Don’t try to be mindful | Daron Larson | TEDxColumbus

Mindful Awareness Trainer Daron Larson says although mindfulness has been shown to help decrease stress and increase contentment, many who try it give up convinced they’re doing it wrong. Drawing from his daily practice since 2002, he helps people break through common obstacles and devises ways to address attention-related challenges everyone faces. Daron compares mindfulness practice to physical fitness to help distinguish the benefits from the exercises required to experience them. Just as regular exercise can improve your physical well-being, he argues that training your attention can transform the way you navigate the challenges of everyday life.

Daron Larson helps people feel more at home in their lives by encouraging them to habitually notice ordinary experiences in liberating ways. He has been practicing mindfulness daily to disrupt his own default narrative mode since his first silent meditation retreat in October 2002. He teaches mindfulness practice as attention training, using the challenges and benefits of physical fitness to help navigate similar aspects of developing attentional skills.

[OrAnOr]

I happened to do the same thing one day afternoon, I just try to pretend that I am not a human but a camera trying to record the details of present moment of external environment. A camera doesn’t talk to itself, doesn’t judge, it just observe the world. After I learn about mindfulness, I try to pretend that I am a camera observing both internal and external experience, I try to record the thoughts and feeling of myself without judgement, and I feel more at peace while being able to have regular emotions like a human.

[BikiniDeathSquad]

the daily reality of adult life makes me lose sight of what a pleasure it is to be alive

[marvinfunk]

Over the past 5 years after discovering Daron's talk, I've watched it dozens of times and sent the link to dozens of my friends and family. The way he captures the essence of life is both accurate and insightful. And when Daron invites us to be understand what it means to be mindful in our lives - its a gift I'm truly thankful for.

[zahidrafique]

This is realistic. Yes. Life is messy but the way to encounter it by accepting it, and practice mindfulness not just to get rid of messiness of life but to improve life even if it's messy. Great message.

[moonkookie]

This makes total sense. I knew for a fact that going on a vacation, going to the mountain for a week, or to the sea for a week, gives me so much creativity and relaxation. And the truth is, I thought it just wasn't a possibility in regular busy life. But listening to this, I've realized, when I'm in the nature, i am more in tune with it, with myself, more present physically, more mindful. I don't judge myself, nor the surroundings, i don't plan. I just am. And listening to this I've realized i can simulate the same thing here at home. It's not the same, but as you've said, even if it's just 15mins/24h, it matters. Thank you!

[mattsniper]

Isn’t it amazing how human beings actually need something called mindfulness to remind them that reality is always here and now? We’re so caught up in the dream of thought and make believe stories of our lives that we need a practice to actually live life as it actually is, right here, right now.

[Tam]

I think this is one of the most realistic talks I've seen on how mindfulness can be applied, and how it is useful in every day life.

[smckinnon]

Mindfulness is a modern day super power that all of us can learn.

[FensterwischerX]

7:30 "Your strategy for living in the present will go a lot better when you accept how frequently the present sucks"

[awakenow]

Literally the most practical explanation of mindfulness I've ever heard. Bar none.

[brandonunglaub]

One of the clearest and most straightforward explanations of mindfulness and meditation I've heard. Awesome talk.

[chucktanner]

I really love this talk. There's an uplifting pessimism in it that speaks to me.The topic is something that I've known for a long time, but sometimes good ideas go over your head until someone puts it in terms you can personally relate to. Thanks Daron.

[ToddMatthewsFitness]

Back a few years later for a second watch. Clearly one of the best talks on mindfulness ever. Every year I should watch Shauna Shapiro's TED talk, and this one as well. Brilliant. Thank you again Daron.

[jungletribal]

useful insightful and unselfish vidoes on youtube. and this is one of them, thankyou.

[DrSeethe]

it seems like he talks about a different way to be mindful rather than talking about 'dont try to be mindful'

really good content. helped a lot.

[israaafeef]

I honestly love this talk
Most of us constantly thinking about the future and worrying about the stuff that's gonna happen without even realizing that it's just thoughts and a battle on our mind that makes us anxious and trapped
We need to practice paying attention for the things that's happening in the present right now;)
Again it was a great lesson i love it

[pontiacmon]

So I had to pause it at 4:36, and at this point I realize that this guy is a genius. I know that I will definitely finish watching it,  watch it again, and share it with others,     many others.

[priscilanascimento]

One of the best talks about Mindfulnee, more realistic and down to earth I’ve ever heard. Thank you!

[MeMe-odmg]

We're definitely more present when we are kids. Not always though. Coming from a traumatizing childhood, whenever the present, as a kid, was nerve-wracking I'd simply think about the future as a way to block what was going on around me. So I think it does depend on one's childhood. Lately, I realized that whenever my mind starts thinking about the future frequently it's a good indicator that the present sucks and I need to do something about it.

[nguyenthiquynh]

I love his talk! He's humorous, charming and what he said reminds me of things that I've forgot - to remember & to practice mindfulness. It's that moment-to-moment practice of pausing & picking a thing to notice, maybe what/how you're seeing or hearing, or feeling in a part of your body, etc. I had done that before & I remember it felt good, but I later failed to keep it as a habit & even lost touch of what to do to practice again when I wanted to. Thank you for reminding me. Once again, lovely talk! Thank you