Today, I’m back from a month-long silent meditation retreat. Now, I’m not special. Anyone can learn to meditate - even you... So to help you out, I’m pulling the curtain back and sharing with you the pain that brought me to the Buddhist path and how that led to the peaceful I am today.
Have you struggled with anxiety since adolescence—or even for what feels like your whole life? Do you ever feel so wound up, in such a state of almost constant fight or flight adrenaline, that it feels as though your life is being physically threatened? The fact is, these experiences are true for so many people, but that doesn’t mean you have to suffer forever. You can free yourself from the seemingly endless spiral—and I’m going to show you exactly how.
In this episode, I explain my personal experiences with anxiety, from my late childhood all the way through graduate school, and the mental, emotional, and physical suffering that it caused me. I also talk about how I learned to be comfortable in mutual silence, that just about anyone can learn and benefit from meditation, and all about my initial experience at a meditation retreat—and how it wasn’t such a walk in the park!
So… 28 days, alone, in the woods, no speaking. Sounds a little outrageous, right? Truth be told, I was wary of meditation, too, initially. I couldn’t even imagine doing it for 60 minutes at a time, let alone the weeks or months on end I do now. I promise you, even if right now you’re thinking, “Gee whiz, 28 days of silence—Dr. Cheryl, you must be nuts!” you’ll eventually realize that training your mind is the most important thing you will ever do.
In This Episode, You Will Learn:
You can be the best student in the country with the perfect GPA, but still be a mess on the inside. (05:42)
When Western medicine failed to help my anxiety, my eyes were opened to Buddhism by a friend… and boy, I was skeptical at first. (07:37)
The common thread that ran between two of the most calming, patient people in my life and how that lead me to my first experience with structured meditation. (9:53)
Both my physical body and my monkey mind were screaming at me when I first tried meditation—I hated it! (13:41)
Meditation isn’t a one-and-done cure-all and you won’t feel high or blissed out on the first try, but what you will come away with is a sense of ease, calm, and peace. (20:06)
Your weekly LoveByte. (31:16)
Q&A:
How can I help ease my suffering from anxiety? One way to help ease anxiety is to regularly practice meditation.
What are the benefits of meditation? Focused and practiced meditation can bring a sense of calm and peace to the student. It can help people experiencing stress and anxiety to achieve a sense of mental clarity and contentment.
Why can’t I meditate? Am I meditating wrong? Anyone can benefit from meditation, but it isn’t one-size-fits-all and it’s not an immediate fix. It takes time, practice, and energy and you will get out of it what you put into it. If you’re not feeling the benefits at first, keep trying and ask a qualified teacher for help.
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