Happier Meditation

I was diagnosed with generalized anxiety disorder two years ago, and was told that I’ve probably been suffering from it much longer than I realized. Fast forward to 2020 - I became a first-time mom at 38 years old, suffered from postpartum depression, and just when I was starting to find my footing, the world was immediately hurled into the COVID-19 pandemic. The stress wreaked havoc on my body. Everyday I felt like I was physically drowning; my chest was cramped, my muscles ached, I was permanently exhausted but couldn’t sleep, and my brain was foggy. I tried taking anxiety medication and it made me extremely nauseous, which further triggered my anxiety. I thought I was doomed; I felt so helpless. Then I read Dan Harris’s book, 10% Happier, and I figured if meditation helped him, maybe it would help me. Now I use the app daily, in conjunction with a daily routine that involves yoga, reasonably healthy eating, supplements as recommended by my physician, and continued communication and collaboration with my support net of friends and family. It’s part of a bigger picture, and it has made a world of difference. Physically, the chest tightness and muscular tension have decreased significantly. And mentally I find myself much more resilient in the face of stress, especially the kind induced by the intrusive irrational fears that come with GAD. Thank you to the 10% Happier team. In my case, “10% Happier” would be an understatement.

I dare say if you were able to quantify how much “bang for your buck” you can get out of any app out there - This has to be #1. I can’t even begin to describe how effective this little gem has been at helping me learn the basics of meditation, manage my stress, learn more about myself as a human and increase my overall well being. I purchased this in May of 2019, it is now January 2020 and I will without a doubt renew next years subscription. I have a very stressful but rewarding job and was in the verge of burnout. Now, I feel in control and have been more productive than ever. I just found that taking time each morning for the practice lead to a better day. I am now taking a beginners meditation class with a group at a Dharma center and it’s lead me down a path I didn’t even fully understand I needed and could use but I’m glad to be on it. The hardest part for me was getting in the habit of using this daily. Luckily they have SO MANY ways to integrate meditation and mindfulness into your daily life and tips to help you do it. The videos are wonderfully produced, sound quality is top notch, the teachers are very knowledgeable diverse and insightful. They are also funny and relatable and not just all a bunch of “new-agey woo-woo!” I have my favorites and you will too. This was the best app investment I’ve ever made. I highly recommend.

I find this program to be rich with workable options and opportunities to learn about (and manage, bit by bit) my mind and entrenched mental habits. It has helped me in several ways, maybe because it gets straight to a point without any pseudo-spiritual “fluff”. It is not about stopping thought. Rather, I see it as helping users to notice and learn about one’s habitual thoughts, emotions and responses. For example I notice feeling less scattered, and less reactive since starting 10%H a year+ ago. It is a subtle vs dramatic shift. The speaker/guides are racially and culturally diverse and have very different styles and approaches to choose from. 10% H coach Joshua has enhanced my ability to navigate the sessions with timely, personal, practical suggestions. The app keeps developing as a work in progress which I like. 10% Happier is a realistic name for this app. I hope it is increasingly available to folks who have different kinds of devices other than iPhones. I recommend it highly. Thank you Dan Harris, Joseph Goldstein, Joshua and all of you who design and teach this practical approach to meditation. You have made a very positive difference not only for me but also for others to whom I have gifted your program. Well done.