Beginner's Mind To Awaken Happiness - by Derek Hill

COURSE

Beginner's Mind To Awaken Happiness

With Derek Hill

In this course, we’ll explore what it means to see the world with fresh eyes. To rediscover what we knew instinctively as children but often forget in our busy adult lives and how it can transform our life for the better when we do. We remember that we are very much part of this world, with all its visible and invisible wonders. With its abundant beauty, connection, joy, and happiness. And that the key to re-connecting with this knowledge, lies in the closest possible reach. In our own Beginner’s Mind. Over the next 10 days, we’ll walk together to uncover the many treasures forgotten or missed along life’s path. We’ll pick up trails we once knew so well, we didn’t need to label them. And we’ll see them, in their wonderful ways, as if for the very first time. Every time we pause for a practice, or focus, in meditation, we will be drawing on techniques, philosophies, traditions, and healthy habits, which have supported people across generations. I have been influenced by many of these sources and whether it is the mindfulness attitude of the beginner’s mind, a child’s imaginative story, the wonders of nature, or lessons from neuroscience, I sincerely hope it illuminates our path a little brighter each day so that you can discover your moments of wonder, hiding in plain sight. And enriching feelings of happiness, joy, and well-being arise wherever you place your attention. There are no special skills, expectations, or requirements for this course. Just an invitation to bring an open-hearted curiosity to whatever lies ahead. To see the next 10 days as if through the eyes of a child.


Meet your Teacher

Derek Hill believes in creating opportunities for genuine connection, with ourselves, nature, and each other. And by supporting people to look within, and uncover their inner resources, humanity, and self-compassion, they find the direction to make this possible. He is a mindfulness and compassion teacher, speaker, and coach, accredited by Counselling and Psychotherapy Central Awarding Body (CPCAB). He teaches 4 to 8-week courses, including Jon Kabat-Zinn's gold standard "Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction." He works with individuals, groups, and organizations to inspire greater happiness, health, and human connection in life and work. Derek's course ‘Waves of Wellbeing and Resilience’ was drawn from both his teaching qualifications, as well his own personal life and professional experiences. He has coached and mentored people for 20 years in high-stress corporate environments, as well as purpose-driven ‘technology for good’ organizations like JustGiving and Farewill, where he spent many wonderful years working with not-for-profit organizations. Derek is sincerely committed to helping others realize their potential, creativity, and fundamental connection to self, others, and the universe. Derek moved to London from his hometown in Dublin. His early life in Ireland colored so much of what he has learned throughout life. Having graduated in creative writing, he always found great inspiration in the books of others, whether fictional, philosophical, or those challenging conventions. Throughout his professional career, where he enjoyed the highs and lows of working abroad, growing businesses, and making a purposeful impact, there was always a pull towards the traditions and philosophies, which inspire his work today. A few life-changing events and an ever-growing personal commitment to meditation practice, finally nudged him to retrain as a mindfulness and compassion teacher, picking up a CPCAB accredited Level 4 qualification, as well as training to teach Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction. Derek then redesigned his life around a passion and purpose, so he could sustainably support his health and well-being and that of his family. He founded his company Waking Waves to make this possible and is now on his own mindful mission to share the benefits of mindfulness and compassion with others, so they can too!

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10 Days

1.7k students

4.9 stars

14 min / day

Abundance

English


Lesson 1

Seeing Through The Eyes Of A Child

In this first session, we experience what it is like to see through the eyes of a child. So firstly, we return to the start, exploring the origins and meaning of “Beginner’s mind” and the intentions we hold when we embody this mindset and attitude in daily life. I will then share some of my encounters with beginner's mind, in present time, and early life. You will also learn ways to engage your beginner's mind right now - by recalling poignant experiences and asking yourself some compelling questions. We will end by setting our intention, our goal, to reunite with our beginner's mind.

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Lesson 2

A Window Made Of Chocolate

Today, we'll explore how beginner’s mind can really fuel your imagination and creativity. How it can ignite sparks of curiosity throughout our daily lives, helping us see greater possibility in ordinary things and really enhancing our appreciation for the extraordinary moments. We’ll share a mindful practice, which you can do any time in daily life and which doesn’t require you to change your routine. And by considering some of the many other ways we can apply this practice, we open ourselves up to greater possibilities and moments of awareness. Move one step closer to reuniting you, with your beginner's mind.

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Lesson 3

It's A Walk In The Park

How often do we wake up and 'really' notice the morning? What everyday things or routines pass us by, and with them, opportunities for greater connection, presence, and wonder? Today, we’ll share some of the many opportunities to cultivate your beginner’s mind in daily life. We'll consider the things we encounter upon waking up and how ‘seeing them as if for the first time’ can change our perception and experience. We’ll take a walk in a park and share the possibilities, abundantly available when we step outside. And we’ll share a short visualizing practice to help discover something new or old, for the very first time.

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Lesson 4

The Menu Is Not The Meal

This simple, yet powerful concept will help deepen our present moment experience, of new or old things - engaging fully with our direct real-life experience, rather than through a lens or indirectly. Once we have explored its meaning, we will apply it to different aspects of our life, sharing a four-course meal in which we all might find nourishment. It will help us to see the things we might take for granted, our judgments and assumptions, and the things we might easily miss. And by engaging more with our direct experience, we will discover a more wonderful connection, more vitality in the mundane, and more opportunity and meaning in the choices we make.

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Lesson 5

Giving Your Expert Mind A Rest

Being the eternal expert is tiring and self-defeating. And not just because we can't always be the expert. But because we are biased as humans, and we lose out on learning opportunities. Today, we will seek one of the most reliable sources of inspiration for beginner’s mind - others! Those we share this planet with - our families, friends, colleagues, and pets. We’ll discuss a reason why ‘+only ever considering our own knowledge and expertise can be limiting. Then together, we’ll do a short mindful breathing practice, to make us more open and receptive, working on three new ways to develop your beginner’s mind.

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Lesson 6

Starstruck By Your Beginner's Mind

Some moments in our lives truly stand out. They leave us mesmerized, spellbound, with a deep sense of connection to the world. They may already have happened, or have yet to arrive. But they happen. Today, I will share a few stories of connection with my beginner’s mind and how these began at an adventurous and memorable point in my early adult life. And how one moment, in particular, left a powerful and lasting impression, which I revisit to this very day. We'll end by sharing two places of cosmic connection universally available to us all. I hope you enjoy discovering them too.

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Lesson 7

Seeing Possibility In Crashing Waves Of Misfortune

Life’s difficult or challenging moments can sometimes leave us feeling like the world is against us. Moments we wish to forget, to erase from our memories. We rarely view these as opportunities for personal growth. And with no shortage of difficulties in life, it is easy to become overwhelmed by crashing waves of misfortune. So, instead of going under, together, we will explore a new way of appreciating these moments. We will change the narrative and view them as a part of our learning, rich with potential and possibility. We’ll mindfully pause to create space for difficulty and end by reflecting on how we can view them with an open-minded and curious perspective.

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Lesson 8

A Trip Down Your Memory Lane

Sometimes, we feel fresh out of ideas, bored, or lost for inspiration. Low on energy and motivation. Happiness and joy - a distant memory. So today, we will once again walk in our childhood shoes, recalling how we genuinely delighted, in new and old experiences. How we could relive those very same experiences again and again, with as much energy, vigor, and enthusiasm each time. Recalling our resilience, our boundless creativity, and imagination, our rarely 'seeking something else to make it better' attitudes until we were run off our feet, ready to sleep, wake, and start again. We'll also suggest three ways you can awaken your inner child.

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Lesson 9

Rewiring Your Beginner's Mind

Many of us may feel like life and learning 'goes downhill' after a certain age. But why is this? Today, we will explore why we have been conditioned to feel this way and why our beginner’s mind and brain can stimulate a healthy and enquiring capacity for lifelong learning and development. We'll share more examples of the ‘expert mind’ at play, and how certain biases and prevailing beliefs we hold can make us close-minded. But we can change this. We'll prove it by finishing with a simple breathing practice, to simultaneously reduce stress and increase our capacity for attention. Changing your beginner's mind (and brain), one breath at a time.

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Lesson 10

Reunited With Your Beginner's Mind

From beginning to end, I sincerely hope you have enjoyed this journey. We have shared a lot! So, in our final session, we will summarize many of the teachings and reflections shared throughout the course. We'll also pose some questions alongside, to help you can consider how they may integrate into your daily life and work. We will then share 10 ways you can practically reconnect with your beginner’s mind anytime, so it becomes a habit you don’t have to think about, making it a mindset you wake up with. An attitude and behavior you embody. Reunited with your beginner's mind.

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Ask your teacher

This course includes 6 community questions and 5 audio replies from Derek Hill. The community classroom and teacher audio replies are only available via the app.

6

4.9 (50)

Recent Reviews

Justin

August 25, 2025

I listened to this course while reading Suzuki Shunryu’s book, Beginner’s Mind. Derek’s course reinforced the reading and helped me integrate the message from that book in a more secular and practical manner. This is a great course and I would highly recommend it to anyone who is interested inin living more mindfully and with new perspectives.

Freddie

February 11, 2025

Some really useful and interesting insights. Great to listen to and easy enough to implement. It resonated well with me.

Ann

July 31, 2024

Wonderful. Good to be reassured that age is no boundary to new experiences and learning. I feel this course has given me a fresh perspective on life at 65yrs. Thank you 🙏🩷

Daphne

April 10, 2024

Thankyou for so many and so many varied ways of connecting and reconnecting with this precious life.

Tim

March 27, 2024

Great course. Derek provides many insights, ideas and methods to be more present in daily life and to experience the world through the eyes of a child. He has a calm, soothing voice and engaging delivery. I highly recommend Derek's courses and guided meditations.

Tito

November 10, 2023

Very helpful

Kassia

August 31, 2023

Great course!

Melody

August 13, 2023

Thank you for this beautiful course! I learned so many creative ways to see the world with a fresh perspective. ✨✨✨✨✨

Kay

June 13, 2023

This class reawakened many wonderful ways of being.

Harris

May 29, 2023

i love it

Diane

April 6, 2023

Always remember to forgive yourself and not get swept away by tasks. Make yourself the most important task of all. Because without you, what does it matter!! Thank you Derek!

Perry

August 24, 2022

Really easy to relate too and follow along. Thankyou

Sarah

August 19, 2022

Loved it, from ‘beginning’ till end ❤️

Steve

August 16, 2022

Engaging, enjoyable and thought provoking

Natalie

August 14, 2022

Loved this course! Beginners mind has awakened feelings inside me and its really nice to see things through the eyes of the child, I once was. I feel more present and it’s nice to appreciate the smallest of things and not take them for granted. I’ve already Introduced new habits, like not reaching for my phone first thing in the morning and just listening to the birds and enjoying sounds of nature.

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