Given that the wish to be happy is universal, you’d think that happiness would be a core subject at school, and that we’d all be pretty expert on happiness and its causes. But the truth is, most people are somewhat hazy about it. The title of a recent book by Daniel Gilbert, Prof of Psychology at Harvard University, says it...
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Eight ways that mind training is like body training
As a regular gym goer, as well as long-term meditator, I am often struck by the similarities between mind training and physical training. The same rules that apply to an exercise regime – be that the gym, yoga, bike riding or running – also generally apply to meditation and mindfulness. Here are a few of them: 1. Results are not...
Mindfulness vs Meditation: what’s the difference?
Mindfulness is ’paying attention to the present moment deliberately and non-judgmentally.’ This is perhaps the most widely-accepted definition. If you were to ask a room of 30 people to practise mindfulness for a minute, and then asked them what they’d been mindful of, chances are you’d get a variety of answers, ranging from mindfulness of ambient noise, such as birdsong...
Win one of 5 free copies of ‘Why Mindfulness is Better than Chocolate’!
Dear Fellow Meditators and Readers, FIVE FREE COPIES OF ‘WHY MINDFULNESS IS BETTER THAN CHOCOLATE’ UP FOR GRABS I am delighted to let you know that that I’ll be mailing free, signed copies of my new book to the FIVE winners of a raffle, held over the next week. Entering the raffle is free of charge, and should take you...
Take the six week meditation challenge!
One of biggest challenges faced by newcomers to meditation is getting into the habit of meditating. We may start with the best intentions. After going to a meditation seminar, reading a book, or listening to an inspiring speaker we may decide: this is it! I’m convinced by the many benefits. I want to make meditation part of my life. But...
Get your free David Michie guided meditations here!
One of the biggest challenges faced by people wanting to meditate is a very simple one: where do I start? When during my busy day should I do it? How can I make the time? And now that I’m sitting in a quiet room, what meditation practice should I use? My book, Why Mindfulness is Better than Chocolate, has a...
Why Mindfulness is Better than Chocolate – read the first chapter here
I am delighted to be sharing the first chapter of my book, Why Mindfulness is Better than Chocolate right here! For readers in USA, Canada and UK, the book is called just Mindfulness is Better than Chocolate. It has a different cover, but the same mouth-watering content! CHAPTER ONE All of human unhappiness is due to the inability to sit...
The Great Gatsby and The Dalai Lama’s Cat
In a previous blog I mentioned some of the references in The Dalai Lama’s Cat to one of my all time favourite novels, The Great Gatsby (see: http://davidmichie.com/blog/2013/12/03/the-dalai-lamas-dog/) In this blog I’d like to share a little snippet about the exchanges between the Dalai Lama’s Cat (HHC) and Mambo, her love interest. Mambo is a tabby cat from ‘the wrong...
Why I began to meditate – and how I discovered it was working
Why would a busy PR person working in central London decide that meditating is a good idea? And how might he discover that it was having beneficial effects? In this three minute video I reveal all! ************ I hope you found this useful! Here’s a few things you can do: Sign up for my newsletter. You’ll hear from me...
What Pussy Riot can teach us about compassion
One of my favourite words in Buddhism is ‘realisation.’ It’s used a fair bit – ‘May you have many realisations’ – but it was a few years before I discovered what it meant. My teacher explained, with his usual elegant practicality, that a realisation is ‘when your understanding of a subject deepens to the point that it changes your...
One New Year’s Resolution is enough!
As we approach that time of the year when New Year Resolutions are talked about, I’d like to share an insight from one of my favourite books, Willpower, Rediscovering the Greatest Human Strength, by Roy Baumeister and John Tierney. To summarise, while willpower is a quality we can – and arguably should – all develop more of, on a day...
The Dalai Lama’s Cat and The Out of Africa connection
Part of The Dalai Lama’s Cat dedication reads: In loving memory of our own little Rinpoche, Princess Wussik of the Sapphire Throne. She brought us joy; we loved her well. Readers of the Dalai Lama’s Cat books will already have formed a good idea of His Holiness’s Cat’s distinctive, quirky and adorable personality – based entirely on our own...
