MEDITATION CHANGES EVERYTHING
by Ken LaDéroute
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© 2011 Ken LaDéroute – Clarity Mind Institute, Inc.
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reserved. No part of this booklet may be used or reproduced in any
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
001 Introduction
002 Meditation and the Brain
003 Brain Waves
004 Why Meditate
005 More Reasons
006 Health – Relationships
007 Psychology – Mindfulness
008 Awareness
010 Acceptance – Inner Peace – Simplicity
011 Mind
012 How To Meditate
013 Preparation
014 Sitting
015 Start with The Breath
016 Scan the Body
017 Creative Visualization
018 Practice Gratitude
019 No Mind Meditation
020 Mantra
021 Become Aware of Your Breath
022 Imagine
023 Practice
024 Progress
025 What the World Needs Now
INTRODUCTION
I have been practicing meditation for over 30 years. I started in 1979 when I discovered that meditation was a way to deal with anxiety. Since then, the simple act of closing my eyes and emptying my mind has completely transformed my life!
Not only has it helped me reduce fear and negative thinking, it cleared away many of the limiting beliefs and feelings of unworthiness and low self-esteem that prevented me from achieving the happiness and success I saw for myself.
Meditation awakened my creativity and inspiration. I became more focused and my thinking processes became more coherent. I began to realize that I could do anything I set my mind to and that I could face any challenge. Meditation was instrumental in helping me become successful in business, real estate, audio engineering, song writing, teaching, public speaking, coaching and my 30-year successful relationship with my wife.
Meditation is the art of silencing the mind. When the mind is silent, concentration is increased and you can experience inner peace in the midst of worldly turmoil. This elusive inner peace is what attracts so many people to meditation and is a quality everyone can benefit from.
When I look at the research and the sheer weight of all the benefits that one can realize through the simple act of being still and quieting the mind- it becomes clear that it's almost foolish not to meditate.
“Meditation simplifies our outer life and energizes our inner life. Meditation gives us a natural and spontaneous life, a life that becomes so natural and spontaneous that we cannot breathe without being conscious of our own divinity.” ~ Sri Chinmoy
MEDITATION AND
THE BRAIN
Like a computer, your brain functions on a small
amount of energy. This energy vibrates at different speeds.
When
you're awake, your brain vibrates at 20 cycles per second, or what
scientists call - the Beta level. You are probably pulsating at this
beta level right now as you read this.
Research shows that the
ideal state for learning is when the brain is relaxed, focused and
aware. In this state, the brain runs at about 8 to 12 cycles per
second, which is called the alpha state.
Theta is a level of
deep relaxation or sleep, when your brain waves are at 4 to 7 cycles
per second.
In the deepest levels
of sleep, your brain frequency slows all the way down to about half a
cycle per second. This is known as the Delta level.
From a scientific perspective, when you practice meditation, all you are doing is simply reducing your brain wave frequency to that of the alpha level.
BRAIN WAVES
Researchers
at Harvard Medical School used MRI technology on participants to
monitor brain activity while they meditated.
The sections of the
brain that lit up during meditation were the sections of the brain in
charge of the autonomic nervous system, which governs the functions
in our bodies that we can't control, such as digestion and blood
pressure.
These are also the functions that are often
compromised by stress. It makes sense, then, that modulating these
functions would help ward off stress-related conditions such as heart
disease, digestive problems and infertility.
“The
human brain starts working the moment you are born and never stops
until you stand up to speak in public.” ~ George Jessel
WHY MEDITATE
There
are new studies coming out every day proving what eastern cultures
have known for centuries meditation can grow your brain.
Specifically, meditation increases the size of the hippo-campus, the portion of the brain that controls learning and memory. It also decreases the density of the amygdala, the part of the brain that stores stress and anxiety.
Studies show how meditation and mindfulness practice has success in enhancing mental agility and attention by changing brain structure and function so that brain processes are more efficient,the quality associated with higher intelligence."
Studies have shown
that, among other benefits, meditation can help reverse heart
disease, the number-one killer in the U.S. It can reduce pain and
enhance the body's immune system, enabling it to better fight
disease.
In a study published in the journal Stroke, 60
African-Americans with atherosclerosis, or hardening of the arteries,
practiced meditation for six to nine months. (African-Americans are
twice as likely to die from cardiovascular disease as are whites.)
The meditators showed a marked decrease in the thickness of their
artery walls, while the non-meditators actually showed an increase.
The change for the
meditation group could potentially bring about an 11 percent decrease
in the risk of heart attack and an 8 percent to 15 percent decrease
in the risk of stroke.
“If we knew what it was we were doing, it would not be called research, would it?” ~ Albert Einstein
MORE
REASONS
Another study, published in Psychosomatic
Medicine, taught a randomized group of 90 cancer patients mindful
meditation (another type of practice).
After seven weeks,
those who had meditated reported that they were significantly less
depressed, anxious, angry and confused than the control group, which
hadn't practiced meditation. The meditators also had more energy and
fewer heart and gastrointestinal problems than did the other group.
Research at Harvard
University has established that meditation actually increases the
pre-frontal cortex of your brain, the part of the brain responsible
for positive emotions, and the production of neurotransmitters that
help us feel happy and relaxed.
Meditation has been
shown to produce beneficial brain changes, such as improved attention
span and concentration, even among distractions.
In addition, people who
meditate show dramatic increases in "whole-brain thinking"
and learning, providing far greater comprehension ability and
dramatically increased retention of various types of data received.
Meditation can also boost your immune system. Researchers at the University of Wisconsin found that people who completed eight weeks of meditation training produced more antibodies to a flu vaccine and showed signs of increased activity in brain areas related to positive emotion than people who didn't meditate.
“To
be simple means: without projections, without conditioning, just a
clarity, a silence, an understanding.” ~ Osho
HEALTH
There
have been numerous studies showing a link between meditation and
improved physical health. Meditation is a practical solution to
relieve stress and alleviate anxiety. When we relieve stress we help
to reduce our blood pressure and heart related diseases.
Researches
looked at a group of people who had meditated for four months and
found that they produced less of the stress hormone cortisol. They
were therefore better able to adapt to and manage stress in their
lives, no matter what their circumstances were.
RELATIONSHIPS
It is the nature of the
mind to magnify small things and turn them into serious problems. The
judging mind has a tendency to dwell on the minor faults of others
resulting in conflicts. This is a common source of unhappiness and
division for many humans. Adopting a meditation practice allows us to
see good qualities while minor faults seem unimportant.
Meditators are less angry, self-reflective and more loving. When you spend time with yourself in contemplation, you become aware that you are interconnected with others and that all humans want happiness and to suffer less. You begin to see yourself in others, and you become more self-accepting and compassionate toward yourself.
Be kind to yourself first, you can then practice compassion with others.
“The important thing is not to think much but to love much; do, then, whatever most arouses you to love.~ St. Teresa of Avila
PSYCHOLOGY
Meditation offers
numerous emotional and psychological benefits. Folks who practice
meditation find themselves more optimistic and less depressed. They
have fewer negative thoughts and show a decrease in chronic and acute
anxiety. Meditators are less reactive and have longer fuses. They
exhibit reduced aggression, and less emotional agitation in response
to experiences or situations.
There is a reduced
reliance on prescribed and un-prescribed drugs, or alcohol. They are
better able to cope with life's circumstances and they enjoy better
sleep.
In addition, meditators enjoy greater creativity, intuition, imagination and a more consistent happy state of mind
MINDFULNESS
If we stopped and looked at the thoughts that go through our minds, we would find that many of our thoughts are in dealing with the past or future. We are either fearful or worried about what will happen in the future or we are ruminating about the past. By dwelling on the past or future, we are unable to live in the present moment.
As the mind approaches a state referred to as, "least excitation," the mind is no longer influenced by the obsessive mental state, from which worry and stress is generated. Instead, the mind is naturally absorbed in present moment awareness.
As the mind deepens in this state of harmony, worry and stress cannot survive.
“In the ego state thought comes first-in the awakened state presence comes first.” ~ Ken LaDeroute
AWARENESS
Meditation is about
expansion of awareness. This probably has more value than anything
else. With more awareness, you expand your range of choices, make
better decisions and gain a better understanding of your life's
purpose.
When you can be aware and appreciate what's at the core of your thinking and feeling, that's when you begin to master your mind.
As you gain control over the mind, you realize that you don't need to control it. All that mental stuff is an attempt to control what can't be controlled.
Meditation allows you access to pure consciousness, which is the source of your insights, imagination, intuition and creativity.
This heightened awareness allows you to have an ability to:
See the space between things
Appreciate being itself
Appreciate awareness
“The kingdom of God cometh not with observation; neither shall they say, Lo here! Or, Lo there! For behold, the kingdom of God is within you.” ~ (Luke 17:20-21)
ACCEPTANCE
Meditation teaches us acceptance and to appreciate life as it is; we learn to value our present circumstances.
INNER PEACE
Most people would like to experience more inner peace in their lives. Because our lives are so hectic, at times peace feels like an elusive quality.
Meditation teaches us how to switch off from the noise of the mind, and to be more mindful of the kinds of thoughts and feelings we allow in the mind.
Through meditation we can gain a clear state of mind; this is how to gain lasting inner peace.
SIMPLICITY
Meditation
helps to simplify your life. When you live in the mind, life feels
like it's an endless set of problems and worries. Meditation helps
you find joy in appreciating the simplicity of life, and cultivate a
real abiding happiness.
“ We don't see things as they are, we see them as we are.” ~ Anais Nin
MIND
The mind is a powerful form of energy. It is designed to think and generate thought. If you feed it with knowledge, it repeats the same knowledge, over and over again.It is merely an object of perception --- a mechanism.
The mind is often confused, agitated, rebellious, and subject to innumerable conditioned and automatic patterns. It disengages itself due to so much thinking, but you do not have to be a slave to your thoughts.
There's nothing wrong with thinking- it's when you get lost in the mind's dysfunction that you become dislodged from the intuitive source of the mind.
If you have the tendency to continually ask questions, or if it refuses to quiet down, this is a sign that you may have become a slave to your mind, and that it is time to transcend the mind and emotions to get to that place of equanimity or silence.
Less mind brings clarity, purity and innocence. Less mind is the real way to know. It's the real way to be.
Imagine a pendulum as it swings between two poles. Can you see how the power that makes the pendulum move rests at the center point in between the alternating swings? At the still point of your mind is the source of thought.
And at the source of the mind is where you find your true power.
Practicing meditation brings you to the still point between the gap between two thoughts and practicing meditation is how you tune into your power.
“I was trying to daydream, but my mind kept wandering.~ Stephen Wright
HOW TO MEDITATE
The goal of meditation is not to shut down the mind or anesthetize it, but rather to make it clear, lucid, and balanced so that you can live in a spacious state of clarity and inner freedom.
Meditation is easy. We are natural meditators. When you are lost in timeless awareness, or completely immersed and enjoying a task or project- you are practicing meditation.
Meditation is supremely enjoyable, and one should not try to force it or use effort.
When you have mastered a technique and you are free enough to simply surrender and allow meditation to happen on it's own accord- you are in a state of flow.
STRUCTURE
What follows is a guideline to help you stay regular with your practice. I have divided it into 4 sections:
Preparation
Creative Visualization
No Mind Meditation
Visualize Intention
“As
human beings, our greatness lies not so much in being able to remake
the world...as in being able to remake ourselves.” ~ Mahatma
Gandhi
PREPARATION
Make Time to Meditate
You can meditate at any time of day. Some people like to start their day off with meditation, others like to end the day by clearing their mind, and some prefer to meditate in the middle of a busy day.
The effects of meditation are most noticeable when you do it regularly and consistently. Some people find that a five minute meditation is worthwhile, for others, the benefits of a longer meditation is time well-spent.
Set aside enough time in your daily routine for meditation. You can gain great benefit from meditating for just 20 minutes a day. It might be helpful to begin with five minutes, and work your way up to longer periods as your meditative skills develop.
As you become more adept, meditation will spill over to all aspects of your life - your whole day will become a meditation.
Put Your Best Foot Forward
The easiest time to meditate is in the morning, before the day's events tire your body and give your mind more things to think about. When you put meditation first, this tells your body, mind and psychology what you consider to be top priority.
Starting
your day with meditation allows peace, focused attention and
present-moment awareness to spill over into your work, relationships
and leisure.
“When we pay attention to nature's music, we find that everything on the earth contributes to its harmony.~ Hazrat Inayat Khan
Sitting
You don't have to twist your limbs into a lotus position or adopt any unusual postures in order to be successful at meditation. Sit in an upright position without being too rigid. Shoot for being able to sit in stillness for a while, so get comfortable. Sit in a straight back chair, or prop up your back if you like. It's best not to meditate while lying down because you are likely to fall asleep.
Same Time, Same Place
We are creatures of habit. Meditating at the same time and in the same chair everyday serves to reinforce your practice. Sitting in the same location becomes a vibrational pull to help you stay disciplined. To further help, why not make your space sacred. Include your favorite books, photos, candles and incense to help you stay on course.
Twitches, Itches and Clothing
By all means, get comfortable. Wear loose clothing, take off your shoes, wrap yourself in a shawl or blanket- stay warm. If you have an itch, stop and scratch and continue with your focus.
Go Light
When you try to meditate after a heavy meal, your energy is oriented toward digestion. Eat light fare before your practice or preferably nothing at all. Your attention should be light and focused in the frontal regions of the brain, not on digestive processes. You'll find it much easier to concentrate.
“People who don't take risks generally make about two big mistakes a year. People who do take risks generally make about two big mistakes a year.” ~ Peter Drucker
Start With The Breath
The breath is a link between your mind and body. Balancing the breath brings about balance in the mind and body.
Start by taking 10 deep breaths. Breathe in through the nostrils and exhale through the mouth or nose.
Breathe in slowly, evenly and as deeply as possible. Allow your exhalations to be long and complete.
With each exhalation mentally recite, ?elax.With each exhalation try and release anything that is no longer serving you.
It might be addictions, fear, worry, conditioned tendencies or limiting beliefs. Take your time and do all 10 rounds.
Concentrating on the flow of your breath automatically brings your awareness into the present moment.
“If you do not breathe through writing, if you do not cry out in writing, or sing in writing, then don't write, because our culture has no use for it.”~ Anais Nin
Scan the body
Bring your attention to your right big toe. Wiggle it and then really tense it up, and then release. Bring attention to the other toes on the right foot and tense up your toes and release. Bring your attention to the arch, heel, calf, thigh and the whole right leg. Feel your right leg completely relaxed and heavy in your chair. Do the same for the left foot and leg. If you notice any tension or constriction, focus your breath on the particular area, and breathe away any tension.
Coming up, look at your waist, stomach, lungs, heart and internal organs. See them working in perfect order for your well being. Pause for a moment at the center of your chest. Imagine your heart center as a window or outstretched arms, open and willing.
Feel the weight of your hands resting in your lap. Look at both arms and allow gravity to pull them down.
Bring your focus to the back of the neck. Move your head gently back and forth to each side to bring awareness to the neck. Due to our modern day lifestyles, we hold a lot of tension at the back of the neck. Notice any tension and breathe it away.
Coming up to the head, see a nice quiet brain, with fewer electrical or synaptic impulses. Relax the muscles around the eyes. See your forehead relax and become smooth. Let your face fall. Bring a gentle smile to your face. Smiling releases neuro-chemicals that rapidly pass through the entire body.
Silently bless the body for the work it does for you, automatically, day in and day out.
Bring your awareness to the space between your eyebrows. This is where we'll focus our attention during meditation. Gaze deeply through the spiritual eye.
“Begin to see yourself as a soul with a body rather than a body with a soul.” ~ Wayne Dyer
CREATIVE
VISUALIZATION
Connect With Humanity
99.9% of any one person's DNA is exactly the same as any other person regardless of ethnicity or race. Every human on the planet desires to be happy and to suffer less.
Research shows that people are happier when they feel connected- it creates a boost in happiness levels.
Now that you are totally relaxed, take a few moments and feel the connections you have with your immediate family and friends. Extend this further to the people in your community and region.
Move farther out and feel and imagine your connection with all the people in your state, province and country.
Expand the circle to people of every creed, culture and nationality until you see and feel yourself connected to all the people of the world.
Feel the oneness with all life.
“I train myself mentally with visualization. The morning of a tournament, before I put my feet on the floor, I visualize myself making perfect runs with emphasis on technique, all the way through to what my personal best is in practice.” ~ Camille Duvall
Practice Gratitude
Practicing gratitude can increase happiness by 25%. Think of 2 or 3 people, or things, that you are truly grateful for. Imagine the impact they have on your life. Give thanks for everything that happens to you, even for the things that you wish wouldn't have happened, especially for your challenges or frustrations. Allow your gratitude and appreciation to come from deep within you and allow it to pour out in waves of gratitude and appreciation.
Forgiveness
Imagine in front of you anyone who you might have possibly caused stress, or treated in a less than perfect way. Imagine forgiving these people, and in turn, they are forgiving you. Forgiveness is a powerful tool. Letting go of a grudge can slash your stress level by as much as 50%. Research shows, that forgiving someone can lead to a decrease in headaches, back pain and insomnia.
Releasing Negativity
Imagine a column of smoke, steam or mist rising up behind your back to the sky. Now think of anything that may not be serving you. This might include limiting beliefs like, I'm not good enough,or I'm too old, or too young. Maybe you have hardened positions or opinions, old grudges, addictions, patterns or fears that you would like to be free of. After you've made a mental inventory, place all these into the column of smoke or steam and let it rise up and disappear up to the sky.
You can practice the same release by imagining a white circle of flowers, with you standing in the middle. Imagine tossing all those unwanted items beyond the white circle. After you're done, see yourself walking away.
“Holding on to anger is like grasping a hot coal with the intent of throwing it at someone else; you are the one who gets burned.” ~ Buddha
NO MIND MEDITATION
Now that you have completed your initial visualization, this is the time for silent, no thought mediation. This is where communion with Pure Consciousness takes place.
Following, are techniques for quieting the mind.
The Silent Witness or Detached Observation
You are not the mind. Just witness your thoughts as they land on the runway of your mind. Be like a dog waiting for his master by the door, ever vigilant, waiting and watching. Notice the kinds of thoughts that arise.
A thought arises, ?
forgot to do the dishes.Simply acknowledge the thought, and without
pushing it away, let it go like you would a bird in the sky, and then
go back to waiting and watching.
Watch the movements of the
mind even as you would watch the movements of a little child who is
trying to be naughty. Detaching yourself from the mind allows you to
watch the movements of your mind without any judgment.
Before long, you will transcend your mind and emotions, which means you will be in a state of consciousness that has no thought content, and you will begin to experience the deep inner peace of nothingness, or the gap between two thoughts.
“Meditativeness is simply a deep receptivity, a readiness, an open door.” ~ Osho
Mantra
A mantra is a focus word or phrase that one can mentally recite to help keep the conscious mind in a state of concentration and contemplation.
A mantra can have great transformational power in it's own right. For the purposes of simply quieting the mind however, your focus word can be anything: Peace, Love, OM- you can decide.
A common focus word that's often used is the Sanskrit word Soham. So with the inhale, and Ham (pronounced Hum with the exhale. It means ? am That.”
If a thought arises, simply acknowledge the thought without fighting it or trying to push it away and allow your thought to float away like a balloon in the sky. Then go back to repeating the mantra.
Once you have become a masterful meditator, you can drop the mantra, and really begin to enjoy no-thought meditation.
This silence or no-mind will allow you to experience the depth of being that is so useful for your mind, body and spirit.
“Better than a thousand hollow words, is one word that brings peace.” ~ Buddha
Become Aware of Your Breath
Notice your breath. Feel the in breath and the out breath. Notice how your breath feels. Is it smooth or rough? Does the length of the inhalation match the length of the exhalation? How long is the space between the in and the out breath?
Concentrate and follow your breath's rhythm. If a thought enters your mind, notice it, and without judging, just let it go, and go back to watching your breath.
You can also combine a mantra while watching your breath. On the in-breath, ?n this moment,on the out-breath, ? am safe.Or, ?odon the in-breath, ?goon the out-breath.
Object Focus
Concentration
Another useful technique is to concentrate
on a candle flame. Focus your gaze on the small tip of the flame and
block out all other thoughts. When you get distracted, go back to
focusing on the candle flame.
You can also use other objects like a small dot or flower. The important thing is that you concentrate only on one thing at a time
“Meditation is only a methodology to make you aware that your only disease is your ego, and your only health is egolessness.” ~ Osho
VISUALIZE INTENTION
Visualization
After you come out of no mind meditation, you are in a state of balance and receptivity. This is a perfect opportunity to visualize aspects of your life that you want to see happen or bring into reality.
It might be running a marathon, writing a book, doubling the revenues of your business, or meeting the person of your dreams.
Bring in all of your five senses. Feel the vibration. Hear the sounds. Make it as real as possible. Feel the emotions you would feel being in this reality.
Set Your Intention
If you're doing your meditation in the morning, think about the day that is about to unfold. What do you need to accomplish in this day? Set an intention for what you want to happen in your day. You might say, “Today I'm going to be incredibly productive at work, meet interesting people, see money in my mailbox, have a great workout, or sleep like a king.” Get as detailed as possible.
Bless Yourself and the World
Ask for a blessing. Feel the energy of the blessing coursing through your body.
“Intention is the core of all conscious life. Conscious intention colors and moves everything.” ~ Master Hsing Yun
PRACTICE
Like any exercise routine, it takes a disciplined approach to realize the benefits that meditation provides.
When you really want to do something you can find the time - just get up earlier or watch 30 minutes less of television.
Meditation requires an investment of time but consider how efficient, happy and peaceful your day will become.
Think of the time you'll spend in:
fewer disagreements or upsets
less obsessive worrying
less anxious mental activity
greater productivity
coherent brain activity
better focus and attention span
clarity of mind
present moment awareness
better sleep
inner peace
happiness and success
With practice, you'll look forward to your meditation practice, and that the time you spend in meditation becomes innately joyful and pleasurable.
Progress
Don't be discouraged if you can't attain a silent mind right from the start. It takes time and practice to re-train the mind. Try it for a few months and write about your experiences in a journal dedicated to your meditation realizations and practice; then see how you feel.
Resist looking for progress, just accept meditation as a daily, habitual practice- just like brushing your teeth.
Discomfort
When you bring light into your dark house, you begin to see cobwebs and spiders. They've always been there. Taking time for self-reflection can bring up past experiences and conditioned tendencies that may not be comfortable. If meditation feels uncomfortable, it may be digging up issues in your life that need your attention.
Boredom
Some of
us have a hard time keeping up our meditation routines because we're
either bored or we find meditation dull. Eckhart Tolle describes
boredom quite nicely in his quote: “The mind exists in a state of
"not enough" and so is always greedy for more. When you are
identified with mind, you get bored and restless very easily. Boredom
means the mind is hungry for more stimulus, more food for thought,
and its hunger is not being satisfied.”
Meditation is about
less mind and more being. It's about non-identifcation with the mind.
The “You” that observes the mind is not bored. Like fear, anger
or sadness, boredom is simply a conditioned tendency within your
sub-conscious mind. When you notice yourself becoming bored or
restless, observe what it feels like to be bored and restless. With
this awareness you'll notice space around it. As you allow this space
to grow, your feelings of boredom will begin to dissipate.
“Meditation takes you to the deepest level of the mind and allows you to cut the roots of past conditioning.” ~ S.N. Goenka
WHAT THE WORLD NEEDS NOW
From the inside out, the practice of meditation has completely galvanized my life. It has changed my emotional and psychological nature and freed my mind from limiting beliefs, fear, anxiety, restlessness and mood swings.
It has made me more forgiving of myself and others. It has opened my heart.
If meditation expands
awareness, brings peace, patience and compassion, with less fear and
more joy- these are worth bringing into the world.
Meditation can have a long-lasting ripple effect and make the world a better place.
Meditation has the power to change everything and everyone, one mind at a time.
“Out beyond ideas of wrongdoing and right doing, there is a field. I will meet you there.~ Rumi
* * * * *
ABOUT
THE AUTHOR
K
en
LaDeroute is a lifestyle design coach and founder of Clarity
Mind Institute and Affirmation
Music for Better Outcomes.
With more than 30 years of real-world experience, Ken coaches individuals and corporate clients to clarify their vision of their best life and facilitates them achieving it with greater ease and wisdom.
Such insight has been gained through studying ancient wisdom traditions, traveling on tour as a musician, running profitable franchise businesses and teaching at the university level to inspire young minds to fulfill their highest potential.
And asked about his personal life, Ken admits he is “blessed beyond words.” Anyone can step back and see that Ken has managed to create an amazingly abundant life full of financial freedom, creative expression, heartfelt friends, universal spiritual practices and day-to-day adventures. He explains that it was the “clarity of my intentions that helped me understand, allow and receive exactly what I had always hoped for” in this life.
Ken coaches every client from his deepest truth – clarity is power. He utilizes his talent in music, as a meditation teacher, astute businessman and expert coach to facilitate each client on their individual journey towards self-actualization.
Ken is a certified professional coach affiliated with the International Coaching Academy and the International Coaching Federation. His ability to successfully coach clients from around the world has made him a popular coach in Europe, Asia as well as North America.
A Defining Moment: How Meditation Made Me What I Am Today
I
was a sheltered kid with thick glasses from a small town 12 hours
North of Toronto. Sensitive and different, I ate my lunch in the high
school bathroom. By the time I was 16, I paced incessantly. I was
hyperactive, moody and searching.
At 17, I left home on a Greyhound bus with only a suitcase and a guitar. I ended up auditioning for a band that put me on the road playing music six nights a week for 14 years.
A defining moment in my life took place in 1975. A few months before, I had joined my first band and we were on the first leg of an extensive Western Canadian tour. We pulled into a beat-up motel for a night’s rest from the road.
In the middle of the night, I woke up in a cold sweat, shaking. All I kept saying to myself is, “What have I done? Why did I leave the comfort of my family and friends for the vagabond life of a musician?” I felt alone and scared. I tried to use the tools my family and church gave me, so I prayed to God. Praying didn’t really make me feel any better. I wanted to know why God wasn’t making me feel less afraid.
The next day, I made a commitment to immerse myself in absolutely everything that would help me find a way to relieve my fears. I started going to book stores for answers. I read books on mysticism, Judaism, Buddhism, Hinduism, western psychology and countless others. After reading about the practice of meditation, I decided to give it a try.
An Epiphany!
Within a few months of practice, I had an epiphany! Meditation was a way to be free from fear!
As I continued to practice, I came to see myself more clearly. I began to enjoy a deep sense of peace. Meditation not only helped me remove negative thinking, it helped me free myself of anger and fear. It helped me cool down.
I came to understand that I was the one who was creating my realities by how I thought, how I felt, and by my conditioned tendencies. It was my actions, behaviors and what I attracted or became attracted to that created my outcomes.
Transformation
Meditation cleared away many of my limiting beliefs and feelings of unworthiness and low self-esteem. It awakened my creativity and inspiration. I slept better. It made me see that I’d never have to be lonely or afraid again.
Soon, my thinking processes became more coherent, and I became more confident. Meditation helped me focus my attention. I began to realize that I could do anything I set my mind to and that I could face any challenge.
After leaving the road and settling down, meditation helped me become successful in business, real estate, audio engineering, song writing, teaching, public speaking and my 30-year successful relationship with my wife.
The simple act of closing my eyes and emptying my mind completely transformed my life!
Clarity Mind
Over the years, I’ve become a mini-expert on meditation, personal growth and lifestyle design. As a Certified Professional Coach, I work to help clients achieve their full potential, deepen their understanding of how the mind works, and uncover their inner truths.
I have since made a commitment to dedicate the rest of my professional life to helping people develop to their full potential through my workshops, products, masterminds and private consulting.
Since then, I’ve worked with hundreds of private clients, spoken in front of groups, created Affirmation Music for Better Outcomes and teach meditation at the Clarity Mind Institute.