This is a guided meditation to help the listener learn to embrace aspects of their lives that are painful or otherwise distressing, with greater acceptance and equanimity. It imparts a cognitive / perceptual skill that, once developed, can enhance the listener's ability to navigate life with greater ease and confidence in the face of adversity.

This guided meditation begins with a brief talk about a choice we make each day: to live with mindful attention, or become caught in the busyness of habitual thought patterns. It then leads the listener through a breath focused meditation, followed by the experience of allowing the mind to become distracted and lost in thought. The listener is encouraged to contrast the two experiences and to make a wise choice through mindful practices.

Judgment is easily the most toxic mental habit we can entertain, and it is epidemic in our culture. Through judgment we paint ourselves and the world around us in darker shades and this wears away at our self-esteem and happiness. It's a habit that can be broken by transforming it into dispassionate discernment.

This guided meditation begins with a 5 minute talk that explores the issue, followed by a 7 minute guided meditation that blends mindfulness and cognitive therapy techniques. It provides the listener with the experience of transforming judgement into discernment.