We still don't realise that not knowing how to manage our emotions and anxiety makes us feel exhausted, discouraged and unable to help others or ourselves. Meditation can be a great tool for reversing this state and giving us a new perspective.

I was reasonably healthy and optimistic about my potential until March of 2020, when I sustained a life-altering head injury. The next couple of years were marked by subsequent head and neck injuries — a reality I struggled to accept.

Panic would set in: how was I going to be able to support him with his journey in life when I still felt like I was behaving like a reactive teenager who was managing a massive “to-do” list that never ended?

The world really looks different. Instead of looking for faults everywhere, such as potholes in the road, traffic jams or grumpy people, I now see the kindness in between.

The envelope arrived in the mail explaining the basic info I needed to know for my surgery. “Surgery?” I thought... I wanted to use this experience to really apply Dharma, to strengthen my refuge practice.

Each day I relentlessly chased the illusion of happiness then self-medicated with alcohol to numb out the pain. Totally exhausting all avenues, I finally hit rock bottom over 9 years ago which resulted in rehabilitation.

The first time I heard a teaching on death, it felt surprisingly like good news, like something I wanted to hear more of. What? Wasn’t the subject of death taboo, something nobody wanted to talk about?

We still do not realise that not knowing how to manage our emotions and anxiety makes us feel exhausted, discouraged, and incapable. Meditation can be a great tool to reverse this state of deep exhaustion.

Are you terrified of meditation? Congratulations, you are not alone! I was sure I couldn’t do it. I started by watching the classes online because I was anxious about looking like a complete idiot.