Ivna/Researcher
I have always felt a little cutoff. I knew there had to be more to life than this seemingly endless cycle of dissatisfaction I simply could not break free from. Things would seem ok for a while but eventually that feeling of emptiness would come back and once again I would see that I was spending my whole life barely getting by. I continued to be overpowered by my emotions, constantly seeking out pleasure and furiously avoiding pain.
I worked very hard to find ways to better myself and improve my relationships with others; I moved to different cities, focused on my health and fitness, earned degrees and made great friends. But somehow all the work I would put into it amounted to either temporary changes or changes on the outside only. It terrified me that on the inside, I knew not a whole lot had changed.
After starting this meditation, my life quickly began to change. I suddenly became viscerally aware of how my thoughts controlled me and every aspect of my life. I realized I had been trapped in this hellish world I had created for myself. I had been living in the shadow of my past and was not able to see the truth about the world and myself.
This meditation taught me how to break free from that self-oppressed state of existence and how to truly cleanse my mind from all the clutter that had been keeping me from moving forward. For the first time in my life I have complete understanding of the root of my emotions and have taken control over them. I no longer live in fear and have no regrets. I no longer expect the world to cater to my own needs.
I’m no longer disappointed because I’m always prepared to face the world no matter what happens. My thoughts are quiet and I always feel calm. Things simply don’t bother me like before. I’m still new to this meditation and that is perhaps the most exciting thing about it: That life is only going to get better, so long as I stay true to myself and the world.
I would like to thank all my teachers for showing me that the answers were always right here. I am forever grateful for all the lessons I’ve learned and for my brand new life.
Source: Meditationusa.org
