Why Switching Off The ''Me Center'' In Our Brain Helps Us Be Calm and Wise Presence In Fast-Changing World.

Standing under a tree in our garden with coffee in my hand, chatting with my dad about:

• Ice hockey
• Cooking
• His health.
• Jokes (only us 2 laugh at them.)

He asks a surprising question.

See, in 2008 I began to meditate and moved into the Buddhist meditation center - my dad would make fun of it.

Not in a mean way.

And he NEVER questioned my decision.

He’d say things like:

• ‘‘Can you already fly?’’
• ‘‘When you come over, just float through the door.’’

15-years later he asks:

‘’You’ve meditated for so long, why are you still doing it,?what's the most important thing it’s given you?’’

‘’Dad, that’s damn good question, let me think - that’s a tough one… the most important thing….

The best thing it’s given me is a?super fast ability to adapt and process changes.’’

Thanks to my dad, I get to write one of my favorite articles so far, because what meditation does to our brain is so….well, read it yourself.

I’d love to share specific examples with you…

BUT, I’ve promised to keep this article short.

Quick examples ( also WHY meditation enables us to do that.)

• Our daughter was in ICU while my partner was in another hospital, I was able to support both and after it was over, I sat down one hour, cried a bit, and processed the emotions - done.

• My computer broke twice in the same week that 3 clients canceled. All business owners know that extra costs and unexpected drops in income aren’t fun. Processing time, max 5 minutes, and turned it into a win.

• What back in the day took me weeks or months to process, now takes minutes or hours.

Have I become inhumane or superhuman?

Neither, it’s simple:

• Our brain has a Default Mode Network which engages in ruminating and mind wondering, it creates all the ego-centric stories - this part of the brain is also known as ‘’Me center’’ or ‘’Monkey mind.’’

• Our amygdala wants us to learn, after all, its job is to keep us safe. Most people do their absolute best to fight this system - hence amygdala gets louder and louder and LOUDER. And it won’t shut up until it’s listened to -?even if that takes 50 years. No kidding and hence time does not heal.

So, when you meditate regularly:

• Your default mode network quietens AND you become so self-aware that you’ll catch your mind wondering INSTANTLY - even in a traffic jam.

• Since meditation makes you more stable, you can ‘listen’ to your amygdala and process the emotions.

So when a person with an untrained mind is ruminating about what someone said 2 weeks ago - adding their own stories on top of an already miserable mind state…

The person with a trained mind solved and processed it IMMEDIATELY.

What is the value of being able to do that?

So, now that we know this, why wouldn’t we meditate and train our minds?

I’d say that in a year you’ll save THOUSANDS of hours of bad decisions, wasted time, and lousy moods - and instead, all that time and energy is invested into making your life better.

Yep, that’s the answer Dad, thank you for the question,

Son

PS. I have an online weekend retreat coming up in May, ‘’The Ego, The Archetype, The Spirit: Opening Up To Lasting Inner Peace While Creating Life Improving Value In The World Without Losing Our Energy and Soul.

PSS. My newsletter readers will be the first to learn the details of the retreat AND get the early bird price for it. Sign up easily here here.