Meditation Didn’t Fix My Life – But It Changed How I Live
I didn’t come to meditation because I was calm, balanced or zen. I came to it because I was overwhelmed, exhausted and quietly struggling behind the scenes.
Me gazing on the Great Wall of China!
In my early 30s, despite career success, my life looked ‘together’ from the outside. But on the inside, my body and mind were permanently on edge.
Beneath the surface, things were slowly unravelling. I was dealing with poor digestion, low energy and erratic sleep, always feeling permanently switched on. Alongside this came a deep sense of shame and a pattern of addictive behaviours, including unhealthy relationships with food and alcohol.
Most days, my baseline stress levels sat at around seven out of ten, and I had no idea how to bring them down. I was living in a constant state of alertness, without the tools to manage it - and my body carried the cost through chronic pain in my back, neck and shoulders - and a growing fear of my own thoughts.
When Life Looked Fine…But I Definitely Wasn’t
I didn’t turn to meditation because I was calm. I turned to it because I wasn’t.
The constant loop of I’m not enough, not doing enough, not good enough played relentlessly in my head. I chased reassurance, praise and achievement, convinced that if I did more, earned more or became ‘better’, I would finally feel happy.
Eventually, I burnt out.
There Was No Zen Moment (And That’s Important)
There wasn’t a single moment where I ‘discovered’ meditation. It slowly seeped into my life, like a good friend who’s always there - patiently waiting, arms open, whenever you need them.
Over time, meditation became a form of stress management I could rely on. Not a quick fix, but something steady.
Learning to Sit With My Feelings, Instead of Running From Them
With a regular meditation practice, I’m learning to sit in the fire of my feelings rather than escape them. I’ve got more mental stamina - or stickatability - as I like to call it which has made a huge difference to my relationship with anxiety, grief and emotional overwhelm.
What Changed When I Stopped Fighting Myself
Physically , my health transformed.
Emotionally, I became softer and more patient.
Mentally, I learned to listen to my body and mind.
Spiritually, I felt connected and alive.
This is where meditation and relaxation quietly changed everything for me.
Meditation Isn’t About Constant Calm, And That’s the Point
Meditation didn’t remove life’s challenges. It just changed how I met them.
I stopped chasing highs and lows, quick fixes and the mythical idea of happiness. Someone once told me that ‘happiness is a direction, not a place’. These days, I live by that.
Meditation as a Way of Living
I allow meditation to weave into everyday moments - walking, working, brushing my teeth, waiting for the kettle to boil.
It’s often in these quiet pauses that we realise calm and gratitude are already here, in our present moment.
Sometimes we just need the tools and techniques to see it. For me, meditation has become the middle way.
And now - with a professional diploma to teach meditation - I’m delighted that I’m able to share the ‘how’ with you.
Sound Therapy and Meditation in Glossop and the High Peak
If you’re local to Glossop or the surrounding Peak District, you can experience this kind of deep meditation relaxation therapy in person.
I offer sound bath therapy sessions, meditation and relaxation classes near me, designed to support stress relief, nervous system regulation and deep rest.
