I loved the question about the monitoring - how many days, hours, etc. My competitive sense loves it - my shaming sense is bothered by it - if I miss a day or two or so - I can't look at it. PS - my favorite part of Andy's meditations is at the end of the meditations when he tells us to let the mind just do what it wants to do.
Love the work both of your companies do. Andy, I have really enjoyed seeing your videos and doing the meditation, have helped me very much during these times. Action for Happiness is great. We share your calendars every month with our staff, parents, and Board. Thank you for doing them in different languages. Our program is very focused on promoting wellness. We have someone on staff who starts our leadership and general staff meetings with a mindfulness session. We started our teacher conference with a meditation moment.
Andy has a martial artist vibe to me. Like the random laughs are a thin veneer over carefully controlled strength that could explode at any moment, mafia-style. That's it. Tony Soprano-ish. Never noticed that before..like in another life he has a lethal temper. If meditation bestows that kind of power and self-control, whoa. Kudos.
As a person who has PTSD, and knowing a bit of his background and now more detail of the traumas he experienced, I think you are correct. I know what it is like to live with trauma history and for it to take over. The app alone has never given me the full tools to move on, but I also know that following him for over 10 years now, this is the first time I have heard the background of his traumas and early experiences before he moved to full Buhhdist mediation at a monostary. I think that the app gives a glimse of what we can find, but the guided meditation practice provides a secular practice that is certainly beneficial. I honestly believe that he does have the benefit of full immersion, ability to spend a number of years away from the world developing the skills and then teaching as a skilled monk. Having said that, I believe that the secular practices, founded in Buhhdist practices and a high level of skill and mastery, is similiar to what you described as the mastery of martial arts, that we can benefit from the foundational principles that we receive and get to practice with the app. It is great that he has this level of control, I have worked with Headspace first for 4 years, then could not afford it anymore, then therapeutically, and deeper with some of the study and practice of Vipassana Buddhism. I am nowhere near that with my mental health, but still believe it is possible, it is a life long practice, to first be aware of the old habits, and then to learn new habits, then to maintain the skills. I u;nfortunately missed the free offer of weathering the storm. I see it now and will also look back to the free two weeks as it is a refresher of the thousands of hours I already spent with the app. For his work and foundational skills, I am greatful.
@@brucesparks wow, thank you for sharing. I resisted the app for a long time too due to cost (and I still find it distateful the way the business model does not prioritize paying customers. Giving more weight to profits and shareholders, the worst side of capitalism, against mental health, is off-putting, to say the lesst. For example, to me, after four years of paid membership, as a trauma survivor, you should get VIP consideration, and the opportunity, if you need it, to pay on a sliding scale according to your ability to pay. It is a bad look on him and his company, same as when I read Google play store reviews from kids suffering from anxiety and insomnia who finally found relief through a free trial period with the app but can't afford to continue. Reading them begging, perrified of not being able to sleep again, is heartbreaking. The business generates enough profit that they can afford to charge memberships on a sliding scale. I emailed more than once making my case, to no avail.) But then, they have the upper hand. After shopping around and trying other meditation apps I definitely came back to head space. But my membership is set to expire in February and I don't plan to renew it. The practice they teach (exceptionally well) is fine but when conduct and integrity are not in alignment, I don't feel any loyalty. The platform could easily allow for more member interaction as well, as we have here on UA-cam, while ducking and dodging trolls lol. They keep us totally separated and no doubt they have their reasons.. Hard to say all that because I really do like him a lot, but apparently me picking up on that mercenary spirit means it was not completely extinguished by however many years in a monastery..Nothing colder than cash in the hands of a millionaire capitalist. Put PEOPLE before profits, always. Nothing wrong with being rich. Good for him and his fam. Capitalism, a free, competitive market, is fine too, nothing wrong with it. So long as our priorities are straight. Again, thank you for sharing your journey, @BruceSparks (with a super hero name like that, your story will continue to unfold in abundance of good things, I know it. 🙏) Wish you the best! You inspired me, thanks. 🤗
I loved the question about the monitoring - how many days, hours, etc. My competitive sense loves it - my shaming sense is bothered by it - if I miss a day or two or so - I can't look at it. PS - my favorite part of Andy's meditations is at the end of the meditations when he tells us to let the mind just do what it wants to do.
I actually feel so awesome to be part of this. Keep going guys.
Love the work both of your companies do. Andy, I have really enjoyed seeing your videos and doing the meditation, have helped me very much during these times. Action for Happiness is great. We share your calendars every month with our staff, parents, and Board. Thank you for doing them in different languages. Our program is very focused on promoting wellness. We have someone on staff who starts our leadership and general staff meetings with a mindfulness session. We started our teacher conference with a meditation moment.
I also use it in my Mindfulness Studies class I teach.
thank you guys! a listening practitioner from peru ! iwill write fior my code for headspace availability free as ian an awake 71 yr young person
Thank you Gents - interesting and very enjoyable
Andy has a martial artist vibe to me. Like the random laughs are a thin veneer over carefully controlled strength that could explode at any moment, mafia-style. That's it. Tony Soprano-ish. Never noticed that before..like in another life he has a lethal temper. If meditation bestows that kind of power and self-control, whoa. Kudos.
As a person who has PTSD, and knowing a bit of his background and now more detail of the traumas he experienced, I think you are correct. I know what it is like to live with trauma history and for it to take over. The app alone has never given me the full tools to move on, but I also know that following him for over 10 years now, this is the first time I have heard the background of his traumas and early experiences before he moved to full Buhhdist mediation at a monostary. I think that the app gives a glimse of what we can find, but the guided meditation practice provides a secular practice that is certainly beneficial. I honestly believe that he does have the benefit of full immersion, ability to spend a number of years away from the world developing the skills and then teaching as a skilled monk.
Having said that, I believe that the secular practices, founded in Buhhdist practices and a high level of skill and mastery, is similiar to what you described as the mastery of martial arts, that we can benefit from the foundational principles that we receive and get to practice with the app.
It is great that he has this level of control, I have worked with Headspace first for 4 years, then could not afford it anymore, then therapeutically, and deeper with some of the study and practice of Vipassana Buddhism. I am nowhere near that with my mental health, but still believe it is possible, it is a life long practice, to first be aware of the old habits, and then to learn new habits, then to maintain the skills.
I u;nfortunately missed the free offer of weathering the storm. I see it now and will also look back to the free two weeks as it is a refresher of the thousands of hours I already spent with the app.
For his work and foundational skills, I am greatful.
@@brucesparks wow, thank you for sharing. I resisted the app for a long time too due to cost (and I still find it distateful the way the business model does not prioritize paying customers. Giving more weight to profits and shareholders, the worst side of capitalism, against mental health, is off-putting, to say the lesst. For example, to me, after four years of paid membership, as a trauma survivor, you should get VIP consideration, and the opportunity, if you need it, to pay on a sliding scale according to your ability to pay. It is a bad look on him and his company, same as when I read Google play store reviews from kids suffering from anxiety and insomnia who finally found relief through a free trial period with the app but can't afford to continue. Reading them begging, perrified of not being able to sleep again, is heartbreaking. The business generates enough profit that they can afford to charge memberships on a sliding scale. I emailed more than once making my case, to no avail.)
But then, they have the upper hand. After shopping around and trying other meditation apps I definitely came back to head space. But my membership is set to expire in February and I don't plan to renew it. The practice they teach (exceptionally well) is fine but when conduct and integrity are not in alignment, I don't feel any loyalty. The platform could easily allow for more member interaction as well, as we have here on UA-cam, while ducking and dodging trolls lol. They keep us totally separated and no doubt they have their reasons..
Hard to say all that because I really do like him a lot, but apparently me picking up on that mercenary spirit means it was not completely extinguished by however many years in a monastery..Nothing colder than cash in the hands of a millionaire capitalist.
Put PEOPLE before profits, always. Nothing wrong with being rich. Good for him and his fam. Capitalism, a free, competitive market, is fine too, nothing wrong with it. So long as our priorities are straight.
Again, thank you for sharing your journey, @BruceSparks (with a super hero name like that, your story will continue to unfold in abundance of good things, I know it. 🙏)
Wish you the best! You inspired me, thanks. 🤗
Amazing meditation
Hi from Guildford Surrey