Mindfulness May Have Saved My Life

Twenty-five years ago, if you asked me what I would be doing today, I probably would have said, “Wall Street executive, real estate professional, or retired and working on my golf game”.

I never thought I would be a Mindfulness Meditation Instructor. But that is what I am doing now, and I really enjoy it.

It all started in April 2003. The internet bubble popped and took the economy with it. I lost my job as a stock trader and my wife was pregnant with our first child.

With very few contacts and the job market shrinking, I felt worthless and helpless.

I started to obsess about the future. “How am I going to get another job? How am I going to pay the mortgage? Will I be able to support my family? If I can’t find another job, where will we live? Are we going to have to live on the street? Where will we get food?”

I was also really angry about the past. “How come I got laid off? Why didn’t that other asshole get canned? What a jerk my boss was.”

These thoughts wouldn’t stop. They just kept coming, one after the other. My mind would race from one anxious thought to the next. I would lie in bed at night and stare at the ceiling unable to fall asleep.

I started to drink a lot. This was my way of “checking out”. At the time it seemed like the only way I could calm my mind.

Then one day, while sitting at my desk, my heart began to race uncontrollably. I started to feel numb on my left side. I began to sweat profusely. I didn’t know what was going on. “I think I am having a heart attack.”

As it turns out, I didn’t have a heart attack. I had suffered a severe anxiety attack. I questioned my ability to function with such acute anxiety. My confidence was shot, and I knew it showed in every conversation I had.

I finally decided to take some action. I started going to therapy and taking prescription anxiety medication. This helped me sleep and many of my negative thoughts seemed a little less intense. However, I felt like this was just a small band-aid on a large, gaping wound.

At about this time someone suggested I try Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction Meditation. I had no idea what this was. I heard the term meditation and the first thing that popped into my mind was a vision of a bald man, wearing robes, sitting on a mountain while chanting. Regardless of my preconceived notions, I was ready to try anything at this point.

I went in with an open mind and practiced diligently every day. I found the practice to be transformative. Within a relatively short period of time, I stopped going to therapy and taking medication.

I have been practicing Mindfulness Meditation for over 14 years now.

I founded www.TheMindfulAdvantage.com to teach others how mindfulness can improve their lives. Mindfulness is scientifically proven to lower stress, increase focus, boost productivity, aid decision making, and enhance creativity.

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