Download my FREE Habit Change Guide HERE: http://bit.ly/3QKGGFW Download my FREE Breathing Guide HERE: http://bit.ly/3WbGHUw What if the most courageous, compassionate thing you could do in life, was to learn how to be with yourself? It’s a powerful, perhaps surprising idea put forward by this week’s guest, the Buddhist monk, meditation teacher and author Gelong Thubten. Thubten became a monk back in 1993 after suffering from severe physical and mental burnout whilst following his dream of becoming an actor in New York City. His new book, A Handbook for Hard Times: A Monk’s Guide to Fearless Living, draws on what he’s learned over the past 30 years. Its premise is that we can embrace life’s difficulties as opportunities for personal transformation, using hard times to cultivate resilience, kindness, and happiness. We begin our conversation talking about distraction and addiction, two states that are very closely linked. When we distract ourselves by scrolling, overeating, or drinking for example, says Thubten, we’re pushing away emotional pain or discomfort – even if we may not realise it. But the discomfort is really in the pushing. If we can learn instead to sit with what’s making us uncomfortable, those emotions start to transform. So, how exactly are we meant to do this? Thubten explains that one way, is through the practice of meditation and learning how to process negative emotions in the moment, rather than only understanding them in retrospect. The most common misconception is that meditation needs a clear mind. But thoughts are inevitable, and the goal is not to push them away. If we use meditation to sit with our thoughts, rather than escape them, the transformations really start to happen. We become less controlled by negative emotions and start to cultivate positive ones. Meditation can unlock our innate self-compassion and this, in turn, improves our relationship with ourselves and with others. Thubten insists that you can’t fail at meditation, because it really just means ‘being you’. The more we meditate, the less we run away from hard times and fear, and the more we become our true, contented selves. Thubten is an excellent communicator and I hope you enjoy this really special episode. #feelbetterlivemore ----- Connect with Thubten: Website www.gelongthubten.com Twitter https://twitter.com/Gelong_Thubten Instagram https://www.instagram.com/gelongthubten Thubten’s books: Handbook for Hard Times: A monk's guide to fearless living https://amzn.to/3RATiln A Monk's Guide to Happiness: Meditation in the 21st century https://amzn.to/48HuFtJ #feelbetterlivemore #feelbetterlivemorepodcast ------- Sign up to my new newsletter - Friday Five https://drchatterjee.com/fridayfive Order Happy Mind Happy Life. US & Canada version https://amzn.to/3DRxjgp, UK version https://amzn.to/304opgJ Feel Great Lose Weight is available to order in the US & Canada https://amzn.to/2GWPgls and in the UK https://amzn.to/2W6bsOE Dr Chatterjee’s book Feel Better in 5 is out now in the US and Canada https://amzn.to/2EB2oM0 and in the UK https://amzn.to/2G0XK7l Order Dr Chatterjee’s book The Stress Solution https://amzn.to/2MZ8u8h Find Dr Chatterjee’s 4 Pillars of Health in The 4 Pillar Plan available via http://amzn.to/2yGfpuB The US version, How to Make Disease Disappear is available via https://amzn.to/2Gj1YEL ----- Listen to all previous podcast episodes on https://drchatterjee.com/podcast or via these podcast platforms by searching for 'Feel Better, Live More'. Apple Podcasts https://apple.co/feelbetterlivemore Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/6NyPQfcSR9nj0DPDr2ixrK ----- Follow Dr Chatterjee at: Website: https://drchatterjee.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drchatterjee Twitter: https://twitter.com/drchatterjeeuk Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drchatterjee/ Newsletter: https://drchatterjee.com/subscription DISCLAIMER: The content in the podcast and on this webpage is not intended to constitute or be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard on the podcast or on my website.