January Love List
Inauguration blues? Meditation might actually be the fix.
As we step into another historic political era filled with uncertainty and big emotions today, many of us are left grappling with a sense of control slipping through our fingers.
While so much feels beyond our reach, there’s one constant we can always return to: the power of our minds.
Meditation offers a gentle yet profound way to reconnect, quiet the noise, and find our footing again.
And if you’re sick of hearing that you should meditate, I get it.
I too, have been on a winding journey with meditation since I was 22.
I’ve attempted to meditate in more ways than I can count—Trāṭaka candlelight gazing, daily Yoga Nidra, HeartMath practices, and Kundalini Kriyas, just to name a few.
Well over a decade ago, I spent almost a year meditating each morning in the jungle of Guatemala, deepening my yoga practice and easing into a quiet sense of self. I was consistent and saw the benefits almost immediately. My daily practice eventually led me to Naropa to study mindfulness-based counseling.
But somewhere along the way, I lost my connection to sitting. I resisted the structure and formality of the Shambhala practices at Naropa. Yes, I still sat on Zafus (meditation cushions) and practiced meditation each day in class. I went on silent retreats and experienced the psychedelic, substance-free bliss after leaving a retreat and seeing the world anew, but I never really fell back in love with sitting.
Over the years since, I’ve dipped my toes into what feels like everything. I rotate between breathwork one week, Insight Timer the next, Kundalini for a few months, and on and on.
Needless to say, if you’ve struggled to really start a meditation practice, I’m right there with you.
Recently, though, something shifted.
For the past few weeks, I’ve been using the Waking Up app, and it feels like I’m falling back in love with meditation again.
Here’s what I love about the Waking Up app:
Intentional Structure
The app’s Intro to Meditation course has a simplicity and flow that feels grounding. Each pre-set day includes a brief guided meditation paired with a complementary talk, creating a rhythm that’s easy to follow. Standard, yes. But wildly different than other platforms I’ve used.It takes the guesswork out of showing up—no fumbling with tabs, bookmarks, or trying to remember where I left off, and the schedule is already set for me.
Exceptional Quality
High-quality audio makes an enormous difference, and Waking Up delivers. I’ve encountered many platforms (cough cough, Insight Timer) where uneven sound or inconsistent meditations pulled me out of the moment. This app is seamless, letting me focus on the practice instead of the distractions.I also find myself trusting the source. When I experimented with the Calm App years ago, I felt myself questioning the messenger; it almost felt like a bubblegum version of meditation and I’ve never gone back.
Expansive Resources
From Yoga Nidra for better sleep to nervous system resets and talks by leading experts, the app provides tools for every stage of the journey. Everything I need is in one place—accessible and ready when I am.
So far, Waking Up has helped me remove the struggle and resistance I often feel when trying to reestablish my practice.
Is it too soon to say I’m fully in love with meditation again? Maybe. But for now, I’m on the path—and it feels good.
If you’d like to explore the Waking Up app, today is a perfect time to start. Here’s a 30-day pass—I hope it supports you as much as it’s been supporting me.
The Love List
Diary of a Ceo - The Dopamine Expert
If you or someone you know is navigating addiction—or if you’re simply curious about the neuroscience behind it—this episode is a must-listen. Since I began working in the addiction field in 2015, I’ve rarely encountered such a clear and compassionate overview. The episode will deepen your understanding of addiction and serve as a gentle reminder to offer empathy and kindness to yourself and those who may be struggling.
Eric Pickersgill - Removed
These poignant images haven’t left my mind since I first came across them last week. Photographer Eric Pickersgill captures everyday moments, removing cell phones from his subjects’ hands to reveal the startling emptiness left behind. The result is a mirror reflecting our own daily habits. It’s a quiet but profound question: Is this how we want to be remembered?
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More notes on mental health resources:
Julie Goldberg is a licensed therapist and the founder of Third Nature Therapy. Her practice focuses on helping individuals better understand their inner world, befriend their nervous system (instead of working against it), and navigate changing relationships. She offers somatic therapy, EMDR intensives, and Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy in Brooklyn, NY.