Guided meditation · 9 min
15 Things You Should Give Up to Be Happy
Set down fifteen quiet burdens, from needing to be right to chasing approval, and step into your day lighter.
With
MindvalleyRated4.640K plays
- Level
- Beginner friendly
- Style
- Guided meditation
- Sound
- Guided voice
- Best time
- Morning or evening
About this session
- Lightens mental baggage
- Softens self-criticism
- Encourages letting go
- Brings inner peace
Lumita Saville, who wrote the widely shared article this track is named after, reads her list aloud. One by one she names a habit to release, from needing to be right to making excuses, and adds a short thought to each, including words from Wayne Dyer, Lao Tzu and Eckhart Tolle.
It suits anyone who feels weighed down by old habits of thinking. Play it in the morning to set a lighter tone, or in the evening to put the day down. Because it is a list, you can return often and let a different item land each time.
After the session
01
A lighter mind
Let go of mental weight you carry.
02
Kinder self-talk
Question negative thoughts instead of believing them.
03
Freedom from approval
Care less about impressing or pleasing others.
04
Presence in the now
Stop longing for the past or fearing ahead.
Who it’s for
Yes, if…
- Anyone who feels stuck in old patterns of thinking
- People who often want to win the argument or stay in control
- Those who live by other people's expectations and want their own path back
- Anyone who wants a gentle reset at the start or end of the day
Not now, if…
- Those looking for a slow, sleepy wind-down with few words
- People who prefer silent or music-led meditation (this is spoken throughout)
- Anyone wanting to explore a single theme in depth, as this moves quickly through fifteen
Questions people ask
Still unsure? Ask your assistant anything about this session.
What are the fifteen things you're asked to give up?
In order: the need to be right, the need for control, blame, self-defeating self-talk, limiting beliefs, complaining, criticism, the need to impress others, resistance to change, labels, fears, excuses, the past, attachment, and living to other people's expectations. Each gets a short passage rather than a long exercise.
What does 'Would I rather be right or would I rather be kind?' mean here?
It is the question the track suggests asking yourself when you feel the urge to jump into a fight over who is right. The idea is to pause and notice what winning is costing, whether that's a good relationship or extra stress for you and others.
How is attachment different from love in this meditation?
The track says people often mistake attachment for love, but attachment comes from fear while love is pure, kind and selfless. It sums it up this way: love allows the loved one the freedom to be unlike you, while attachment asks for conformity to your needs and desires.
Do I need to let go of all fifteen at once?
No. The track says that letting go can't happen overnight after years of conditioning, and asks you to be patient and gentle, one step at a time. It closes by suggesting you listen as often as you like and trust you'll release more of them gradually.
What is the 'excuses' passage about?
It asks you to send your excuses packing and tell them they're fired. The point is that we limit ourselves with excuses, often ones that are not even real, instead of growing and improving our lives.
How does it deal with the past and the future?
It points out that the present moment is all you have, and that the past you now long for was ignored when it was the present. It still encourages a clear vision for the future and preparation, but asks you to stay present in what you're doing.