I spent 2 days living at a Buddhist Monastery. Here are 3 things I learned:

1. How wonderful silence is

At the monastery, we practiced "Noble Silence." This is a period of complete silence that starts after dinner and lasts until after breakfast the next day. Being silent at night helped me fall asleep faster. And not having to make small talk at breakfast That was a blessing I never realized I needed.

2. I've been eating wrong

Every meal was enjoyed in complete silence. This was awkward at first & amazing once I got used to it. It made my food taste better, and I never realized how distracted I usually was at mealtimes. I ate slower and got full a lost faster.

This habit came home with me without me realizing it. I found myself eating breakfast today in silence, with my phone in a different room. Like most people, I used to always catch up on texts/podcasts while eating. But after experiencing how pleasant a fully present meal is, I can't go back.

3. Do everything with 100% focus

When you are breathing, know that you are breathing. When you are eating, know that you are eating. Thích Nhất Hạnh founded the monastery I was at and he was BIG on doing one single thing at a time. When you give 100% of your focus to ONE task...You show up with a powerful presence that's rare.

Shownotes:

Visit Deerpark Monastery in San Diego:

https://deerparkmonastery.org/visit/