Hugh Jackman lives, by his admission, a very fortunate and very demanding life—physically, mentally and emotionally. Beyond the intensity of celebrity, and the daily challenges of playing a starring role in blockbuster Hollywood films or nightly Broadway performances with singing and dancing, he’s a devoted husband and father of two children who cherishes quality time with his family.

Jackman has recently talked about the importance of his daily practice of the Transcendental Meditation technique.

Here are excerpts from interviews with Mr. Jackman in the UK edition of the Huffington Post and from an interview with Oprah Winfrey where he discusses the fundamental role meditation has played over the past 20 years in his personal and professional life.

“Meditation Has Changed My Life”

“Nothing has ever opened my eyes like Transcendental Meditation has. It makes me calm and happy, and, well, it gives me some peace and quiet in what’s a pretty chaotic life!”

“The activity of being a husband, a father—those are roles, too, but underneath them is the spiritual center that connects us all, and that’s what’s most important.”

“In meditation, I can let go of everything. I’m not Hugh Jackman. I’m not a dad. I’m not a husband. I’m just dipping into that powerful source that creates everything. I take a little bath in it.”

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When asked how he can take the time to practice TM twice a day, Jackman comments:

“Everyone takes a shower every day, and we don’t complain about it. We do it out of discipline. There will always be an excuse not to meditate…. The ego says, ‘You don’t need to meditate, man. You’re really busy. What about the kids?’ But do I say, ‘I can’t shower today because I have to make time for the kids?’ No.”