<p dir="ltr">A conversation with <a href="https://www.jaymichaelson.net/">Jay Michaelson</a>, our Teacher of the Month for February, about his path to meditation, navigating multiple identities, and why he calls himself a "cynical, sarcastic bitch."</p> <p dir="ltr">Jay Michaelson is a meditation teacher, journalist, rabbi, and author. In this conversation with executive producer DJ Cashmere, Jay gets candid about his unconventional path into meditation—driven initially by greed for mystical experiences rather than a desire to reduce suffering—and how his practice has evolved over 25 years.</p> <p dir="ltr">We talk about:</p> <ul> <li dir="ltr"> <p dir="ltr">Why Jay identifies as a "greed type" in Buddhist psychology (and what that means)</p> </li> <li dir="ltr"> <p dir="ltr">How to balance worldly activism with contemplative practice without getting "hollowed out"</p> </li> <li dir="ltr"> <p dir="ltr">The concept of creating a "permission structure" to live the life you actually want</p> </li> <li dir="ltr"> <p dir="ltr">That moment of spaciousness between stimulus and response (and how it saved Jay when he got heckled during LGBTQ activism)</p> </li> <li dir="ltr"> <p dir="ltr">Whether meditation can help save humanity—and why Jay is both cynical and hopeful about this</p> </li> <li dir="ltr"> <p dir="ltr">How neurotic Jay still is after 25 years of practice (spoiler: he's less reactive, but still neurotic)</p> </li> <li dir="ltr"> <p dir="ltr">"Micro-moments" of awareness—five-second practices for people who can't go on long retreats</p> </li> </ul> <p dir="ltr">Jay's guided meditations and live sangha sessions are available throughout February in the 10% Happier app. You can also find him at <a href="http://jaymichaelson.substack.com/">jaymichaelson.substack.com</a>, where he writes Both/And, a newsletter about the intersection of spirituality, meditation, and politics.</p> <p dir="ltr"> </p> <p dir="ltr">Join Dan's online community <a href="http://www.danharris.com/">here</a></p> <p dir="ltr">Follow Dan on social: <a href="https://bit.ly/3tGigG5">Instagram</a>, <a href="https://bit.ly/3FOA84J">TikTok</a></p> <p dir="ltr">Subscribe to our <a href="https://bit.ly/3FybRzD">YouTube Channel</a></p> <p><strong> </strong></p> <p dir="ltr">To advertise on the show, contact sales@advertisecast.com or visit <a href="https://advertising.libsyn.com/10HappierwithDanHarris">https://advertising.libsyn.com/10HappierwithDanHarris</a></p> <p> </p>
Actionable Insights
1. Heal Mind for Societal Change
Recognize that many societal and political problems stem from maladaptive human mind patterns, and utilize “technologies of self-improvement” like meditation to foster healing and transformation at a fundamental level.
2. Balance Worldly and Spiritual Pursuits
Nourish both your worldly, action-oriented side (e.g., activism, career) and your spiritual, contemplative side (e.g., meditation, presence) to maintain resilience and avoid feeling hollowed out.
3. Fortify Self for World Engagement
Engage in personal practices like meditation and self-care to build resilience and fortify yourself, enabling more effective participation and engagement with the world’s challenges.
4. Practice Micro-Moments of Awareness
Instead of relying solely on long retreats, engage in “small moments many times” throughout the day, such as a five-second practice of releasing and dropping into awareness, to build capacity for presence and cultivate happiness.
5. Benefit from Meditation’s Carryover
Understand that even short periods of meditation, like 20 minutes in the morning or five-second micro-practices, create a “resonance or residue” that carries over, providing a beneficial spillover effect into your busy daily life.
6. Observe Emotions, Don’t Be Captured
Practice being aware of your emotional state (e.g., anger) without being fully captured by it, allowing you to take intentional steps like creating space or choosing not to react immediately.
7. Pause Before Responding
Develop a moment of “spaciousness” between a stimulus and your response, allowing you to think tactically and choose a calm, reasonable, and effective action rather than reacting impulsively.
8. Recognize Physical Trigger Cues
Pay attention to physical sensations (e.g., heartbeat, heat, tense arms) as an internal barometer for when you are triggered or activated, using this awareness to exercise caution and choose not to respond impulsively.
9. Embrace Uncomfortable Moments
Cultivate the ability to be present with uncomfortable moments, such as apologizing, owning mistakes, or being accountable, as this practice helps difficult emotions pass more quickly and facilitates repair in relationships.
10. Integrate Peak Experiences into Life
Translate insights and positive states gained from peak experiences, such as those from deep meditation, into your daily life to prevent self-sabotage and reduce harm to others.
11. Cultivate Nuanced Mind Training
Approach mind training with a mature, sophisticated, and nuanced understanding to foster greater kindness and wisdom, moving beyond initial enthusiasm or simplistic views.
12. Aim for Incremental Self-Improvement
Set realistic and achievable goals for personal growth, such as being 10% happier, kinder, or wiser, as this incremental approach can be highly effective and sustainable.
13. Improve Relations Through Introspection
Engage in individual action, such as introspective thought, to improve how you relate to others, navigate differences, and avoid dignifying fears or rage with immediate verbal or physical responses.
14. Create Personal Permission Structures
Establish internal or external “permission structures” that allow you to pursue your authentic desires and live in a way that aligns with your complex self, rather than forcing yourself into a single path.
15. Explore Psychedelics for Faster Growth
Consider psychedelics as a potentially faster, though more dangerous, alternative for self-improvement and insight, acknowledging they may reduce the amount of work required compared to traditional practices.