Grounding meditation + the weirdly joyful truth of impermanence + self-compassion during hard times

So happy to join our October Teacher of the Month, Sebene Selassie, for a live meditation and Q&A. If you missed it, you can always watch (or rewatch) at your own pace. Paid subscribers get the full session, and the opening 10-minute guided meditation is free for everyone.

Sebene kicked things off with a grounding meditation, starting with a lesser-known practice called “gladdening the mind” (bringing to mind something that makes you smile), then settling into body contact with the ground and allowing whatever’s present—pleasant, unpleasant, or neutral—without judgment.

After that we took questions from all of you. Here’s some of what we covered:

• How to practice non-attachment when it really matters—without numbing out

• Why reflecting on impermanence head-on can dial up appreciation for life

• A self-compassion move for working with pain, illness, and fear (starting with feel it first)

• What to do when restlessness or sleepiness hijack your meditation

Thanks again to everyone who participated. I’ll be going live solo Tuesday, Oct. 21, at 4:00 p.m. ET for another guided meditation and Q&A, exclusively for paid subscribers.

Paid subscribers get the 10% Happier podcast ad-free, as well as:

• A cheatsheet for each episode — with key takeaways, time-coded highlights, and a transcript

• The ability to comment on posts and participate in subscriber chats

• Access to our weekly live video sessions, in which I and/or our meditation Teacher of the Month guide a meditation and take questions

• Tailor-made meditations every Monday and Wednesday, led by our meditation Teacher of the Month and designed to pair with the podcast episodes

Join the party.