Jeff- this is such a fabulous essay, even for a long-time meditator! The explicit (and humorous) written guidance about what to expect and how to approach meditation is great for me to share with friends who are still skeptical about practice. Thank you!
I really love these principles - so clearly expressed and so accessible to newcomers.
Have always been such a huge fan of yours - your course on Calm was the first I ever followed and really opened up the world. First time it clicked. Thank you.
The title of this really spoke to me because I am 100 hours into a 1,000 hour experiment. I am trying to persuade London commuters to lay down their phone with the help of a high vis vest and a sense of humour. Definite junior cult leader vibes.
Any tips for this very particular environment very gratefully received!
After 100 hours I'm beginning to get a sense of what meditation here looks like - the space is so bustley that the breath is barely noticeable, but there's so much bustle to listen to and watch.
And because phone use is everywhere, the meditation is defined by being opposite to that - essentially one just watches the mind again and again think of reasons to use the phone! It's more anti-phone training than anything.
The reward from commute meditation is huge though - you arrive home so much more available to your loved ones.
I love this phone-free experiment you describe! I'm a daily rider in the NYC subways and always keep my phone in my bag because I am comfortable standing with the quiet inside my own head. What a different world we could make by encouraging people to use their commuting time for internal quiet.
I (unfortunately) don't have a solid train system where I live but when I regularly visit NYC, I'm on the trains the whole time and amazed at the near 100% phone usage. In airports and general public spaces too. Like Will, I try to fight it with meditation too - especially eyes-open meditations that really take in my surroundings (without making dangerous eye contact that might get me punched!!!)
Such a pleasure to connect with Junior Cult Leaders everywhere! 😃
It really does feel that phones and meditation fight in those gaps, those moments of waiting. I suspect that 20 years ago, people who'd never heard of meditation used to get the benefit of incidental mindfulness in these moments. It probably kept them well without them realising it. The phone has eaten them all up, and so we now need to make an intentional choice. The shame is that there's so little literacy around resting the mind.
Thank you! I've been doing it now since the start of the year. For people who believe in meditation - or at least intermittent digital fasting - it's intensely logical. But it is quite funny that it's literally the polar opposite of what everyone done! Ie it's people's very favourite time to scroll!
It also has the benefit of being a very easy habit it to build. Ie things are easier when you attach it to something you do every day.
For the newcomer who is less comfortable with quiet than you are, I'd say pretty unpleasant for about three weeks but then quite suddenly becomes easier. And - as with meditation generally - you feel a lot of benefits in the rest of life. Feel lighter. And phone use feels more intentional too.
I'm keeping on with it indefinitely I think. Though suspect it will be a while before the rest of London joins in!
Someone should design a pin that we could wear that at a quick look, describes what we’re doing. We’re meditating, standing in presence whether we’re commuting in the airport or on a train. with a QR code that can inform and educate.
Such a great point! I have spent a lot of time pondering this… (two hours a day on the commute, to be precise :-))
I love meditation with all my heart, but for many, I get the benefits feel a bit abstract. However, I’m beginning to fell that Phone Free is a concept everyone gets. As an experiment I actually started making stickers to bridge that gap and have had a few takers already. I say I personally find mindfulness techniques to be a really useful way of using the time / handling the urge to use the phone, but each to their own.
The main benefit of any sticker I think is social commitment, tapping into the commute crowds. Because phones are SO addictive, we need a physical signal to keep us honest. I take it to the (comical) extreme by wearing a high-vis vest, but I honestly would not have stuck to my 1,000-hour goal without that public accountability.
Your idea for a pin or QR code is the perfect way to turn a private practice into a shared statement. It does feel like people are really turning against the phone this year. I feel like I see more people staring into space (or reading a book). Could be a shared rebellion with purpose.
And with that… need to go on my phone free commute now! Lovely to meet you.
This was absolutely lovely for me today. I happened to be sitting outside on a beautiful breezy and sunny day while thinking of myself as a statue in a forest and then watching waves crash on the shore. This meditation left me with a lasting upgrade to my perception of the breeze on my skin. As usual, thank you so much for helping me set the tone for my day.
Jeff- this is such a fabulous essay, even for a long-time meditator! The explicit (and humorous) written guidance about what to expect and how to approach meditation is great for me to share with friends who are still skeptical about practice. Thank you!
I really love these principles - so clearly expressed and so accessible to newcomers.
Have always been such a huge fan of yours - your course on Calm was the first I ever followed and really opened up the world. First time it clicked. Thank you.
The title of this really spoke to me because I am 100 hours into a 1,000 hour experiment. I am trying to persuade London commuters to lay down their phone with the help of a high vis vest and a sense of humour. Definite junior cult leader vibes.
Any tips for this very particular environment very gratefully received!
After 100 hours I'm beginning to get a sense of what meditation here looks like - the space is so bustley that the breath is barely noticeable, but there's so much bustle to listen to and watch.
And because phone use is everywhere, the meditation is defined by being opposite to that - essentially one just watches the mind again and again think of reasons to use the phone! It's more anti-phone training than anything.
The reward from commute meditation is huge though - you arrive home so much more available to your loved ones.
I love this phone-free experiment you describe! I'm a daily rider in the NYC subways and always keep my phone in my bag because I am comfortable standing with the quiet inside my own head. What a different world we could make by encouraging people to use their commuting time for internal quiet.
I (unfortunately) don't have a solid train system where I live but when I regularly visit NYC, I'm on the trains the whole time and amazed at the near 100% phone usage. In airports and general public spaces too. Like Will, I try to fight it with meditation too - especially eyes-open meditations that really take in my surroundings (without making dangerous eye contact that might get me punched!!!)
Love this take on being junior cult leaders!
Such a pleasure to connect with Junior Cult Leaders everywhere! 😃
It really does feel that phones and meditation fight in those gaps, those moments of waiting. I suspect that 20 years ago, people who'd never heard of meditation used to get the benefit of incidental mindfulness in these moments. It probably kept them well without them realising it. The phone has eaten them all up, and so we now need to make an intentional choice. The shame is that there's so little literacy around resting the mind.
Thank you! I've been doing it now since the start of the year. For people who believe in meditation - or at least intermittent digital fasting - it's intensely logical. But it is quite funny that it's literally the polar opposite of what everyone done! Ie it's people's very favourite time to scroll!
It also has the benefit of being a very easy habit it to build. Ie things are easier when you attach it to something you do every day.
For the newcomer who is less comfortable with quiet than you are, I'd say pretty unpleasant for about three weeks but then quite suddenly becomes easier. And - as with meditation generally - you feel a lot of benefits in the rest of life. Feel lighter. And phone use feels more intentional too.
I'm keeping on with it indefinitely I think. Though suspect it will be a while before the rest of London joins in!
Someone should design a pin that we could wear that at a quick look, describes what we’re doing. We’re meditating, standing in presence whether we’re commuting in the airport or on a train. with a QR code that can inform and educate.
Such a great point! I have spent a lot of time pondering this… (two hours a day on the commute, to be precise :-))
I love meditation with all my heart, but for many, I get the benefits feel a bit abstract. However, I’m beginning to fell that Phone Free is a concept everyone gets. As an experiment I actually started making stickers to bridge that gap and have had a few takers already. I say I personally find mindfulness techniques to be a really useful way of using the time / handling the urge to use the phone, but each to their own.
The main benefit of any sticker I think is social commitment, tapping into the commute crowds. Because phones are SO addictive, we need a physical signal to keep us honest. I take it to the (comical) extreme by wearing a high-vis vest, but I honestly would not have stuck to my 1,000-hour goal without that public accountability.
Your idea for a pin or QR code is the perfect way to turn a private practice into a shared statement. It does feel like people are really turning against the phone this year. I feel like I see more people staring into space (or reading a book). Could be a shared rebellion with purpose.
And with that… need to go on my phone free commute now! Lovely to meet you.
This was so lovely junior cult leader. 😂 What a sweet friend you are to your buddy. May he find many sweet moments of peace and relief. 💖TY Jeff.
I loved this meditation Jeff.
Two things you said really touched me as I struggle a bit with aging these days..
“The image of the statue seated in the forest withstanding the elements”
“Ancient and patient”
The other thing you said
The other thing I loved was your mention of gratitude for the “bittersweetness of life”
Another beautiful reminder🙏
Thank you Jeff!!❤️
Meditation advice that also makes me laugh - that’s my sweet spot - thanks 😊
This was absolutely lovely for me today. I happened to be sitting outside on a beautiful breezy and sunny day while thinking of myself as a statue in a forest and then watching waves crash on the shore. This meditation left me with a lasting upgrade to my perception of the breeze on my skin. As usual, thank you so much for helping me set the tone for my day.
I sent this to a friend who is also having a hard time. I hope he will try it.