My name is Steve. I’m a corporate technology executive, father, and generally happy guy. My life has always been about evolution and expansion—looking for new ways to adopt the latest technology to enhance a company product, or new personal experiences to learn and grow from. This, along with seeking out ways to cope with the stress of corporate life while navigating the challenges that come with becoming a father, has taken my life down many different paths.

As someone with a creative AND whirlwind mind that moves a mile a minute, balancing my creative ideas with spinning, whirling, self-sabotaging thoughts has always been a challenge. My mind was always “ahead” of the rest of me, and this imbalance caused chaos in my personal life: from a divorce in my late 30s, to lost friendships, to repeating the same experiences. All of this took a toll on my body, mind, nervous system, and general feelings about myself. I became depressed.

I’m 43 now, and throughout my journey I have noticed deep inside of me a pain, or fear…call it a discomfort with myself and who I am. I tried to listen to the many family members who wanted something better for me in my life, but I never really could.

The last straw came in the form of a failed four-year relationship that was full of drama, difficulty, and enormous pain. As that relationship and engagement unwound, I began to look inside rather than continue to blame everyone and everything externally. It was a very dark time for me, but I finally got to the point where I was willing to do the work I needed to do for myself.

As I finally opened to this idea, a friend suggested that I try Transcendental Meditation. At the low point I was at, I decided to look into it.

All of the data and studies supporting TM as a powerful tool for self-healing were very intriguing to me. I was searching for something to quiet my mind, and this practice seemed to really center on self-awareness, with so many stories of personal transformation and growth surrounding it. I was very excited to give it a try.

After signing up at the San Diego TM center, I attended my first class with David. The TM course, a four-day-in-a-row experience, was easy, insightful, and each day immediately became something that I looked forward to. David gave us the practice in such a powerful way that was so easy to understand, and each day I learned a little more.

After the course, I took the practice home and began to see immediate changes in my body and mind. I was more focused, felt less mental-spinning, and a general calmness came over me. The practice itself is so simple, I couldn’t believe such a small modification to my day could create such an amazing result in myself. My co-workers quickly noticed this change, along with my friends and family. The practice also helped me to cope and navigate the grief of my failed engagement.

Just a month after beginning my twice-a-day practice, I’ve noticed a significant change in myself. My brain is ultra-creative, I’m a lot calmer than I’ve ever been in my entire life, and all the non-stop spinning and noise that used to plague me has been replaced with an inner stillness and appreciation for myself.

TM is a practice that I will carry with me every day, twice a day, and I highly recommend giving it a try! My only regret is that I didn’t find this practice twenty years ago!

For the first time in a very long time, I feel at peace, and the future is very, very bright.