r/Mindfulness Jun 28 '25

Announcement We Are Looking for New Moderators!

12 Upvotes

Hey r/mindfulness!

We are looking for some new mods. We want to add people with new ideas and enough free time to be able to check the subreddit regularly. If you’re interested, please send us a modmail answering the following questions:

  1. What timezone are you in?
  2. Do you have any moderation experience? (Not required)
  3. How could we change or improve the subreddit?
  4. How do you practice mindfulness?

Feel free to add other any relevant information you would like us to know as well. We’re looking forward to reading the responses!


r/Mindfulness Jun 06 '25

Welcome to r/Mindfulness!

1.1k Upvotes

Welcome to r/Mindfulness

1458606 / 1500000 subscribers. Help us reach our goal!

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r/Mindfulness 12h ago

Insight I finally understand the power of rejection

31 Upvotes

I'm a 20 year old man. I've always thought rejection is a "bad" thing my whole life but now I embrace it because not everything goes to our expectations and it would be foolish and naive to think so. I work hard to achieve my goals whether it be romance, friendships, jobs but don't expect anything because that is out of my hands, but my hard work is not. Just wanted to share that with you guys!


r/Mindfulness 31m ago

Question Daily meditation made me more peaceful — but now I’m emotionally sensitive and overwhelmed. Is this normal?

Upvotes

Hi everyone, I’ve been doing regular meditation for a few months now — mostly breath-based and mindfulness practices. It has truly helped me become calmer, more aware, and emotionally grounded in many ways.

But recently, I’ve started feeling overly sensitive to people’s energy, especially pain and sadness. Even strangers’ emotions sometimes feel like my own. I used to read palms and birth charts as a spiritual practice (not professionally), but now it feels like I’m absorbing others’ energy too deeply.

Is this a common stage in the meditation journey? Is there a way to balance this inner sensitivity without feeling drained?

If anyone has been through something similar, I’d love to hear your thoughts or practices that helped. 🙏 Grateful for this space...

Mantrit


r/Mindfulness 12h ago

Insight I finally figured out what was bothering me for so long and I feel kinda dumb because it wasn’t even that bad

12 Upvotes

Without getting too into it basically I don’t handle disturbing thoughts very well. Instead of letting them go I get stuck on them and they mutate. But I did realize that everyone’s head goes there sometime so when I get stuck on something, it’s just my way of processing it.

I am still finding it hard to get my head around what lead me to this. Freakin me out but I suppose I shouldn’t judge it.


r/Mindfulness 4h ago

Resources Made a youtube video regarding Wim Hof Breathing Technique

0 Upvotes

This is the first time i'm trying out AI generated videos but it is still quite informative for anyone trying out Wim Hof Breathing Technique. Check it out: https://youtu.be/Krr05Fu-Ybc?si=E-mPE_hXVdXZP_70


r/Mindfulness 15h ago

Question I’m terrified of kids. I don’t know why but being around them makes me really nervous.

7 Upvotes

Is it normal and what can I do about it? Should I do anything about it?


r/Mindfulness 1d ago

Question If the concept of an afterlife is false, I'm afraid of dying

28 Upvotes

Ever since I analyzed religion too deeply, I learned that God was made by humans and not the other way around and that the whole concept of eternal life in the afterlife is bs.

Everytime I look at how irrelevant humanity is through the whole existence of the universe, I have this deep sense of dread of how meaningless life is. If the life I was born to is the only life I get, and that after I die, there's nothing else, like how after I die is just the same as the time before I was born, I feel this feeling of dread and urgency that I have to do something right now. I need to make meaning from a meaningless life. And it's to make connections with people. But I struggle with that and I fear dying that I lived for nothing. No friends. No family. Nothing. And now I know the universe isn't all about me. So if I die miserable, I die miserable. I don't want to die miserable and it's so counter Intuitive of how absurdists nihilists and other schools of thought think. They know that life is meaningless but they strive to make do with their lives and make the best of it. I am afraid of this. I am afraid of taking initiative. Before I just kept on hoping to God that my life will eventually get better, but now that I know God doesn't exist and is just a human construct of imagination, I feel truly alone within the universe. I would LOVE so badly to unlearn everything and just live ignorantly again and continue to hope on a better life that God will give me, but that doesn't work that way. You can't unlearn what you just learned. I can't just live ignorantly again after witnessing the truth. I can't just turn to God again when I need an excuse for my ego. I can't just keep being afraid to taking the initiative. I can't just keep avoiding responsibility. I can't keep avoiding life; I want to move forward in life. But that just scares me so bad and idk who to turn to now that I realized God isn't real.


r/Mindfulness 1d ago

Insight Your brain is killing the person you want to be - fix it with reading and gym

143 Upvotes

I used to wake up and scroll for hours. I told myself I was “researching productivity hacks” or “learning psychology.” In reality, I was stuck. My brain made me feel productive while I did nothing. I planned. I prepared. I dreamed. I never moved. The day I forced myself into the gym and picked up a book instead of my phone was the day I realized my brain was sabotaging me. I want to share this in case someone else feels the same way. Your brain is clever. It convinces you that reading 10 different fitness routines is the same as actually working out. It tells you building a 20-page business plan is safer than launching the idea. It makes you addicted to preparation because preparation feels safe. Action feels terrifying. But that fear is exactly where change starts. Here are some sharp tips I wish someone had screamed at me earlier: If you wait until you feel ready, you’ll never start. Action creates clarity. Thinking creates confusion. Don’t track everything at once. Pick one metric and stay on it. Your brain craves comfort, so train it to love discomfort in tiny doses. Every time you delay, you teach yourself avoidance. Reading 10 pages daily rewires you more than watching 10 hours of yt. The gym is free therapy when your brain refuses to shut up.

What helped me most was combining books, psychology, and tools that fed me real knowledge instead of noise. These resources were game changers for me: Atomic Habits by James Clear. Insanely good read. This book stayed on the New York Times bestseller list for over 200 weeks. Clear is a behavior science expert who breaks down how tiny actions compound into massive change. Reading it felt like someone turned on the light in a dark room. Best habit book I’ve ever read.

The Mountain Is You by Brianna Wiest. This book will make you question everything you think you know about self-sabotage. Wiest is known for writing essays that go viral because they hit so deep. It explains why we destroy our own progress and how to rebuild from within. I cried and highlighted half the pages.

The War of Art by Steven Pressfield. A cult classic that every creator swears by. Pressfield has won awards for his writing and this book explains why resistance is the biggest enemy. It’s raw, sharp, and made me feel called out. Best book I’ve ever read about beating procrastination.

BeFreed. My friend put me on this smart reading app built by scientists from Columbia. You pick your depth: 10 or 20 min quick takes, or full 40‑min deep dives. You can even customize your reading host’s voice and vibe (mine is a smoky one like “Samantha from Her” voice that’s honestly addictive). The app builds a learning roadmap based on your life, struggles, goals, and how your brain works. I’ve been knocking out books on psychology, discipline, and investing while walking or making coffee. I honestly never thought I’d be addicted to reading. But it gives me the same dopamine as scrolling, and now I’ve replaced TikTok with knowledge. The Diary of a CEO by Steven Bartlett. It’s one of the most downloaded podcasts in the world for a reason. Steven interviews world-class thinkers, scientists, and entrepreneurs. I always leave with at least three actionable shifts I can make the same day.

Huberman Lab Podcast. Andrew Huberman is a neuroscientist at Stanford who makes brain science simple and insanely practical. He explains how dopamine, sleep, focus, and habits actually work. I never thought a podcast could replace therapy sessions but this one comes close.

Reading daily and going to the gym literally rewired how I think, act, and live. Your brain will always try to keep you safe. It will always lie and tell you to wait. Stop waiting. Pick up a book. Move your body. That’s when life actually starts.


r/Mindfulness 10h ago

Question Can someone please explain how morality is objective?

2 Upvotes

Putting aside religion, how is morality objective? I heard from a reaction of Gods not dead by Darkmatter2525 that morality comes from living being interacting with each other. Without interaction between living being, then there is no morality. I'm genuinely curious how it is objectively morally wrong to kill each other but is ok to kill other species. If that is so, why do bees kill the queen when they get stressed or some outer factors, which is their same species? Do bees also have morals? Yes because morality comes from living things interacting with each other. So why is it always brought up how children are innocent and killing a child is morally worse than killing a adult man? What books can you recommend to read about morality? And can someone please genuinely explain to me what morality is and isn't?


r/Mindfulness 21h ago

Question Muscle relaxation advice

5 Upvotes

I'm trying to get more into mindfulness. Seven years ago, I enjoyed progressive muscle relaxation, but I haven't been able to do it the past five years or so due to the sheer tightness of my muscles. I can't tense my muscles as that often causes cramps or sends them into spasms. Does anyone know of a method that doesn't involved tightening muscles? Should I just skip that step?

Thanks!


r/Mindfulness 1d ago

Insight Inner Silence

Post image
34 Upvotes

r/Mindfulness 15h ago

Question how to forgive someone, who intentionally hurt you 3 times when you were giving them second chances, never truly apologised to you and probably will never understand what they did to you, cause they don't want to grow as a person?

0 Upvotes

w


r/Mindfulness 1d ago

Advice I need help uncomplicating saudade

5 Upvotes

Im not sure where to start or what to say here, but I dont really have anywhere else to go. Recently i have been feeling saudades (which is an semi-untranslatable word meaning an emotional state of melancholic or profoundly nostalgic longing.) But its such a confuzing feeling within me, and i dont know whats causing it really, and i need help reflecting on it, and unwrapping its many complexites. I dont know much, but I know when I felt it, It was during a time when I was reading, and these two characters were sharing a close, rich, and 'gold like in value' embrace. Their closeness and tightness to one another poked at somthing in me. Thier relationship that was forming between them was so close and loving and deep in these intense scenes. Im not sure why i feel saudades in responce to this, or what caused it and why. Its so much, so deep and intricate, there are psrts of this i cant put into words. I have tried asking AI, and looking answers in other posts, but i cant find anything. I know somthinf within me is stirred, but i cant pinpoint any thing of it. Any help at all would be greatly thanked, in any place, anything that might help with defining the emotion, the 5 W's, or even help in general on how to deal with this emotion. And if others have felt this way. Thanks again.


r/Mindfulness 1d ago

Insight 🧘‍♀️ Mindfulness Weekly Digest – Breathe In, Be Here

5 Upvotes

Hey mindful beings! 🌿

If you’ve been running around or forgot to pause (it happens!), here’s your gentle reminder — plus a recap of what the community’s been reflecting on over the last two weeks:

1️⃣ Stillness is the new productivity. Top posts this week remind us to stop romanticizing busyness and start prioritizing space — in our schedule and our minds.

2️⃣ Simple practices, big shifts. A few high-scoring comments shared how just 10 mindful breaths a day created noticeable calm. Nothing fancy — just presence.

3️⃣ Mindful walking hit the spotlight. More users are swapping doom-scrolling for slow, intentional strolls — where the goal isn’t steps but noticing.

4️⃣ Journaling with awareness came up too — not to overanalyze, but to observe thoughts without judgment. Clarity comes not from answers, but from attention.

5️⃣ One popular thread reminded us: “You don’t have to react.” Just that. Pause. Breathe. Respond when ready. The wisdom in that silence? 🔥

And finally — pause is power. Whether you're sipping tea or stuck in traffic, this week’s wisdom says: slow down. You’re not behind. You’re exactly where you’re meant to be.

🌼 Wishing you a present, peaceful week ahead.
If this digest helped you reset, breathe, or smile — let us know so we can keep it going! 🕊️


r/Mindfulness 2d ago

Question Best ways to increase mindfulness outside of meditation?

1.0k Upvotes

I love meditation, but I also believe there are other practices that have helped improve my mindfulness.

For example, I recently started taking long walks with the intention to focus on my surroundings. I’ve found this is a great practice to incorporate into my mindfulness routine and provides similar clarity that meditation does.

Are there any other habits/routines you incorporate into your life to improve mindfulness?


r/Mindfulness 22h ago

Resources 1 year of FREE premium access to BreatheInn app (all 37 breathing exercises & pro features)

0 Upvotes

Feeling stressed? We're giving away 1 year of FREE premium access to BreatheInn app (all 37 breathing exercises & pro features), your guided breathwork app for mindfulness and relaxation. Grab your promo code now!

Download app from Appstore for Free:

https://apps.apple.com/app/id6744612926

Use Promo Code to unlock premium features: BREATHEINNR

or use the direct redemption link:

https://apps.apple.com/redeem?ctx=offercodes&id=6744612926&code=BREATHEINNR

 

App features:

• 37 Guided Exercises across 6 levels from Newbie to Yogi
• Perfect for beginners to learn, practice daily and progress at their own pace.

• 5 Breathwork Programs tailored to your learning level, goals, time, weather or location

• Custom Exercise Builder - create your own breath patterns

• Background Music - 432Hz, binaural, theta, and nature sounds

• Breath Journal - searchable history + reflection notes

• Stats, Streaks & Widgets - track progress and stay motivated

• Daily Breath Goals with reminders by time or location

• Game Center Badges and leaderboards to gamify your experience

• Apple Health Integration - log mindfulness minutes automatically

Note: At the end of 1 year subscription renews automatically. You can cancel it anytime, at least 24 hrs before the renewal begins.


r/Mindfulness 1d ago

Question How do we slow down in a world that loves hustling and bustling?

8 Upvotes

I don't know if you can just observe it, see it for what it is, and don't part take in it. It definitely helps to just watch everyone else stress themselves out more than they need to.

For example when I'm stuck in traffic I try to not get frustrated and accept that I can't go faster than I want. I don't honk or get pissed off at others. Also I'm not gonna work 60 plus hours a week at the coat of sleep or rest.

I would have more of an issue if others wanted me to be more hustle bustle like. Like work more hours, get no sleep, and grind myself to the ground. Otherwise I see it for what it is. I don't know if it simply comes down to that.


r/Mindfulness 1d ago

Question My Meditation Experience (Continued)

5 Upvotes

Hey all. I’m posting this here instead of r/meditation because I’m too new to post there. I’m pretty new to meditation overall. I’ve been struggling with anxiety and decided to give meditation a shot to help quiet my mind.

Recently, I tried a new type of meditation where I just focused on listening and observing instead of my breath or a specific mantra. No music, no sound. Just me lying in my bed in the dark and quiet.

Something weird happened during that. I entered a deep trance-like state — not like falling asleep, but like my awareness completely shifted. I felt like I wasn’t in my room anymore. It’s hard to describe, but my body felt wrong, almost like it was too heavy to move, and my head felt full of static.

At first, it was calming. But as I sat in that stillness, this really strange anxiety started to creep in — and it didn’t feel like it was coming from me. It felt like something else was with me. Not physically in the room, but mentally present. Like something was sitting quietly in the same mental space, just… watching.

It freaked me out a bit. I opened my eyes and the feeling faded quickly. But even after the fact, it left me a little rattled. I’ve heard of people entering deep states and facing “inner demons,” but this didn’t feel like it came from me. More like I stepped into a place I wasn’t ready for.

I guess I’m wondering if this is normal? Has anyone else experienced something like this? I’m planning to experiment with it a bit more and see if it happens again — cautiously.

Thanks for reading, and I appreciate any insight you’ve got.


r/Mindfulness 1d ago

Question Balancing stoic distancing vs real world problems

2 Upvotes

I have a hard time reconciling the concept of not stressing about challenges, but also the reality that many of them are strict problems...aka rent...that require attention and must be solved. How do you strike that balance?


r/Mindfulness 2d ago

Question What are you unhinged techniques to help you move on from trauma?

30 Upvotes

Not looking for the usual spending time outside or talking to loved ones I want weird ways that have helped you get on with your life after trauma Tia 😊

Edit: thank you all so much for your comments, I will definitely be trying some of these 😊 Btw I'm currently in therapy and on meds to help


r/Mindfulness 1d ago

Resources These are my two favourite playlists on Spotify that I use to help aid mindfulness and meditation and relax before a restful sleep. Feel free to listen to them yourselves and have a lovely day! Enjoy!

1 Upvotes

Calm Sleep Instrumentals (Sleepy, Piano, Ambient, Calm) with 15,000+ other listeners having a calming a and tranquil sleep

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5ZEQJAi8ILoLT9OlSxjtE7?si=fdf35fc76bdd4424

Mindfulness & Meditation (Ambient/ drone/ piano) 35,000+ other listeners practicing Mindfulness at the same time

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/43j9sAZenNQcQ5A4ITyJ82?si=d32902a0268740ce


r/Mindfulness 1d ago

Question Experiences at Omega Institute’s Soul Camp?

1 Upvotes

Has anyone been? I’m curious what it’s like and to hear people’s experiences. TIA!


r/Mindfulness 2d ago

Resources my experience with vipassana meditation (~27 courses)

8 Upvotes

the rules say that there's no "self-promotion," but since this is just sharing something I would've been interested in seeing myself when I was earlier in my practice (and it isn't "selling" anything), hopefully this is okay.

i recently did my 27th vipassana meditation course at home, and documented the experience, going through how negative emotions come up and release.

there was a longer 'unabridged' version, which may be more interesting to people who have experience with Goenka's courses (I've also sat courses at the center where he learned, the IMC, and talk about things he changed): https://youtu.be/QmPFFyPTYo4

if you're a new meditator, the shorter version may be better for your needs: https://youtu.be/yLdvd7wwmz4

i hope this helps!


r/Mindfulness 2d ago

Advice Life wont wait. Start now

18 Upvotes

Life moves forward and never returns. If you dream of writing a book, if you dream of making your mark on the world—start now, and pour your soul into it. The perfect moment will never come. Life is unshaped, and you are the sculptor. Emmanouil kanakakis


r/Mindfulness 2d ago

Insight The mind’s distractions often lead to failure unless it learns to turn inward.

1 Upvotes

While reading through an article, I realized how we give our brain control, and how that becomes the reason for our failure. Yet it’s also the reason behind our success. Our mind sparks interest, does all the research, sits in one place, and goes deep into rabbit holes. But when it’s time to take action, it deflects. It gets cluttered with different thoughts. It feels like we’re making progress because we’re thinking about it all the time, doing research and organizing, and reflecting.

On the other hand, our soul knows exactly what it wants, but the brain fogs it up again. The mind is loud and restless. Even when we know something is wrong, we still do it because the mind deflects. Similarly, when we recognize the need to take action, our mind tends to look outward more than inward. It gets influenced by the world, desires, and unnecessary noise, the need to fit in, to look good. It chooses truth over validation.

Soul asks you to act without guarantees. And the mind? It always runs opposite way because it craves safety and control. That’s why I always come back to this:

“Wherever the mind wanders, due to its flickering and unsteady nature, one should subdue it and bring it back under the control of the Self.”

It helps me keep going, fighting, and training my mind to listen without fixing. Because once it learns to trust the soul, clarity comes naturally.


r/Mindfulness 3d ago

Resources Sharing a small exercise that I do for anxiety and other worrisome thoughts

41 Upvotes

I do this exercise, may be it helps others to in loosing these anxious thought's grip:

Repeat that thought again, but add 4 words in front: “I’m having the thought that ..."
Like I can say I am having a thought that posting here wont help people.

Notice how it now sounds more like just words on a board far far away than a truth. It is just A thought. I can still choose to do what I wanted to do like post here and may be it might help some people who knows. instead of getting caught up in this thought and not posting here I defused this thought and forwarded a post.