Five Ways to be Less Distracted | Shaila Catherine

Five Ways to be Less Distracted | Shaila Catherine

Practical Buddhist strategies to focus the mind.

Shaila Catherine is a dharma teacher and author of the book titled "Beyond Distraction: Five Practical Ways to Focus the Mind." She authored two additional books on the concentration practices called jhana and approaches to insight meditation. She has practiced for more than 45 years, including nine years, cumulatively, of silent retreat. Shaila has been leading meditation retreats for 30 years, and has developed an array of in-depth online courses offered through BodhiCourses.org.

In this episode we talk about:

  • The Buddha's struggles with distraction
  • Shaila's attempts to make the teachings of the Buddha accessible to contemporary minds
  • The importance of getting to know your own thought patterns
  • the counterintuitive strategy of "avoid it, ignore it, forget it,"
  • Replacing seduction with mindfulness
  • Developing a flexibility of mind
  • And why we're vulnerable to our own tendencies when we're not mindful


This episode originally aired June 29th, 2022.

Related Episodes:

Get the 10% with Dan Harris app here

Sign up for Dan's free newsletter here

Follow Dan on social: Instagram, TikTok

Subscribe to our YouTube Channel

Additional Resources:

This episode is sponsored by:

LinkedIn Ads — Reach the right professionals with precision targeting. Spend $250 and get a $250 credit at http://www.linkedin.com/happier

Quō — The smart business phone system with AI call logging and summaries. Try free + 20% off your first six months at https://www.quo.com/happier

Rosetta Stone — Language learning that's immersive and intuitive. Start learning at https://www.rosettastone.com/happier

Northwest Registered Agent — LLC formation, registered agent service, and free business resources at https://www.northwestregisteredagent.com/Happier-free



To advertise on the show, contact sales@advertisecast.com or visit https://advertising.libsyn.com/10HappierwithDanHarris

Episoder(1032)

The Science of Talking: Boost Your Mood, Sharpen Your Mind, and Protect Against Dementia | Maryellen MacDonald

The Science of Talking: Boost Your Mood, Sharpen Your Mind, and Protect Against Dementia | Maryellen MacDonald

The way you talk to other people (and yourself) can reduce dysregulation and distraction--and lead to better decisions. Maryellen MacDonald is the Donald P. Hayes Professor (emerit) of Psychology and ...

13 Apr 57min

What To Do When Life Won't Let Up | Sebene Selassie and Jeff Warren

What To Do When Life Won't Let Up | Sebene Selassie and Jeff Warren

What does it actually mean to "trust life" — especially when life is handing you something genuinely hard? In this Meditation Party episode (originally aired in 2024), Dan, Sebene Selassie, and Jeff W...

10 Apr 1h 2min

This Episode Will Calm Your Nervous System | Prentis Hemphill

This Episode Will Calm Your Nervous System | Prentis Hemphill

Strategies for getting out of your head and thriving in a chaotic world. Prentis Hemphill is a writer, political organizer, therapist and somatic facilitator. They are the author of the national bests...

8 Apr 1h 6min

Gabor Maté: Five Steps To Stop Scrolling, Bingeing, and Self-Medicating — And Reclaim Your Brain

Gabor Maté: Five Steps To Stop Scrolling, Bingeing, and Self-Medicating — And Reclaim Your Brain

Practical tools to break "automatic habits" and take back your agency.   Gabor Maté is a retired physician who, after 20 years of family practice and palliative care experience, worked for over a deca...

6 Apr 54min

What To Do When Your Mind Won't Quit | Bart van Melik

What To Do When Your Mind Won't Quit | Bart van Melik

Buddhist tools for forgiveness, boredom, worry, and getting out of your head. Meditation teacher Bart van Melik leads a live community Q&A — and the questions that come in are ones most meditators hav...

3 Apr 26min

Modern Life Is Designed to Leave You Empty. Here's the Antidote. | Arthur Brooks

Modern Life Is Designed to Leave You Empty. Here's the Antidote. | Arthur Brooks

Six steps to reclaim your brain, find purpose, and escape the doom loop.   Arthur Brooks is a professor at the Harvard Kennedy School and the Harvard Business School, where he teaches courses on leade...

1 Apr 1h 14min

The Neuroscience of Flourishing: Four Practices for Turning Stress and Anxiety Into Clarity and Calm  | Richard Davidson and Cortland Dahl

The Neuroscience of Flourishing: Four Practices for Turning Stress and Anxiety Into Clarity and Calm | Richard Davidson and Cortland Dahl

The Dalai Lama's longtime collaborator on achieving fundamental okayness, transforming daily annoyances, and rewiring your brain. Richard J. Davidson, PhD, is a Professor of Psychology and Psychiatry ...

30 Mar 1h 6min

Stop Trying to Become Someone New: Get Past Constant Comparison and Return to What Works For You | Sam Sanders

Stop Trying to Become Someone New: Get Past Constant Comparison and Return to What Works For You | Sam Sanders

What if the most meaningful thing you did for your mental health wasn't something new — but a return to what already brings you joy? Dan recently sat down with journalist and broadcaster Sam Sanders o...

27 Mar 53min

Populært innen Helse

fastlegen
rss-gukild-johaug
lydartikler-fra-aftenposten
hvordan-har-du-det-mann
psykodrama
leger-om-livet
relasjonspodden-med-dora-thorhallsdottir-kjersti-idem
rss-garne-damer
foreldreradet
bak-fasaden-en-reise-i-livet-med-sykepleier-ine
morten-ramm-lar-kakla-ga-til-du-sovner
rss-lopedrommen
hormonelle-frida
klimaks
hjernesterk
rss-femihelse
g-punktet
rss-sunn-okonomi
treningsprat
rss-skravla-gar