I wanted to add a page outlining my route into meditation to convey what a positive and transformative influence it has been in my life. Perhaps you'll feel inspired to begin your own voyage of self-discovery.

Back in 2019, I was going through a very difficult period following my divorce. My mind was in a perpetual state of anxiety, filled with troubled and negative thoughts. I would constantly replay dialogues and arguments with my ex in my head, worry about the children, feel agitated about what I would do going forward on my own, and generally feel unsettled. I often wondered, would I ever feel normal again?

At the time, I had become quite interested in the law of attraction and manifesting, but deep down I knew that wasn't really what I was looking for. It was around then that I met a meditator at work. I asked him what I should read to learn about this meditation malarkey, and straight away he suggested a book called The Mind Illuminated. After reading it, I was truly inspired and, just like that, I was hooked.

I started practising every day, initially for quite short periods. To my surprise, I began noticing changes in the way my mind operated within a relatively short space of time. My mind became lighter and clearer, almost as if a cloud had lifted.

I think it's worth mentioning that there were a couple of notable things that really helped maintain my interest. I quickly discovered that, during meditation, I could quite literally change my relationship with physical pain to the point where it would dissolve and disappear. I had heard of mind over matter before, but this felt like magic.

The other thing I noticed was a difference in the way I responded to annoyances in everyday life. Again, this was a major revelation for a bloke who, like so many of us, had previously been quite susceptible to getting annoyed by the abysmal drivers out there whenever I was behind the wheel of my car. It was amazing to see how unnecessary reactivity also began to dissolve away.

As my practice has deepened, I have learned a myriad of techniques to add to my toolkit, and I continue to learn every day as new insights seem to arise from nowhere.

Following a 12-month meditation teacher training course and a 6-month breathwork facilitator training course, I now feel called to share what I have learned with others. I believe the greatest gift I can give back to the world is to help people better understand their own minds and, in doing so, live a more contented and peaceful day-to-day life.

So, if you feel drawn to beginning your meditation journey — or deepening your existing practice — please do reach out, and together we can embark upon a fascinating and fulfilling voyage of self-discovery.