Headspace Studios.

Hi there, Dora here.

Welcome to Radio Headspace.

So a few months ago, I found myself sitting in front of 12 eager faces in my teacher training

program.

I was in the middle of explaining this complex mindfulness concept.

When one of my students raised her hand and said, actually, Dora, I think you might have

that backwards.

My first instinct was that familiar heat of embarrassment rising up.

You know that feeling, when your ego is exposed and wants to defend itself at all costs.

But then I paused.

I really looked at what she was pointing out and realized she was absolutely right.

I had gotten it completely backwards. And in that moment,

I had a choice. I could try to save face and double down on being wrong, or I could do something

radical. I could delight in being wrong. And here's what I teach my mindfulness students,

and what I had to learn myself that day.

Humility isn't just nice to have as a teacher or a practitioner. It's essential.

Because the moment we think we know everything, the moment we're so attached to being right that we can't see where we're wrong, we stop being able to learn, we stop being able to

grow, we stop being present to what's actually happening right now. In Zen Buddhism, there's this

concept called beginner's mind, approaching everything with openness, eagerness, and freedom from

preconceptions. Even when you're the expert, even when you're the teacher.

And one of the most beautiful things about beginners' mind,

...