“Your Daily Dose” is a quick two minute read packed with bite-sized wisdom from all the great teachers. But you could also choose to turn it into something more… a powerful daily practice for personal growth. Give it a try!
A message from today’s meditation:
A part of our psyche is naturally deeply invested in the survival of this flesh and blood body. We could call it ‘Small-self’, ‘Ego’, or perhaps our ‘scared parts’.
Since before you were born, your sub-conscious has been recording all of the details of everything you have ever experienced. And more importantly, it’s been keeping track of the meaning you’ve made from all these experiences.
So in order to feel like you know how to survive, your body tries to reach for a sense of certainty, and in an uncertain world your recording of the past is the closest thing to certainty that you could possibly hold on to.
The problem is that to your Small-self, this recording (and the meaning you’ve made) is understood as TRUTH because after all, these are the things that actually happened.
Your Ego only has this recording to rely on which is why it will dwell there, and with its feet firmly planted in the “truth” of the past it looks into the future and predicts more of the same.
Is it any wonder that we struggle being present? And even when we place our attention on this present moment, how do we meet it exactly as it is, without placing the expectations of our “recording” on it?
“What do sad people have in common? It seems they have all built a shrine to the past and often go there and do a strange wail and worship. What is the beginning of happiness? It is to stop being so religious about the past.” – Hafez
“Now that all your worry about the future has proved such an un-lucrative business. Why not find a better job? Be more present.” – Hafez
“This place where you are right now, God circled on a map for you. Our beloved has bowed there knowing you were coming.” – Hafez
You could go to war with the scared parts of you for always being stuck in the past and future, or you can remember that this is not the complete story of who you are. There is another part of you, the part of you that existed long before this body was born and will still BE long after. The part of you that knows that this moment… is exactly where you are supposed to be.
Your Soul knows the truth about your “recording”… that these are just the things that happened, and the meaning that your young self made was not always accurate.
When we learn to see through the eyes of our Soul, then “being present” becomes our natural state.
We all have a recording of the past from which our subconscious gets its information, but you don’t have to be trapped by your recording, you can learn how to step out of the recording and see it in context.
Today’s meditation journey builds the foundation for us to take a step backwards and out of what we’re experiencing, so that we can look at the experience and practice seeing it for what it is without the “story” that our recording tells us.
It’s a simple exercise that you can learn to do anywhere, anytime in just a few minutes and free yourself from being controlled by your own old programming.
A few mantras to reflect on as you step out of your recording:
- “The past is a story, not a prison.”
- “My soul knows the truth, and is not defined by my past experiences.”
- “I am more than my history. I am a being of infinite potential.”
- “Today, I choose to be present and let go of the past.”
The key to living a more present and fulfilling life is to recognize that our past experiences are simply a collection of events and emotions, not a definitive truth. We can learn to step back from our stories and view them with a fresh perspective.
– pierre –
Today’s LIVE meditation is: Come to your senses.
Today’s LIVE meditation
https://youtu.be/ANTINAe5-O8 2025
https://youtu.be/hhpIOgzdSl0 2024
https://youtu.be/-qjMsowwJyM 2023
https://youtu.be/UUpqIe36veM 2022
Practice the “Daily Dose”
Let’s put it into practice! Choose what works for you – daily, once a week or whenever inspiration strikes. Putting pen to paper wires the neural pathways that will create your new habits.
1 – Affirmation
Write down your favourite affirmation on a sticky note and place it somewhere that you’ll be able to see it the whole day.
- “The past is a story, not a prison.”
- “My soul knows the truth, and is not defined by my past experiences.”
- “I am more than my history. I am a being of infinite potential.”
- “Today, I choose to be present and let go of the past.”
2 – A moment of reflection
Use today’s question as a journal prompt. If you don’t have the time to sit down and write, just take a moment to reflect on your response.
Examining Your “Recording”: Think about a recurring pattern in your life—perhaps a relationship dynamic, a fear, or a limiting belief about yourself. Write about the earliest memory you have of experiencing this pattern. What meaning did you make from that experience as a young person? How has your “Small-self” been using this recording to predict and prepare for similar situations? Now, imagine looking at this same memory through the eyes of your Soul—what would that wiser part of you see differently about what actually happened versus the meaning you assigned to it?
3 – Quotes to share
Send a quote to someone who needs it, or share them all on social media to spread the good vibes!
4 – Q&A for deeper learning
Read through the questions and answers and write down at least one “aha moment” that clicked for you.
1. Q: What exactly is this “recording” and how does it work?
A: Your subconscious recording is like an internal database that’s been operating since before birth, capturing every experience and the meanings you’ve attached to them. It’s not just a collection of memories—it’s a meaning-making system that your ego uses to predict and prepare for future situations. Think of it as your mind’s attempt to create a survival manual based on past experiences, but the problem is that it treats these interpretations as absolute truth rather than just one possible perspective.
2. Q: How can I tell when my “Small-self” or ego is running the show versus my Soul?
A: Your Small-self operates from fear, control, and patterns from the past. You’ll notice it when you’re stuck in familiar reactive patterns, when you’re anxious about the future based on past experiences, or when you feel like you’re on autopilot. Your Soul, on the other hand, operates from presence, wisdom, and openness. When you’re seeing through your Soul’s eyes, you feel more spacious, curious, and able to respond to situations freshly rather than reactively.
3. Q: Is it possible to completely erase my past programming?
A: The goal isn’t to erase your past programming but to change your relationship with it. You can learn to step outside your recording and see it in context rather than being controlled by it. Your past experiences happened and shaped you, but they don’t have to define your present choices. It’s about developing the ability to observe your patterns without being automatically driven by them.
4. Q: Why do I keep returning to the same painful memories even when I want to move forward?
A: This is what Hafez described as building “a shrine to the past.” Your mind returns to these memories because they feel familiar and, in a strange way, safe. Your ego believes that by constantly reviewing these experiences, it can prevent similar pain in the future. It’s a misguided attempt at protection that actually keeps you stuck. Breaking free requires recognizing this pattern and consciously choosing presence over the false security of familiar pain.
5. Q: How can I practice being present when my mind constantly pulls me into past or future?
A: Start by practicing the “step back” technique mentioned in the article. When you notice yourself caught in past patterns or future anxiety, literally take a step back (physically or mentally) and observe what’s happening. Ask yourself: “What story is my recording telling me right now?” and “What would I see if I looked at this situation without that story?” This creates space between you and your automatic reactions, allowing you to respond from presence rather than programming.
6. Q: What if my past experiences were genuinely traumatic? Doesn’t that make them more than just “stories”?
A: Traumatic experiences are absolutely real and valid, and acknowledging them as “stories” doesn’t minimize their impact. The distinction is between the event that happened and the meaning you made from it. Trauma can create powerful recordings that feel like absolute truth about yourself, others, or the world. Healing involves honoring what happened while gently questioning the meanings and predictions your mind created from those experiences. This work often benefits from professional support.
7. Q: How long does it take to break free from old patterns and live more presently?
A: This is a lifelong practice rather than a destination. You might notice shifts immediately—moments of greater presence and freedom—but deeper transformation happens gradually. The key is consistency and self-compassion. Some patterns may dissolve quickly once you see them clearly, while others may require ongoing attention and practice. Remember that every moment you choose presence over past programming is a victory, regardless of how many times you have to make that choice.