How Mindfulness Empowers Us: An Animation Narrated by Sharon Salzberg

Mindfulness allows us to see our thoughts and feelings as they really are, freeing us from old ways of thinking. Want to give it a try? Download our iPhone or Android app, or visit www.happify.com for guided meditations and other mindfulness-building activities designed by experts.
Are you looking to kickstart a mindfulness program at your business or organization? Visit www.happifyhealth.com to learn about our business solutions.
Animation by Katy Davis (AKA Gobblynne): www.gobblynne.com
Animation assistant Kim Alexander: www.kimalexander.co.uk
Narration by Sharon Salzberg: www.sharonsalzberg.com/
Try Happify's Science-Based Activities and Games: www.happify.com
Get our iPhone app: hpfy.co/1HfypCP
Get our Android app: hpfy.co/1MqykvR
Like Happify on Facebook: hpfy.co/195negJ
Follow us on Twitter and Instagram: @Happify

[@huh_wtf]

Guys, let's take a moment and appreciate the animator who must have spent hours making this video. Animator, We thank you.

[@ilseecastillo]

[@ronbezbaruah6018]

Really

[@pedraverdek]

Yas

[@jayavadhera2150]

Brilliantly depicted!

[@ANGGEOLUT]

100% ❤❤❤❤❤❤Thank u for animating the story

[@resonanttotality8322]

"We never lose our demons, we only learn to live above them." The Ancient One, Dr. Strange

[@rezarusandi]

You know, SHE IS MY ALL TIME FAVORITE!

[@nicko9365]

true but this sounds egotistical in a way

[@landonwyndham979]

@@nicko9365 this pleases Stiner.

[@fructosecornsyrup5759]

My CBT just told me something like this: a part of cognitive behavioral therapy isn't about denying and shoving away the negative emotions, it's about recognizing that it's there, not denying it's existence, and tempering it. You are human, and negative thoughts are natural, but with training you can learn to quieten your irrational thoughts with truth.

[@westsidesmitty1]

There is now a ''Mindfulness Based Cog. Therapy'' (MBCT) that seems very promising. Jon Kabat-Zin developed it.

[@omlette_leia6721]

My cbt literally cent this to me lol

[@davehshs651]

All that fearful wolf needs is love. He's as much a part of us as the other wolf.

[@tobekai]

davehshs The wolf is a metaphor. By acknowledging it instead of fighting it you are showing it love. However you do not feed it because you do not want fear, shame, guilt and aggression to overpower you.

[@garystarkey726]

he doesnt need love, he needs to be left alone.

[@Analysis_Paralysis]

In the original Native American legend they feed both wolves because both wolves have unique qualities that the other wolf lacks: The one can't survive without the other. The original Native American legend is about peace and harmony, not about neglect. If the "evil" wolf is starved, it just becomes angrier, more violent, resentful and envious. The goal is to feed them both, that's at least what the original story says.

[@johntrevy1]

@@Analysis_Paralysis Both have their time and place.

[@marilynschmidt6400]

@@Analysis_Paralysis That's the same for a human. A hungry man is an angry man

[@lettucegaming9198]

Bruh litterally all the comments are from teachers admiring how good this video is

[@RubyXRoseXRWBY]

My teacher literally gave me this video as homework

[@irieparis6113]

@@RubyXRoseXRWBY dude same were u assigned questions on what wolf ud feed

[@sophiauroza2725]

Irie Paris bruh i was. i came here for the answers 💀

[@irieparis6113]

@@sophiauroza2725 oof u in cali?

[@sophiauroza2725]

Irie Paris yuh

[@Meditation-easy]

When meditation is mastered, the mind is unwavering like the flame of a candle in a windless place.

[@Levitskijcom]

@Ian Corral Dont mix/confuses, Ignorance with acceptance

[@kittttygirl5]

the bit about feeding the wolves.. reminds me of my favorite quote from Shane Koyczan's poem: "love and hate are beasts, the one that grows is the one you feed."

[@dinoyts1515]

Our professor just taught us about this.. and I gotta say, this is really educational. I learned that our demons can't be forgotten nor remove. It will always be there and us, can only accept and learn from it.

[@hana_stars]

POV: your teacher made you watch this but srsly tho the animation is so smooth :O

[@sensen8769]

Yeah

[@jacquelinesmith2994]

I knew this tale but I absolutely love how it's told here (calm tone, serene prosody) and visually described (thumbs up to the animator). Great for grown ups and kids!

[@simplementeslibres9725]

Wonderful imagery, thank you for sharing. This is such a good way to describe how to accept and move on through anger.

[@talarakomorebi9319]

I recently discovered this page and I'm so interesting about mindfulness. It makes me think a lot about my actions and the way I react about everything around.

[@annieandrocco]

Practice we shall!

[@idaiizetsu]

This is great advise. Let go of anger and sadness. Dont suppress it and hold its grudges. Believe in your will and self. Nurture love and compassion. Happiness lies in mindfulness.

[@michellerohl9761]

I Love this beautiful version of this story! Animation is so good and story is well done. I would have liked to see an image of feeding/sharing the bowl with the perceived bad wolf, giving attention and yes also feeding that side with a view to the love we all have within, would be a positive step into the mindfulness exercise to really attend to our full self.

[@MegaParker1981]

I have found a lot of peace listening to and reading the likes of Terence Mckenna, Alan Watts, Ram Dass, Rupert Sheldrake and others. Recently I realized that all of my "virtual spiritual mentors" were men; so I began seeking a feminine perspective. This led me to Sharon Salzberg whom I now also love. I was hoping that someone here might help point me in the direction of other female speakers akin to the voices listed above. Thanks for your time.

[@bettyskiles9107]

+MegaParker1981 Tara Brach, Pema Chodron, Kristin Neff, and Brene Brown should get you started.

[@MegaParker1981]

Thanks.

[@mememachine2357]

You should check out Tara Brach she is really great!

[@spycobra404]

Bryon Katie

[@keithhanks8787]

This is a really underrated video I really learned something from this thank you

[@spiritualteachings3030]

Thanks... I also really appreciate mindfulness meditation. ❤️💚 For my mindfulness meditation I've loved watching a fair bit of Sri Avinash Do at the moment. I find his meditation talks very comforting and helpful in my life. 💜

[@miriamtam3405]

It's so nice to gether here to learn and all looking for improvement in ourselves. It's also a blessing to see people who are thankful for such resources

[@deeply3739]

This is beautifully said. This is what children should see and learn. Thank you!

[@mindfulcommune]

Great video. I have been wanting to share my love for mindfulness with children. Stories seem to be great way to share this. Love the story of two wolves. Empowering and easy to understand. Thank you!

[@108109093]

Great animation to explain an awesome concept!

[@daisy22924]

It's truly a loveable video. Thank you. I feel I'm being comforted by it.

[@dorotaflorczyk7240]

A great story. Thank you for sharing.

[@phawitsangpunya6823]

What a great video! ✨ It's time to develop our emotional intelligence.

[@lifastream]

Thanks for this kind of material to understand us better..

[@freisein6554]

I am using the corona lockdown for Vipassana meditation 🧘‍♀️. It makes a huge difference. Love ❤️ to all of you.

[@col8179]

Now that I have meditated for a while it just makes so much sense

[@TrigsTimeVault]

Wonderful story -- one I've definitely heard before. But you can never hear it enough, and the animation makes it last longer, too.

[@candidx7057]

This explains my dream this morning.

[@vineetkumarpandey3003]

This is profound. I always return back to it when I am disturbed by my own mind.

[@francesmauricio2632]

I just want to say that, all the animations on this channel had never fail to tickle my laughing mucle... 😂

[@austinkoontz5466]

Makes me think about balance as well as yin and yang. We may never lose our demons, but we should never lose our angels. We only learn to live above the demons while living under our angels. The angels represent God. While the demons represent the devil. Great video. Meditation is so good. No wonder the shaolin monks are geniuses of it all. Yin and yang. Get it? Awesome.

[@ZahraMuhidin]

This was needed! Thank you!

[@LunarFlame455]

I watched this 3Yen I was in 7th grade for the first time and a year a half later a lot has changed and this video is a lot more meaningful now.

[@austinkoontz5466]

What doesn't kill you makes you stronger.

[@christierenteriasondgeroth2627]

Love this

[@veselatanaskovic7638]

Bravo!!! I think this is the best video on mindfulness ever! Even a child will understand :D

[@mikesanmiguel2954]

I completely agree ! Well done 👍

[@MindfulFamily]

This is so beautiful. Thanks for this.

[@Hebasanch]

Thank you for sharing!

[@comfibold]

Beautiful message for us all.

[@danielazambrano8791]

Animator thank you! Amazing work! Tremendous message ♑️

[@steveengelman589]

Thanks for creating this annimation. Very great information in a way that kids can understand.

[@adriannewsom6670]

POV: ur watching this cause ur teacher told you to

[@sash758]

Yeppp

[@riddlemethis3565]

My therapist told me to.

[@isabeluj5035]

hahah yess

[@eliangarcia4179]

yep, for gym classsss

[@nicoleolivia1304]

@@eliangarcia4179 YES me too lmaoooo

[@rajivkrishnatr]

In love with the animation.

[@hollygreen5988]

I can't get enough of this video! I want to copy it to my desktop so I can play it every day, but can't figure out how to do that.lol

[@NightwaveDarkKnight]

Literally moved me to tears, dude... ;w; Cuz it's so wise...

[@deela262]

Right Mindfulness as taught by The Buddha is explained in the Maha Satipattana Sutta. ( Translated as : " The Great Discourse on Established of Mindfulness" ) Right Mindfulness is an integral part in the process of transformation He taught, towards Dispelling Ignorance about how the universe works, by actually paying attention to your own mind and body. The principals and the steps of this task is given in the Sutta. The Buddha says then to apply the result of the sample tested, to the population ... ( study the elements to identify the nature and function of the whole.) However to develop Right Mindfulness one must uphold Virtuous., and realise the futility of chasing after sensual desires. Purity in heart and taming the desires through Right Vision and Thinking are pre- requisites for Right Mindfulness... otherwise one won't have the urge or the courage to "take the bull by the horns".. The world is yet to discover the depth of Compassion and Wisdom of a Buddha.... ALL the areas in a Path of Self Development is explained in very detail... 84,000 concepts... 1000s of alternative pathways... it's all about Overcoming Fear, guilt, lust, anger, jealousy, hatred etc in your own mind and growing positive factors like self restraint, compassion, generosity, joy, equanimity, mindfulness, concentration & wisdom.

[@holynightwingfan4510]

@@deela262 interesting. I didn't think that I would find a fellow Buddhist around here. May our practice be beneficial to all living beings, my friend! 🙏

[@scarletpeoni9347]

Beautiful animation and your voice making me want to sleep! 😴 + The glowing fire I wanna snuggle with a blue wolf

[@JackieMReacts]

her voice reminded me of the news lady from family guy

[@ksfq]

@@JackieMReacts lol

[@vidhyapriyadharsini234]

Thanks for this awesome explanation through animation 🙏🙏🙏🙏

[@crowdancer5]

love this one!

[@drvinu4u]

Very well explained !

[@Earth098]

This is such an excellent wise way of put it. A nice animation too.

[@briadflo7707]

Me parecen tan bellos estos videos e interesantes !!! Espero sigan asi! Felicidades por crear contenido interesante!

[@denniszaychik8625]

The full ending of the story (instead of the one with the one I feed) sounds something like this: When you feed both wolves properly, they will start helping each other instead of fighting and only then victory will be yours.

[@stevenhandwerker108]

EXCELLENT PRESENTATION AND VERY USEFUL KNOWLEDGE.

[@HananBenNafa]

Love this, very meaningful and CUTE 😊

[@logika2613]

I love the animation!

[@alohaloha7778]

very good video, easy to understand

[@tobykleinsmanhill7121]

Herman Hesse the writer of such classics as Siddhartha, had a recurring theme of the 'wolf' (the side of us which we perceive to be abhorent) in his books. It appears as a dark shadow not accepted. That's why i like this interpretation of acceptance.

[@mickvd4]

Wonderful animation

[@FabianBarajas]

cool video. Thanks for posting.

[@kendallnicholson3572]

great video

[@aborgene]

beautiful story n beautifully presented..

[@adrianaadnaemartinez6907]

awesome! i trully love it , thanks a bunch to take the time to share

[@julietaazabache7290]

Beautiful! ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤

[@hritikseth9465]

So beautifully explained

[@ToenzZz]

This video has to be shared in every school, translated to every language and seen by everyone.

[@austinkoontz5466]

Thank you very much. It's so helpful.

[@sonycles]

Loved this video. I'd love to contribute by translating this content into Spanish. If you like the idea, feel free to contact me. Regards!

[@mallin1491]

Sony Vega estuve a punto de decir lo mismo ahahah :) espero que te digan que si, mi familia estaría feliz de verlo

[@Twill_Health]

We have since added captions in several languages!

[@elizabethrivera2302]

I’d love to have this in Spanish! I show this video to my students every year, and I teach in a Spanish immersion program.

[@kennedygardiner42o]

Elizabeth Rivera there are captions!!

[@spookypichu8045]

@@kennedygardiner42o BRUH THIS COMMENT WAS FROM 3YEARS AGO

[@ElianeCristinaSusin]

I love your videos! They are really educational and entertaining. I was wondering if I could use them for English Teaching Purposes. Would you give me permission to do so? Many thanks in advance!!

[@danaeroache8674]

This is such a beautiful representation

[@vyzzkid]

Thank you , this was very helpful :)

[@tamlynmck]

Thank you. I love this.

[@chungseng4155]

watching these videos alone make me feel mindful already ~

[@jerryhasselson4759]

thank you very much for that awesome video and story

[@literallydoing4425]

I’d like this if it wouldn’t screw up my recommendations Darn algorithm Great work on the animation and story!!

[@joannaw9586]

Great animation to illustrate what mindfulness is in a simple way. Good job!

[@DrPatrickKingsep]

Such an interesting delivery of mindfulness information...thankyou

[@mansviniaggarwal1412]

Wow. Perfect

[@kay4649]

Amazing 💕💕

[@adrianaxcx777]

I love this so much

[@Wingedmagician]

I’m going to be rewatching this

[@persevere6326]

Excellent Thanks for the animations

[@almond7994]

POV: your gym teacher is making you watch this thinking that they actually did something

[@cortisol_induced_coma]

ahaha wow how original, there are definitely not another two comments saying the same thing

[@almond7994]

@@cortisol_induced_coma bruh chill 😅

[@Larry21924]

This is absolutely outstanding. I read a book with similar content, and it was absolutely outstanding. "The Art of Saying No: Mastering Boundaries for a Fulfilling Life" by Samuel Dawn

[@hsaqib8995]

Thank you for sharing :)

[@mauraalmeida7236]

Maravilhoso ! Una lição ❤

[@theinzwin]

Thank you. Sadhu Sadhu Sadhu

[@217xe8]

That was so cuttee!

[@Eva-un5km]

I really like the animation/art style

[@lihilihi5111]

Beautiful

[@maxraines6004]

Beautifully done! Thank you for sticking to the original Native American story!

[@Topself24]

Amen!

[@KatieHilborn]

I showed this video to my high school students, and my Native American student was highly offended by the inaccurate portrayal of her heritage in this video. Great message and story, but it's now been muddled because of the animation.

[@em2106]

Katie Hilborn I thought this video was very meaningful and and if that’s the only thing that student walked away from the video with.. that student should seek medical help.

[@accoyzemni6545]

May I ask what your student was specifically offended by?

[@shonahtb]

​@@em2106 quite a take on both youth and mental health. This story video is absolutely offensive. It is derived from previous versions which were rooted in racism and colonialism. These versions westernized [read: b*stardized] a sacred, cultural, Indigenous story in order to further their Christian agenda. Not only are the changes to the story racist in themselves, but then they are misattributed to [insert general native nation that changes with each retelling]. Not only was this story not a settlers to tell, but especially to manipulate in a horribly offensive way, and claim that these are the beliefs of Indigenous peoples. The original story feeds both the *wolves. All Indigenous cultures are different, but a common theme is that we are all connected (humans, animals, nature, sky, rocks, etc) and so, we love, respect, and nurture all. Both *wolves deserve the same respect, love, and nurture; both deserve to be fed. After all, both *wolves have something to offer and when they're both fed, they can support one another. apihtawikosisan.com/2012/02/check-the-tag-on-that-indian-story/ crossingenres.com/you-know-that-charming-story-about-the-two-wolves-its-a-lie-d0d93ea4ebff

[@curtismongroo4052]

Spot on. ....thumbs up.

[@SusanLeger]

Thank you! I have shared this.

[@sravie1]

Everybody talks about the greatness of being mindfulness but nobody talks about HOW to do it?!!

[@petercohen3966]

Unless you are kinder than this to the angry wolf it will find a way to steal the food. Choosing sides does not resolve conflict (unless you intend to fight to the bitter end). It's a useful metaphor only in very simplistic terms.

[@mayaleidner3175]

love it

[@magickitchen54]

Thanks

[@ericahostetler1417]

I love this story, takes into account the angry wolf without making him the enemy. Now to figure out my wolves!