The Meditation That Makes Your Worries Feel Smaller

Evelyn Reed · 2026-11-03

Ever feel like your thoughts are running the show? Like you're trapped inside a whirlwind of to-do lists, worries, and endless mental chatter? Yeah, me too. That's why I want to share a practice from Shamash Alidina that flips the script. It's a meditation to awaken the joy of feeling small—and trust me, it's not about diminishing yourself. It's about expanding your perspective. ### What Does 'Feeling Small' Really Mean? In mindfulness, feeling small isn't about low self-esteem. It's about recognizing your place in the grand scheme of things. When you feel small, your problems don't disappear—they just take up less space. You get a little breathing room. And that's where the magic happens. Shamash Alidina, a renowned meditation teacher, designed this practice to help you step back and see the bigger picture. The idea is simple: your thoughts and worries can still exist, but there's just a little more space around them. It's like looking at a storm from a safe distance—you see it, but you're not in it. ### How to Practice the Meditation Ready to give it a try? Here's a simple version you can do anytime, anywhere. - **Find a comfortable spot.** Sit or lie down. Close your eyes if that feels right. - **Take a few deep breaths.** In through your nose, out through your mouth. Let your body relax. - **Bring to mind something vast.** It could be the sky, the ocean, or a mountain range. Imagine its sheer size and stillness. - **Now, picture your thoughts as clouds.** They float across the sky of your mind. Some are dark and heavy, others light and wispy. But the sky remains unchanged. - **Rest in that spaciousness.** Notice how your worries are just passing clouds. You are the sky—vast, open, and free. > "You are not your thoughts. You are the awareness behind them." — Shamash Alidina ### Why It Works When you practice feeling small, you're not escaping your problems. You're changing your relationship to them. Research shows that this kind of perspective-taking can reduce stress and increase resilience. It's like giving your mind a pair of wide-angle lenses. And the best part? You can do it in just a few minutes a day. No fancy equipment, no special app. Just you and your breath. ### A Little More Space So the next time you feel overwhelmed, try this meditation. Remember: your thoughts and worries can still exist, but there's just a little more space around them. And sometimes, that little bit of space is all you need to find your calm. Give it a shot. You might just discover the joy of feeling small.