I was interviewed by Sunny Hills, a well-known teacher of positive affirmations and positive thinking. The topic was, "How can meditation help me with my affirmations."
Because most of the participants in the call were beginners, this interview is a useful introduction to meditation – principles and techniques.
Here is the complete program, with the introductions and some of the chit-chat edited out for your listening pleasure:
Q: I've gotten panic attacks since college, and the only thing that works for me is medication. I know that stress and caffeine can trigger attacks. Can relaxation help with panic attacks?
Q: Lately I don't seem to have much energy. What's going on?
A: There are lots of things that can cause low energy. Many people make lots of money telling you that it's your diet, your shoes, dust mites, the pH of your blood, Candida infection, heavy metals in your feet, you name it.
Another definition of stress is not being fully present in the moment.
The question we each need to ask is, "Is this activity helping me be fully present or fully distracted?"
I don't always have time (so I tell myself) to meditate, but I eat and wash up pretty much every day. I generally brush my teeth a couple times a day, and it's a rare day when I don't get dressed and undressed at least once.
Each of these activities is a perfect time for mindfulness. Can I wash my plate, fork and cup and ONLY wash my plate, fork and cup? Without thinking about my conference call, or the fight I'm having with my former client who isn't paying (deep breath), or what I'm going to make for dinner tomorrow, or what was the name of that actress in the Disney remake of The Parent Trap, or – oh, yeah, back to the dishes.
I can chop vegetables while talking on the phone and listening to the radio, or I can focus on putting love into the meal I'm about to serve my family.
Meditation is just shooting foul shots alone in the gym. It's practice. Being present for our lives is the real game.
Q: When I worry about money, I get really painful headaches. They're happening more and more. What can I do?
A: My weak spot is my lower back. The minute I feel financial stress, the tightness begins. Then knots, then pain, then – wham! – I go into spasm and am bedridden for a week.
We all have areas of weakness that manifeste when we're stressed – physically, emotionally, spiritually. My dad had ulcers and lost his voice. My wife gets migraines.
Think of these symptoms as the canary in the mine – friendly and timely reminders that something isn't right, that something in our attitude or lifestyle needs adjustment.
What are your stressful thoughts about finances? Are they about your self-worth? About being able to take care of your kids? How would you complete the sentence, "I'm afraid…"?
I'm not a doctor, so I can't say anything very intelligent about a headache. But if it were me, I'd do an autogenic relaxation twice a day for three days and see if you get relief. You can download the autogenic session that I recorded, complete with royalty-free new-age music, here.
Please let me know what happens if you try it!