logo
episode-header-image
Jan 2024
1h 6m

How to Start (Restart, or Upgrade) Your ...

10% Happier
About this episode

New episodes come out every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday for free, with 1-week early access for Wondery+ subscribers.

---

Kabat-Zinn on the nitty gritty practicalities of starting a practice, being fully present with no agenda, and letting go of “the story of me.”

Jon Kabat-Zinn, PhD, is professor of medicine emeritus at the University of Massachusetts Medical School. Back in the 1970s, he came up with something called Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction, or MBSR, which is a secular way of teaching Buddhist meditation. He’s written many books, including Full Catastrophe Living; Wherever You Go, There You Are; and Coming to Our Senses. His latest book is called Mindfulness Meditation for Pain Relief.

In this episode we talk about:

  • The nitty gritty practicalities of starting a practice
  • How he’s learned to be more relaxed about his practice—including advocating for meditating in bed  
  • How to practice being fully present with no agenda 
  • How investigating your motivations—something most people don’t do— can help you be more mindful 
  • How to practice letting go of “the story of me”

Related Episodes:

Tripping Out with a Legend: Jon Kabat-Zinn on Pain vs. Suffering, Rethinking Your Anxiety, and the Buddha's Teaching in a Single Sentence

Jon Kabat-Zinn | Meditation as a Love Affair

Jon Kabat-Zinn, Creator of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction

Sign up for Dan’s weekly newsletter here

Follow Dan on social: Instagram, TikTok

Ten Percent Happier online bookstore

Subscribe to our YouTube Channel

Our favorite playlists on: Anxiety, Sleep, Relationships, Most Popular Episodes

Full Shownotes: https://www.tenpercent.com/tph/podcast-episode/jon-kabat-zinn-2024

Up next
Yesterday
The Science Of Manifestation: Can This Stanford Neuroscientist Convince A Skeptical Dan To Give It A Shot? | Dr. James R. Doty
Six practical steps to harness the full power of your mind. Our guest today is James R. Doty, a neurosurgeon who has just written a whole book about the science of manifestation – although, as you’ll hear him admit, there’s very little ‘magic’ involved in his process. James R. Do ... Show More
1h 16m
Jul 7
Ezra Klein On: Sane News Consumption; The Power of Meditation; The Future of the Species; And the Message of His Tattoo
On maintaining sanity in insane times. Ezra Klein is an opinion columnist and host of the award-winning Ezra Klein Show podcast at The New York Times. His latest book is Abundance, co-authored with Derek Thompson. He is also the author of Why We’re Polarized, an instant New York ... Show More
1h 15m
Jul 6
How Meditation Can Help You Handle Injured Feelings and Injured Muscles | Dawn Mauricio
Plus: How to build a meditation practice you keep coming back to. We’re in the midst of an exciting evolution of the overall 10% Happier project. In our quest to make this podcast more actionable – to help you operationalize all the game-changing ideas you encounter on this pod – ... Show More
24m 38s
Recommended Episodes
Mar 2022
Mindfulness is a Radical Act of Sanity | Jon Kabat-Zinn
This week’s conversation is with Dr. Jon Kabat-Zinn, a Professor of Medicine emeritus at the University of Massachusetts Medical School, where in 1995, he founded the Center for Mindfulness in Medicine, Health Care, and Society and in 1979, its world-renowned Mindfulness-Based St ... Show More
1h 11m
Jul 2022
10 Benefits of Meditation for Transforming the Mind and Body w/John R. Miles EP 160
The ancient practice of meditation is as pertinent today as it was two millennia ago when it was discovered. Amid the turmoil of life, we all could use the scientific benefits of meditation which provides a simple yet effective and convenient way to relax your body, calm your min ... Show More
24m 37s
Feb 2024
Mindful Momentum: Reflect and Recharge, Day 7 Healthy Habits Meditations
Recharge your spirit as you reflect on the events of the past week in this nurturing meditation. Cultivate self-compassion and clarity of purpose as you lay the groundwork for healthy habits in the days ahead. Welcome to a meditation series guiding you through a weeklong journey ... Show More
12m 16s
Jun 2024
Mindful Abundance:, Day 7: "Fullness of Life: Overcoming Worry with Abundance" meditation series
Today's guided meditation experience is a versatile meditation designed for both seated practice indoors, or walking outdoors. This guided meditation incorporates mindfulness techniques to cultivate a sense of abundance and reduce worries. Whether seated or walking, you'll focus ... Show More
16m 23s
Aug 2023
Living Intentionally, Day 7 Become Indomitable Meditations
Adopt a mindset to live more intentionally to help keep you focused on what matters most in life. Meet the New Your Times triple best-selling author and wellness coach, JJ Virgin, and discover how to begin a journey to become indomitable in health and wellness, and with your mind ... Show More
10m 12s
Mar 2023
Amanda Gilbert | Can Meditation Help You Live Longer? What The Research Shows on Meditation & Cellular Aging, Telomere Health KKP: 551
Today, I am blessed to have here with me Amanda Gilbert. One of Amanda's high school teachers led her in meditation. This particular homeschool in the middle of West Virginia focused on search and rescue and outdoor survival skills, but it was also a special high school that incl ... Show More
1h 11m
Sep 2023
Optimize Your Health for a Vibrant Future, Day 6 Mindful Habits Meditation
Meditate, thrive, and repeat. In today's episode be guided in healthy habits for a mindful future. This week, we launch into a meditation series based on creating Mindful Habits to nurture positive behavior. You'll discover how your gene expression can impact the way you respond ... Show More
26m 55s
Apr 2023
Breathing Technique to Start Your Day, Day 3 Marcus Aurelius Meditations
Be guided in a breathing technique to start your day with focus and clarity. This week's series of meditations are based on the classic book, "Meditations of Marcus Aurelius," who was a Roman emperor who ruled from 161-180 A.D. You'll be guided in meditations from his book. His r ... Show More
18m 1s
Feb 2024
The Habit of Mental Focus, Day 6 Healthy Habits Meditations
Be guided with insight and a meditation for instant mental clarity. Welcome to a meditation series guiding you through a weeklong journey to create healthy habits. In this week's series, you're guided as you gain clarity about how to live your best life. This is part 6 of a 7-par ... Show More
15m 55s
Jun 2024
Prosperity Mindset, Day 1: "Fullness of Life: Overcoming Worry with Abundance" meditation series
Welcome to our meditation series on living with abundance by reducing worry. This is a replay of a popular series by request. In it, we will explore techniques to shift your mindset from scarcity to abundance, allowing you to release anxieties and embrace a life of fullness and p ... Show More
16m 38s