Niàn: A Reminder to Live Better
Why Subscribe to Niàn Life?
We are mostly forgetful.
We forget to take care of ourselves. We forget to consider others. We forget to pay attention to life. We forget to stay mindful.
When we do remember to pay attention, the mind is distracted and scattered. We run on autopilot and allow moments to pass us by. We engage in unhealthy behaviours. We fall back into old patterns that no longer work for us.
We resolve to change, but find it hard to do this alone. We try to keep practicing being mindful, but over and over we forget.
We need help to keep in mind why we should pay attention. We need help to remember to live better.
What is Niàn?
Niàn is a philosophy, a practice, and most importantly a way of life.
But it is first and foremost a Chinese word and character:
Niàn (pronounced “nee-anne”) as a word means:
[noun] thought
[verb] to remember; to keep in mind
In Buddhist practice, niàn also means “having mindful awareness” (as in 正念 or right mindfulness).
Interestingly, this character is composed of two other Chinese characters:
at the top is 今 jīn (which means now or present)
at the bottom is 心 xīn (which means the heart or mind)
The Niàn Life
Living a life with niàn means learning to:
rest our heart and mind in the present
know all that is inside and outside of us
navigate life more skillfully and thoughtfully
remind ourselves to live better
About the Founder & Curator
Hello, I’m Erin.
I am a Mindfulness & Wellbeing Coach committed to inspiring mindfulness as a way of life. I currently reside in Singapore, and I work with individuals and communities in learning to live more healthily, thoughtfully, and wisely.
Here’s the story of how mindfulness became my lifework. It’s nothing fancy, but I hope you will relate.
For a more formal showcase of the work I do, you’re invited to visit my LinkedIn profile.
What Does Niàn Life Offer?
The Niàn newsletter curates weekly-updated content primarily in the form of long and short articles that serve to remind us to live better.
The Take A Pause podcast features live-recorded sessions of Erin’s guided meditations on Insight Timer.
In the Notes section, you will get access to the Curator’s thoughts and musings about mindful living.
In the Chat section, ask questions about mindfulness and living with niàn.
For a deeper dive into the Niàn Life, subscribe to get full access to our content and publication archives.
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Join the Niàn Community
Welcome to the social side of mindfulness.
Mindful living isn't a "practice on your own" kind of thing. It's a social way of being. This is how the world becomes better - when we help others live better too.
Participate in the comments section, share your insights in the chat, and support this work with a paid subscription.
