boredbuddha

28/07/2025

19/06/2025

Meditation: Why Bother? Part 2

Beyond the Om: Tangible Benefits

So, why bother with this mental cat-herding exercise? The benefits, even small ones, can be surprisingly significant.

First, there's the stress reduction. Imagine a tiny, perpetually stressed-out hamster running on a wheel in your brain. Meditation helps that hamster take a much-needed coffee break. You might find yourself reacting less like a fire alarm and more like a gentle notification. That annoying co-worker? Still annoying, but maybe you can now just mentally roll your eyes instead of actually saying something you'll regret.

Then there's improved focus. In a world of endless notifications and shiny new distractions, our attention spans are shrinking faster than a wool sweater in a hot wash. Meditation helps you flex that focus muscle. Suddenly, you might actually finish a task without getting sidetracked by a deep dive into the history of competitive eating.

And let's not forget the potential for better sleep. If your brain is a relentless thought factory at 2 AM, a little meditation can be like sending the night shift home early. You might actually drift off before you've mentally redecorated your entire house in excruciating detail.

Your Meditation Journey: No Monk Robes Required

The beauty of it is, you don't need fancy equipment, a remote mountain retreat, or even a particularly spiritual inclination. You can meditate anywhere: on your commute, while waiting for coffee, even in the bathroom if that's your only sanctuary from tiny humans.

Start small. Five minutes. Three minutes. Hell, even one minute. Just sit. Close your eyes (or don't, if you're worried about falling asleep on your keyboard). Focus on your breath. When your mind wanders (and it will, oh, it will), gently bring it back. Don't judge yourself. Think of it as a bicep curl for your brain – it gets stronger with practice.

So, why bother? Because in a world that constantly demands our attention, meditation offers a tiny, subversive act of rebellion: taking back a little peace for yourself. And who knows, you might even start radiating a tiny, subtle glow. Just don't expect to levitate on your first try. Or your hundredth. But hey, a little less stress is a pretty good superpower too, right?

18/06/2025

Meditation-Why Bother-Part 1 (part 2 tomorrow):
Lets be honest, the idea of meditation often conjures images of serene gurus perched atop mountains, humming contentedly while radiating an unnatural glow. For the rest of us mere mortals, it's usually more like: "Sit still? For how long? My phone is right there!"

But what if I told you that meditation isn't just for the enlightened elite, and you don't need to contort yourself into a pretzel shape or achieve nirvana? What if it could actually make your daily grind a little less grind-y and a lot more....well, manageable?

The Great Brain Swirl

Think of your mind as a perpetually buzzing blender. You toss in work stress, family drama, that embarrassing thing you said five years ago, what to make for dinner, and suddenly you've got a mental smoothie chaos. Meditation, in its simplest form, is like hitting the "off" button on that blender, even just for a few minutes. You don't have to clean the whole thing out, just give it a little pause.

For many the biggest hurdle is the expectation. We expect inner calm, profound insights, and maybe even the ability to levitate. The reality is often a flurry of thoughts - "Did I leave the stove on?" "My leg itches." "Is this really worth it?" And guess what? That's totally normal. The point isn't to stop thinking; it's to notice that you're thinking, acknowledge it, and then gently bring your attention back to whatever you're focusing on - usually your breath. It's like herding cats, but the cats are your thoughts, and you're just trying to get them vaguely in the same direction, not into a perfectly synchronised feline choir.

28/04/2025

Instead of saying, "I know what it feels like", let's say "I cannot imagine your heartbreak".
Instead of saying, "You're strong, you'll get through this, let's say " You'll hurt, and I'll be here.
Instead of saying, "You look like you're doing well, Let's say, "How are you holding up today?"
Instead of saying, "Healing takes time", let's say "Healing has no timeline".
Instead of saying, "Everything happens for a reason, let's say "This must feel so terribly senseless right now".
And when there are no words to say at all, you don't need to try and find some. Love speaks in silences too.

28/04/2025

Peace not happiness :-)
If you like this clip, check out the full episode. https://youtu.be/atejm2w2jWY?si=734Bvuw--68zR3eM

177.3K likes, 3527 comments. ““If there’s happiness…” 🤯 - Watch the full podcast with Master Shi Heng Yi in The Diary of a CEO hosted by Bartlett -”