels, Okay, your feet on
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  Speaker 2: the ground, the movement of your legs, notice the sounds
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  Speaker 2: around you, the sights, the smells.
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  Speaker 1: So it's like a walking meditation.
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  Speaker 2: Yeah, exactly right. And again, if your mind wanders, just
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  Speaker 2: bring it back to your body. Okay, back to the
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  Speaker 2: sensations of walking.
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  Speaker 1: This is all really cool. But what if I try
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  Speaker 1: something and it just doesn't work for me?
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  Speaker 2: That's solely okay, it is. Yeah, mindfulness is like a
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  Speaker 2: personal journey. Okay, there's no right or wrong way to
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  Speaker 2: do it. Cabotzen talks about that a lot in Wherever
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  Speaker 2: you go there you are like, find what works for you.
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  Speaker 1: Okay, experiment So it's like, be kind to myself exactly,
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  Speaker 1: and don't worry about being perfect.
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  Speaker 2: Yeah, just keep practicing.
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  Speaker 1: Wow, this has been amazing. I feel like I've learned
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  Speaker 1: so much.
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  Speaker 2: Me too. It's been fun.
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  Speaker 1: Yeah, it has.
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  Speaker 2: And to everyone listening, thanks for joining us on this
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  Speaker 2: deep dive into mindfulness.
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  Speaker 1: Yeah, thanks for listening.
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  Speaker 2: We hope you found it helpful and.
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  Speaker 1: Remember wherever you go, there you are.
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  Speaker 2: Yeah, be present, be mindful, and keep practicing.
• 13:32
  Speaker 1: Thank you for tuning in to this episode of the
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  Speaker 1: Deep Thoughts podcast.
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  Speaker 2: I hope you found insights and inspiration to take with
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  Speaker 2: you on your journey of self growth.
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