#338 Discomfort: A Counterintuitive Source of Hope | Sebene Selassie
As you may know, we are in the midst of a two-week series on hope – a concept we are trying to rescue from the realm of rote cliche and empty bromides. Our belief is that hope, when properly understood and practiced, is not baseless optimism or naivete…it is a powerful skill.
Today’s guest Sebene Selassie has earned her capacity to hope the hard way. She has survived multiple rounds of advanced cancer. She is the author of an excellent book called You Belong, and is one of the most popular teachers on the Ten Percent Happier meditation app. And as part of the work we are doing to train people in the skill of hope right now, she has recorded some brand new meditations for the app. If you’re a subscriber, tap on the “Singles” tab in the app to check those out or click here. You’ll also find a variety of other new meditations and talks – all of which revolve around the theme of hope as a skill.
In this interview, Seb talks about: hope as it relates to Buddhist concepts such as karma, impermanence, and the Eightfold Path; what it means to not be in contention with reality; the difference between “let it be” and “let it go;” and what hope means in the context of the climate crisis. We also talk about a private conversation that she and I recently had that was very challenging for both of us, but also gave us both cause for hope.
If you enjoy hearing from Sebene and want to try her meditations on the Ten Percent Happier app, but you’re not yet a subscriber, now’s the time! In addition to getting immediate access to Sebene’s meditations in the “Hope is a Skill” topic, there are tons of resources for starting, rebooting, or going deeper into your personal meditation practice. Just click here to get started or download the Ten Percent Happier app today, for free, wherever you get your apps. And if you’re already a subscriber, check out our "Hope is a Skill" meditations here.
Where to find Sebene Selassie online:
Book Mentioned:
Meditation Mentioned:
- Sebene’s Mindfulness of Elements meditation on the Ten Percent Happier app
- More about the Mindfulness of Elements (or Four Elements) practice
Other Resources Mentioned:
- Dan Clurman and Mudita Nisker, communication coaches
- The Overstory by Richard Powers
- The Satipatthana Sutta
- The Venerable Bhikkhu Anālayo
Additional Resources:
- Ten Percent Happier Live: https://tenpercent.com/live
- Coronavirus Sanity Guide: https://www.tenpercent.com/coronavirussanityguide
- Free App access for Frontline Workers: https://tenpercent.com/care
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