Michele Meiche, author of Meditation for Everyday Living, is passionate about inspiring people to live more fulfilled and prosperous lives. She’s the host and executive producer of Awakenings Podcast, a Transpersonal Therapist, a Hypnotherapist, an Intuitive Life & Relationship Coach, a Fellow of the National Board for Hypnotherapy and a Hypnotic Anesthesiologist, as well as a member of Transpersonal Psychology. Her other books include 5 Step Emotional Clearing and Transforming Fear into Creativity. You can find her online at SoulPlayground.com.
Michele is one of the characters speaking at the #140conf/State of Now in Los Angeles on November 14, 2016. She’ll be presenting How Technology and Social Media are part of Spiritual Awakening and Soul Consciousness. For more information and to buy tickets, click here.
Michele Meiche talks about her writing process, the science behind meditation and the importance of incorporating it into our daily lives, and more in this Author Q&A.
What inspired you to write Meditation for Everyday Living?
I was actually approached by a publishing company to do an autobiography. At the time, I felt I needed more life experience and experience in my field to do this, so I declined. The company then asked what I would like to write on, and I said, “Let me meditate on this and get back to you.” I went into meditation, and the inner direction I received was a book on meditation that would begin to change the way people view meditation. I have always been inspired to cut through the dogma and hyperbole of a topic that I am experienced in and help people get to the core.
An amazing teacher of mine, Dr. Dee Hahn, always said if you can’t explain it in a sentence or two easily, you don’t know your topic. I took this to heart and felt that meditation is something that is inherent in everyone. It isn’t about some “magical woo woo” or something for the elite or certain sect of people; it is for everyone and for their everyday living.
What was your process for writing it?
I love writing. I have been writing since age 8 and have received some awards for writing poetry, as well as been in a couple of anthologies. However, writing a book, even as short in pages as my book, was so time-consuming and challenging. My process was writing about 8-10 hours a day for about 1 1/2 years before edits; so a bit longer with edits.
Since I work with clients and facilitate workshops, I was writing before my client appointments and either before or after my workshops, speaking engagements, seminars and retreats. I did not have a ghostwriter, so it was all me. There were times when I wrote for so many hours that at the end of the writing session, my hands would go limp with fatigue and my fingers could not press the right keystroke on the keypad.
I was compelled and inspired to keep writing, yet my physical body could not keep up with what was coming from my mind. I made it through and learned so much. I would do it over and over again. I think writing is not just about what we share and teach other people, but also about what we learn about ourselves and the creative process. It is a process that we are privileged to experience and go through. I say go through, because you literally go through it. You are “in it.”
Getting it published?
The company that published my book focused on biographies and autobiographies. The owner of the company had been a client of mine, so she approached me. Her company was a bit of a hybrid of conventional and self-publishing. I feel it was a great opportunity, and it did open so many doors for me.
What was your favorite part of writing this book?
The way I was so inspired to write, to share. I could feel this bigger part of me coming through that wanted to not only help people, but touch their hearts and connect with their soul.
The greatest challenge?
The long hours and fatigue of my fingers and hands. Writing 6-10 hours—and during deadlines, more so—is hard. It really is hard. Somehow you do it; and yet, you think and feel you won’t be able to do it the next day. But somehow you do.
Why is meditation so important?
Meditation connects us to the upper channels of our brain beyond our beta mind function, and therefore to the more expanded aspects of our consciousness. Through the process of meditation and accessing the meditative state, we connect to what I call our “Einstein Thinking.” We move beyond our surface mind and into the higher levels of “Left Brain Cognitive Functioning” and into “the Abstract Thinking of the Right Brain,” which is infinite. This is the place of true invention and innovation. We don’t connect into this part of ourselves in our “everyday rational or logical thinking.” In meditation, there is a shift in consciousness and more awareness. We operate at higher levels of cognitive functioning, and yet we are relaxed—very relaxed. We experience states of stress relief, oneness and an opening to infinite, life-enhancing possibilities.
The use of meditative states and trance states similar to what is used in hypnotherapy. Resonance re-patterning, sound healing, and meditation are on the cutting edge of medicine, healing, empowerment, problem solving and creativity. This was first seen with Dr. Benson’s relaxation response. Who knew then that it was possible, on a consistent level, to reach higher states of awareness for problem solving and be so relaxed. In fact, the more stressed out we are, the worse our decision-making process.
In the meditative state, our brain is actually very active. There are a lot of neurons firing. We are actually more aware, and yet our body is very relaxed. We actually can take in and handle more data input and environmental stimulation. We are not tuning out, but tuning into everything.
Can you recommend a good, universal daily meditation?
My 3-Count Breath practice. This is a very good entry point that teaches breath control and conscious focusing of the mind, which is the cornerstone of meditation. This meditation is also on the companion CD to the book Meditation for Everyday Living.
Advice for non-fiction writers?
Write what you love and just get it out there. Whatever avenue for your writing, just get it out there. Just do it. Don’t wait for the “big publisher.” You are the controller of your creations, self-expression, and therefore, your destiny. Also, a biggie for me…don’t censor yourself or edit yourself. An editor will do that for you. Just go big. Say all you want to say and trust your voice.
What do you know now that you wish you knew before you wrote this book?
To believe and trust in myself more. To realize that I was providing info and a viewpoint that was cutting-edge. It is now more agreed-upon and used.
Tags: Author Q&A meditation Meditation for Everyday Living Michele Meiche
