How to Forgive Yourself, with Sam

Please note that this week's podcast episode contains discussion about difficult topics like self-harm, that may bring up strong emotions for some listeners. If you feel that hearing this content could potentially impact your mental wellbeing, please skip the third question. (logo chimes in) (female voice whispers) Hi everyone, Robin here. I am about to be joined by Sam and I think I can safely speak for her when I say we are incredibly excited to be answering your questions today about how to be still while wanting to check things off that to-do list also, which comes first, the thinking or the feeling. And we have an important question about forgiving yourself for past self-destructive behavior. I'm telling you, we have got lots to say about all these topics. Have you ever wished you had a wise meditation teacher on speed dial? Someone you can call after a long day. Someone you could lean on for their advice. Someone to listen and help you to see things differently. Welcome to Dear Headspace, a podcast where I sit with a meditation teacher and we answer your questions. (upbeat music) Hi, Sam. Look at us back together again. I mean, we are ready to do one of our favorite things, gab and answer listener questions. Yes, guys, I'm so excited. It's been too long. It has, it always feels like too long, even when it's was like last week, but that's the beauty, right? Exactly, exactly. Well, we are starting off with a bang today. I mean, it's not really a bang as much as it is a chicken or the egg type question. So I'm wondering, have I peaked your interest? Ooh, yes, yeah. I can't wait. Okay all right, let's get right to Alessandra's question. All will be revealed, here we go. Hi, Headspace. My name is Alessandra. I'm originally from Italy. I've been meditating with Headspace for a long time, meditated many, many hours. I have a question. I'd like to know what arises first, is it thinking or emotion? So do we think of something and then those thoughts stimulate an emotion and the emotion arises, or do we feel an emotion that arises spontaneously and then that stimulates thoughts related to that emotion? Or is it both? So that's my question and thank you so much for addressing it. I'm really appreciative and it's not that important, but I find myself wondering sometimes. Thank you, ciao ciao. (laughing) I love the whole vibe of Alessandra and also your question is important. So that's first and foremost, any question is important. It is, and it's such a, you know, it sounds like such a simple question, but it's a big question. It is. It's so big that it's a whole field of study and researchers have dug really deep into figuring out the nature of emotions, why we have them, what is their purpose? Why are they so damn annoying and hard to be with? You know, they...