A Lesson for Life!
By Steve, Business Owner - 2007
This is a true story about a guy I know. He’s 42 and has owned his own company for over 20 years.
This guy has had his fair share of disappointments throughout life, and since the age of 20 has suffered extreme anxiety, depression, panic attacks and agoraphobia.
Some of his experiences have included excessive work loads and business pressures (both practical and financial) and the break down of his marriage after several years of intensive IVF treatment to no avail. These pressures led also to the loss of his house. Then throw in the death of his best mate, the loss of his factory in the recession of the 1990s, and the pain of being childless – plus – during these unfortunate situations this guy has always had to deal with the underlying anxiety creating disability to his health. And he knows that when suffering intangible problems – where people can’t see the suffering - causes further difficulties because it’s hard for people to understand or really assist.
I often look at this guy and wonder how does he do it, how can he possibly still manage to smile and stay so positive. When I ask, he responds with a cheeky grin and says “M & M”. You have a choice: “Medicate or Meditate”. He explains that medication helps with the symptoms but does not help solve the problem, whereas meditation allows your whole body and more importantly your mind to settle, relax and to see things more clearly. His ability to be calmer and more relaxed would not have been possible without the help of a wonderful person, teacher and mentor in Pauline Mckinnon, who helps people through her practice of stillness meditation. After many years of suffering this guy discovered her book and after reading it decided that this was what he needed and vigorously pursued it.
This guy, once so anxious, now meditates every day for 20 minutes and consequently can do things he has not been able to enjoy for many years. These achievements include traveling long distances unaccompanied, flying and generally feeling more secure and confident in ordinary life.
He also now has the ability to recognise times of stress and can deal with it through the practice of meditation and relaxation techniques. He often mentions that without meditation he could not face the day! So something must be working because currently he has a very successful business employing 12 staff, he owns 3 investment properties and a few fancy cars, and he also recently purchased a franchise, taking on another huge responsibility. And yet all this doesn’t seem to faze him one little bit!
And guess what? He’s learned so much from surviving anxiety and agoraphobia that he now educates his young staff members about the importance of recognizing the onset of stress and how to avoid it. He teaches that there are many techniques that can help but the most important thing is to have an understanding of the basic principles of what is happening in your life, and around it, and how you react to it. He points out that there is help available, and that there is no need to live a life riddled with anxiety – so do something about it, act now and you will never look back. “Make a difference to your life” he states, “learn about stillness meditation, understand it and do it, and you will never look back”.
I can assure you this guy’s story is real. I know exactly what this guy has been through and what this guy has achieved and will achieve in the future. How can I be so sure?
Easy …because this guy is ME.
