In my teens, if anyone had suggested that spending 20 minutes a day in silence could change my life, I would have said, "Whatever, dude." Not only because I considered meditation a part of woo-woo culture but most importantly because I knew there was NO WAY I could sit still for 20 whole minutes.
Life is hectic, filled with deadlines, responsibilities, and a daunting flood of notifications. How could something as simple as meditation make a difference? Yet here I am, a person who has been practicing Transcendental Meditation (TM) for more than ten years. It completely reshaped my outlook and interactions with the world, and in many ways, I have David Lynch to thank for that. It's hard to believe he's gone.
It All Started With Twin Peaks
While I had seen Dune (let's not debate if it's better or worse than the new ones) around the age of 13 (in the theatre) and loved it, I was a freshman in high school when I became a true fan. While the "normies" were watching Beverly Hills 90210, weirdos like me were sucked into its equivalent, Twin Peaks, which was (basically) the same show, but on acid. Oh, and it had murder. And sex. Sometimes, both at the same time.
Although it only ran for two seasons, it was impactful and Lynch's work would continue to influence my and many of my friend's artistic life as we grew older. In particular, he profoundly affected a director/writer friend who, around 2012, decided to pursue training in TM. We both knew that Lynch was an avid practitioner, had even written a book about it, and started a foundation and school for training, but the pricing was pretty expensive for an artist. Still, my friend was compelled to find a way and try it.
Enter Philosophy Works.
About a year or so later, she received her mantra and convinced me to attend class and start my journey to receiving mine. Why did I do this after years of believing it wasn't for me? There are a few reasons.
Firstly, I had just ended an intense seven-year relationship and was looking for something. That something was a deeper connection to myself and some direction in my life. I had been feeling pretty rudderless and knew I needed to shake things up. Besides, what did I have to lose? Classes were affordable, at $35-$40 instead of the $1k at the Lynch school, so why not?!
What Exactly is Transcendental Meditation?
Transcendental Meditation (TM), also known
as Vedic meditation, was developed by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi in the 1950s. It is based on a meditation technique from the Hindu Vedas. With the TM program, you silently repeat a mantra in your head. The method focuses on settling your body into a state of restful alertness. Your body is deeply relaxed, and your mind is quiet but wide awake.
Many folks ask how it differs from mindfulness meditation, which also has value but differs in that mindfulness involves breathing methods, guided imagery, and other practices to relax the body and mind. Some of these techniques are certainly shared between the two, but the mantra is the secret sauce of TM.
Your mantra is given to you by a guru or certified teacher/practitioner and is never said out loud or shared with anyone. Most TM mantras are unique Sanskrit sounds (not words) without direct meaning or translation to English. It is spoken in the mind repeatedly for the duration of the session.
Philosophy Works requires several classes before you receive your mantra. It's work, but they firmly believe in walking before you run. You learn philosophical basics (hence the school's name) and discuss the concepts (critical thinking required), then develop a mindfulness practice, and only then do you begin TM training. We were taught to practice 20 minutes daily but in two sessions. One ten-minute session upon waking and the other ten at the end of the day, usually between 4 - 6 pm.
The school has one mantra that everyone uses. What is it? I'll never tell! 😉
Being a person with ADHD (though I didn't know it at the time), I was shocked at my ability to sit and focus. In retrospect, I think the reason this type of practice works best for me is because of the mantra; it tricks my ADHD brain into grabbing on to the repetitive sound (which my neurodivergent brain REALLY likes) and then frees up the rest of my brain to settle and be open to what I believe is the collective unconsciousness or what some people call the unified field.
How It Changed My Life
After practicing for about six weeks, I experienced a significant breakthrough during a meditation session. I was working on a movie script, and the story and dialogue began to flow through me. I know! It sounds woo-woo, but it's true. I would finish my meditation and immediately run to the computer to write.
David Lynch talks about this type of experience while working on scripts as well.
From that point on, my perspective transformed. It became a place to contemplate, channel creativity, and sometimes, do NOTHING. There is no good or bad meditation session. That's not what it's about.
It's called a meditation practice for a reason.
It became a part of my daily routine, and it felt weird if I missed it, which I certainly did and still do occasionally. What I love most is that it's like riding a bike: if I stop for a period, I can pick it right back up without a problem.
My biggest takeaway has been a new ability to pause and reflect. I didn't do much of that until I started meditation, and it became incredibly crucial to maintaining patience and managing stress as I began perimenopause!
Real Benefits of Transcendental Meditation
Reduced Stress and Anxiety: My overall sense of well-being improved drastically. Studies indicate that practitioners of TM report a 50% reduction in anxiety levels.
Improved Focus and Productivity: Those 20 minutes of quiet were a game changer. I approached work tasks with fresh energy and clarity. Research shows that meditation can increase productivity by up to 120%.
Better Sleep Quality: My sleep improved remarkably. According to the Sleep Foundation, regular meditation can enhance sleep patterns by 42%.
Better Relationships: People practicing meditation report stronger relationships with their friends and partners. As I became calmer and more present, my relationships flourished. Friends and family noticed I was more patient and empathetic, leading to deeper connection and eventually meeting my future husband.
Heightened Happiness: It can decrease cortisol levels (a stress hormone) by 30% and has been shown to be more effective than other relaxation techniques in boosting happiness. I find it much easier to focus on the good things in my life and am certainly more resilient. I credit this more to my education leading up to my meditation training, though the practice influences my ability to focus on happiness by being more present.
Is Meditation for You?
Does the idea of meditating make you want to roll your eyes? Take a nap? Punch yourself in the face?
I get it! The most common concern I hear from friends, family, and clients is the limiting belief that sitting still for ten minutes is impossible. I KNOW. I felt the same way, which is why you need training in HOW.
Sure, you can try an app like CALM, which I encourage, but you're better off working with a human who offers training like Mark Price, who we had on the CTD Podcast, or going to a school like Philosophy Works.
So. Is it for you? The answer is YES.
It is for everyone. If my busy-a** ADHD brain can do it and reap the benefits, so can you! You just have to be open to trying, find the right way to get your training, and give it a chance to change your life.
What do you have to lose??
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