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Sit,Walk,Work (SW^2)

Dominic Stanley
Sit,Walk,Work (SW^2)
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  • The Wisdom of Opposites: Breathing Into the Middle Way
    I grew up in a single-parent home. Like many, that meant figuring out a lot on my own—learning how to solve problems without a clear blueprint. One of the unexpected gifts of that experience was developing a kind of creative strategy: doing the opposite.We’re often told to trust our instincts, but what happens when those instincts are conditioned, reactive, or looping in a pattern that no longer serves us?That’s where today’s meditation begins.Inspired by teachings from Stoicism, the Bhagavad Gita, the Buddha, and even a famous episode of Seinfeld, this practice explores how holding opposites can become a doorway to peace. The inhale and the exhale. Pain and pleasure. Memory and presence. Winning and losing. All part of the same dance.🧘🏽‍♂️ What to Expect in the PracticeWe begin by anchoring attention in the breath—watching it move in and out like a tide. I then guide you through a reflection: recalling a moment from your day that stirred something within you, then inviting its opposite. Through this, we explore where tension, resistance, and even empathy live in the body.We’re not trying to get rid of thoughts. We’re learning to become students of the mind—watching, receiving, and softening into what arises.And perhaps most importantly, we’re practicing how to give ourselves the grace we often seek from others.⏱️ Time-Stamped Breakdown* 00:00–00:46 – Opening remarks + invitation to share and review* 01:06–02:05 – Personal story: Growing up with a single parent & creative thinking through opposites* 02:05–03:47 – Epictetus, Seinfeld, and spiritual teachings on opposites* 03:52–05:53 – Setting the stage: shifting from doing to being* 05:53–10:21 – Anchoring in breath: exploring the inhale and exhale* 10:21–13:57 – Body awareness and receiving emotions as sensation* 13:57–17:06 – Recalling a moment from your day and exploring its physical imprint* 17:06–19:41 – Introducing the opposite memory and observing the contrast* 19:41–21:38 – Holding both: practicing equanimity and witnessing presence* 21:38–26:07 – Cultivating compassion, grace, and self-kindness* 26:07–30:11 – Returning to breath: integrating love and letting go* 30:11–31:44 – Closing reflection, gratitude, and invitation to the Substack community🪞Why It MattersThe ability to hold opposites without immediately rushing to resolve them is the foundation of emotional intelligence, compassion, and inner strength.You might be holding joy and grief in the same moment. Or love and fear. This practice doesn’t ask you to pick one. It asks you to witness both, and in doing so, discover something steady beneath the shifting.Because you are that steady presence.💬 Want to Reflect Together?I’d love to hear from you:* What’s the opposite you’re holding right now?* Can you identify where it lives in your body?* Have you ever made progress in your life by doing the exact opposite of what you thought you should?Leave a comment or reply—I read and appreciate every note.Until next time,With Metta,DominicFollow me on all the socials* Substack* Website* Instagram* Facebook* YouTube This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit sitwalkwork.substack.com
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  • A Practice of Spacious Presence: Returning to the Body, Moment by Moment
    When was the last time you allowed yourself to truly breathe — not just in and out, but into the fullness of your life?In this week’s episode of Sit, Walk, Work, I guide a 30-minute meditation centered on spaciousness — not only in the body but in our awareness, attention, and how we meet the moment. This post is a reflection and an invitation to experience that practice in your own time, with your breath.🌀 Why Spaciousness MattersMeditation often starts with the breath — the anchor. But breath is not the goal. It’s a doorway.We begin by concentrating on one-pointed attention and then gradually widen our awareness to include everything: distractions, emotions, body sensations, even silence. This widening reveals the openness already available to us.There’s a Taoist saying:“The usefulness of a cup is in its emptiness.”In the same way, your spacious attention allows experience to rise and pass, without being trapped or forced. It’s not about fixing yourself. It’s about allowing what is — and seeing what shifts when you do.✨ Practice HighlightsThis meditation moved through:* Posture & breath awareness — setting the conditions for stillness* The pauses between breaths — our first encounter with emptiness* Expanding attention — to include thoughts, sensations, sounds* A full-body scan — exploring the dance between density and space* Gratitude & letting go — learning to meet the body with curiosity* Dedication of merit — offering the benefits of practice to othersYou don’t have to get it perfect. The value is in showing up.🧍🏽‍♂️ The Body is the TeacherAs we scanned from feet to crown, we noticed what was light, what was dense, and what had shifted. The body remembers — and it continues to change, just like the breath.Through consistent practice, we begin to appreciate this process of letting go, emptying out, and making space for new insight to emerge.💠 Let Practice Ripple OutThe benefits of this kind of sitting aren’t just personal. They ripple outward.When we learn to pay attention — to meet ourselves with space instead of judgment — we begin to meet others in the same way too. We become more accessible, more compassionate, and more genuine.💬 Reflect With MeI’d love to hear what landed for you:* What does “spaciousness” feel like in your body right now?* When was the last time you noticed something new about your breath?* Where do you need more space in your life?Follow me on all the socials* Substack* Website* Instagram* Facebook* YouTube This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit sitwalkwork.substack.com
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  • Adaptable Mind, Steady Breath: A Guided Meditation for Uncertain Times
    “Train my mind to adapt to any circumstance.” — EpictetusLately, I’ve been thinking a lot about uncertainty — not just the abstract kind, but the very real, in-your-face, everyday kind. The kind that shows up when you’re learning something new, navigating a relationship shift, facing work unknowns, or simply trying to sit with your thoughts.For me, this theme hit home while training in jiu-jitsu. Each time I step on the mat, I have no idea what to expect. Who I’ll spar with. What I’ll learn. Whether I’ll get folded like laundry or find flow, it’s a humbling practice, one that constantly takes me off-script and asks: Can you be with what’s here, not what you hoped would be here?This is exactly where meditation enters.Training for the MindIn this week’s Sit, Walk, Work episode, I guide you through a practice that helps train the mind to remain adaptable, especially when things don’t go as planned. Rather than chasing certainty in a sea of change, the practice invites us to anchor in something deeper: our breath, our awareness, and the space of witnessing.Meditation isn’t about escaping what’s hard or pretending things are fine when they’re not. It’s about building the capacity to stay present in the middle of it all — distractions, discomfort, and all.Your breath, in its rising and falling, becomes a rhythm for returning.Your attention, in its wandering and settling, becomes a tool for self-discovery.Noticing What Changes — and What Doesn’tAs the practice unfolds, I guide you to scan your body, observe your breath, and open up your awareness to everything arising in the present moment — sensations, sounds, even thoughts that feel like run-on sentences. And then, we contrast that with what remains steady. That witnessing space. The stillness within.This contrast is powerful. Because in a world that’s always changing, it’s easy to forget: There’s a part of you that doesn’t.And from that part — the quiet, grounded observer — you can begin to build a different kind of certainty. One that isn’t based on controlling outcomes, but on your capacity to respond with care.The Gift of Being BreathedToward the end of the practice, I invite you to feel into the rhythm of sound, just as you did with the breath. And in that moment, it becomes clear: so much of life arrives. The inhale. The song of birds. The hum of the fridge. These moments ask nothing from us, except presence.And maybe a little reverence.Because to be breathed by life is no small thing.Closing ReflectionIf you’re feeling tossed about by life right now, I invite you to practice with me. Not because it will fix everything, but because it will remind you: you don’t have to be certain to be steady. You just have to return to the body, to the breath, to yourself.Where do you feel the contrast between change and stillness most clearly?With metta,Got questions about meditation? Click hereFollow me on all the socials* Substack* Website* Instagram* Facebook* YouTube This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit sitwalkwork.substack.com
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  • Faith in Practice: A Guided Meditation on Trusting the Process
    Today’s episode of Sit, Walk, Work is a gentle invitation into the heart of practice: faith, not blind belief, but the kind of quiet trust that emerges when we keep showing up.This guided meditation walks you through a full-body scan, breath awareness, and a space of deep witnessing. Along the way, I offer reflections on the idea that even when we feel stuck or uncertain, the simple act of attention is doing its work.“The obstacle is the way,” as Ryan Holiday writes. Our practice reminds us that what we resist can become our teacher.In this practice, we explore:* Letting go of expectations* Meeting distractions with curiosity* Feeling the body as a map of the moment* Tuning into the witness behind it allWhether you’re new to meditation or deep in the process, this episode is an anchor for days when you’re tempted to wonder, Is this even working? Spoiler: it is.And I’d love to hear from you:👉 What part of the practice supported you most today?👉 What are you learning to trust in your life or your practice?Leave a comment or reply—I always read them.Follow me on all the socials* Substack* Website* Instagram* Facebook* YouTube This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit sitwalkwork.substack.com
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  • Grounded and Awake: A Deep Dive into Yoga Nidra for Stillness and Joy
    Welcome to this episode of the Sit, Walk, Work podcast. Today, I'm thrilled to share a guided meditation experience with you, focusing on the profound practice of paying attention. We'll start with a brief recap of our previous exploration, setting the stage for a deeply grounding and expansive hour-long journey.We'll begin by inviting a sense of playful curiosity as we explore what's stirring within our awareness. We'll gently note our comfort levels, whether our bodies feel settled or if there's still some lingering energy. I’ll guide you through subtly shifting your focus, learning to zoom in and out with your attention, allowing you to observe everything that arises without forcing or pushing.A key aspect of this meditation is establishing your 'inner resource' – a natural state of grounded being that serves as a safety line throughout our exploration. We’ll move through a full body scan, from the crown of your head to your toes, noticing sensations, temperature, and even the mental commentary that arises.We'll then delve into the breath, exploring the idea of continuous breathing, where the inhale seamlessly flows into the exhale, removing any pauses. This isn't about forcing a specific pace, but rather feeling the natural rhythm of your continuous breath.Next, we'll turn our attention to feelings and emotions, recognizing them as messengers here to deliver information. We'll practice observing them with curiosity, noticing how they change and how they relate to our breath and bodily sensations. The beauty of awareness is that it provides a steady, unchanging space for all these experiences to arise and pass.Finally, we'll consciously invite in moments of joy and gratitude, observing how these positive emotions shift our internal landscape. The ultimate goal is to simply be in the vast space of awareness, allowing everything to be held without clinging too tightly.Thank you for joining me on this exploration of inner awareness. I truly hope this guided meditation helps you find a deeper sense of groundedness and connection to yourself. If you found it valuable, please share it with others and leave a review. You can also connect with our community on my Substack to continue the conversation about paying attention. Until next time, may you be well.⏱️ Time Stamp Breakdown* 00:00–00:01:05 – Introduction, episode structure, intention* 00:01:06–00:02:19 – Recap of prior practice: inner resource, breath, emotion, gratitude* 00:02:20–00:03:55 – Setting up for the 60-minute guided meditation* 00:03:56–00:14:00 – Grounding, initial body sensing, awareness of comfort* 00:14:01–00:30:00 – Full-body scan from head to pelvis* 00:30:01–00:42:00 – Connecting body, breath, and awareness* 00:42:01–00:50:00 – Welcoming emotions, feelings, and inner messages* 00:50:01–00:53:15 – Recalling joy, gratitude, and practicing presence* 00:53:16–00:59:43 – Resting in awareness, reemerging from the practice* 00:59:44–End – Closing thoughts, Substack invitationShare Your Thoughts🧠 What part of the body scan felt the most grounding or surprising for you?Did any emotions come up during practice? How did you meet them?Follow me on all the socials* Substack* Website* Instagram* Facebook* YouTubeKnow someone who could benefit from this practice?Got questions about meditation? Click here This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit sitwalkwork.substack.com
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A podcast on all things related to the art of paying attention. sitwalkwork.substack.com
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