Ten key lessons my meditation students have taught me!

Over the past ten years of training people to feel love, peace and joy, my most successful students have taught me ten life-changing lessons. These are seemingly ordinary men and women who have dramatically lowered their anxiety levels, increased happiness and joy in their lives, often within days and weeks of practicing meditation and mindfulness techniques regularly. Clearly, meditation was a tool and I think these attitudes and approaches go much deeper than learning simple exercises in focus and awareness practice. Setting clear and definable goals is important BUT not enough!

1. Pain and suffering are key motivating factors. Many of my top students have used the energies of their frustrations and self-anger to be focused and disciplined about taking action towards their goals.
2. Consistency is more important than perfection. Yes – many of my students develop highly complex strategies for mental fitness but they start with simple and consistent routines – just 5-10 minutes of meditation in the morning and at night before they go to bed.
3. Use your strengths and what you have – Finding joy and happiness is not about “fixing” yourself. It is about finding your strengths and energizing actions and incorporating them daily in your life
4. Guilt is good, shame sucks your energy – my students have learned to focus on positive behaviors and let go of bad habits. They have learned that negative feelings such as anger, frustration and sadness are often signals to important actions.
5. Expect and plan for setbacks, challenges and problems – the ability to embrace failures and being flexible about their approaches to their challenges appears to be the key to these life changes
6. Optimism and willingness to expect positive change is a key factor – It is not just hope but a sense of certainty they can change for the better!
7. Willing to go out of their comfort zone – many of the small changes in the life need dramatic changes to their outlook.  My top students seem to embrace these perspectives in an open manner
8. Willingness to spend money, time and other resources – My students will research different options and will make their “Happiness” Project a high priority. They realize that happiness is a by-product of their behaviors and are willing to focus their resources on the changes they need to make
9. Embrace their unique learning style – my students and I will explore different modalities, videos, physical exercises, audio tapes, books and worksheet activities.  Many use methods they are most comfortable and, also, practice the basic lessons again and again.
   
10. Coachability -  My top students often get answers and tips from me to help them, and, in most cases, feel that being responsible to me helps them go to the next level!

If you have read this far, you must be very interested in making positive changes in your life. I urge you to check out my website for my classes, workshops and one-on-one coaching. The key is to set goals and embrace meaningful and flexible action.