Inside: I was super skeptical of meditation. But once I found something that didn’t smell of incense and unshaved armpits, I found that meditating helped me earn more money.
I am a skeptical person.
Don’t tell me about how you believe in astrology, homeopathy, or healing crystals.
I won’t buy your damn essential oils, Janet, or your hideous tights for that matter. I’ll crouch in the corner of the room and hiss if forced to be near anything that’s been within a mile of Gwyneth Paltrow.
That’s why I’m still so surprised each morning when I find myself sitting on the couch in my patchwork pajamas with my eyes closed like some sort of homeless zen Buddhist monk.
I’m meditating.
It’s weird.
But believe it or not, it’s helped me in almost every area of my life. One of the biggest ways it’s helped me is with my money situation.
Let me explain.
Contents
How I Discovered Meditating
As you can tell, I used to think that meditating was some sort of bullshit hocus-pocus. That all changed when I was watching The Colbert Report one night and saw an interview with former news anchor Dan Harris (ahhh, those were the days).
Harris had a panic attack on live national television after doing enough blow to put Mount St. Helens to shame. Here’s how it all went down:
Afterwards, he spent quite some time on a hilarious scientific journey to re-find himself. The result was his book, 10% Happier. It’s one of the best books I’ve read in a long time and I totally recommend it to anyone.
What he said in the interview and in the book piqued my interest. We all have an internal monologue going in our heads. Mine sounded like an abusive, gold-toothed pimp. Harris proposed that I might be able to change that.
I had to learn more.
What It’s Like To Start Meditating
The first time I sat down to meditate, the heavens opened with a beautiful ray of light heralded by doves and cherubs with rosy butt cheeks.
Obviously that didn’t happen. The first time I sat down to meditate for reals, it was weird. Honestly, it’s still weird.
I knew that I couldn’t just sit down and be a meditation guru. I needed some guidance. But with a recording. And in my own house. With the blinds closed. You know, where people can’t see me.
I started off with the 10% Happier app, which I also totally recommend for n00bs. Harris has a lot of videos where he interviews meditation experts, also with equal hilarity as in his book.
I’ve since switched to the popular Headspace app. But, you can also find guided meditations on YouTube or with some other free apps.
Warning: you can get into the hokey granola-crunching territory very quickly. That’s why I tend to stick to these scientific-based apps. Ain’t no one got time for your crunchy kale and chakras, Becky.
Even with a guided meditation, it’s going to be weird. I wasn’t even sure if I was doing it right for a while. To be honest, I’m still not sure if I’m doing it 100% correctly (but according to my calculations I’m approximately 92.35% there with a confidence interval of ± 14.29%).
After a while though, I started to notice that things felt a little…different. (But in a not-creepy good way).
How Meditation Works
That’s the million-dollar question. Despite all of my highest sciencing powers, I am not a neurologist nor a psychologist and thus I still have a difficult time understanding it.
This article in Scientific American describes some of the difficulties in studying meditation. Despite some shitty studies (or lack of studies), the skeptical authors still believe that it is useful for reducing stress and other related conditions.
Here’s how I think of how meditation works. It gives you a 1,000-foot view of how you think.
If you can see how you think, that opens up a world of possibilities.
You can insert a wedge in the normal stimulus-response cycle. Rather than being a mechanical robot driven by instincts and urges like hungry-eat, bored-shop, or Battlestar Galactica-beer, you can instead break the cycle.
Do I really need to eat a Double-Super-Whopper-McCheese-Baconator diabetes pill, or can I wait a half hour for a snack? Should I buy that thing in the store window, or wait until next month when I have more money in that budget category? Should I drink a beer while watching Battlestar Galactica? (Hint: yes.)
You can also recognize faulty thinking on your part, and correct it.
Yep; that’s right. Your brain is a hard drive run by weird software attached to a mushy motherboard. It’s prone to faulty thinking just as much as your computer was to the Heartbleed virus.
How Meditation Has Helped Me Up My Money Game: Stop Spending!
At this point you might be wondering. Well, all this is great, but what the hell does it have to do with money?
I’m glad you asked, my friends.
Meditation has helped me curb back my impulse spending. I used to spend more money than Kanye West, especially on restaurants.
Rather than spending money like a washed-up sugar daddy, I now stop and think before each purchase: what’s the opportunity cost of this money? How many tacos could I buy with this cash instead?
But an even bigger factor has been in releasing me from my inner mind-monkeys so that I can earn more money.
How Meditation Has Helped Me Up My Money Game: Earn More!
See, I used to be an expert at negative self-talk. As someone who’s a) made a lot of mistakes, b) spends a lot of time thinking about things, and c) is afraid of their own shadow, it was always easy for me to get in this headspace.
I’d spend hours banging my head away at how stupid and unworthy I was. I even believed it for a long time. That’s why I was never brave enough to try making more money: I knew I’d make mistakes, so why bother?
Meditating has allowed me to decouple these events. Since striking out as a freelance writer, I’ve made a ton of mistakes. I’ve even had a Harris-esque panic attack while on a live conference call with established writers at the first website I ever wrote for.
Now, when I do something “stupid”, I’m able to pull a 180 and stop those thoughts.
Case in point: A client recently sent back a rough draft with approximately 1,003 edits for me to correct and rewrite. Before, I would have been wracked about the inconvenience I caused them, how stupid I was to make so many “mistakes” (they didn’t provide any guidance on what they wanted), and why on Earth I have so many split ends in my hair.
Now, though, my internal dialogue went like this:
“Meh.
[spends a while fixing ‘mistakes’]
[moves on]”
Taming my inner mind-monkeys freed me from the biggest thing holding me back: myself.
It’s one of the biggest factors that I credit in being able to earn more money. When I started meditating in 2015, I was earning $2,500 per month working in a job I hated.
In October, I invoiced for over $9,200 while working for myself.
Boo yah.
Can meditating help you too?
One of the things I really like about Dan Harris’s book 10% Happier is that it’s honest.
Meditating won’t open up a portal and solve all your problems. It won’t make a baby daddy go away, it won’t sprout a Bloomin’ Onion from your stove each night, nor will it file your taxes for you. Sadly, it won’t help you find a flying unicorn – but that doesn’t mean you can’t try!
But, I’d say he’s right on: it’s definitely made a small but measurable difference in my happiness.
And for something that’s easy and free (or low-paid if you need a paid app like me), I definitely think it’s worth it.
Have you tried meditating? What have your impressions been? Leave a comment below!
Honestly never tried, but it is on my list. I started reading a book a couple of months ago and went for about 60%. Then I started blogging… and since then did not have the time to finish off. But it is good you reminded me 🙂
Anyway, what conversation are you talking about? …wait who said this? XD Just kidding, I am normal, the voices told me…
Congrats on your October invoices, this is amazing.
Good post Lindsay, thanks for sharing!
Thanks dude! I totally recommend trying it again if you get some time. I really like the apps I use because you can specify how much time you want to meditate for. You don’t have to use the apps of course – you can just do it on your own time or find a free app. They let you choose from like 10, 20, 30 minutes all the way up to an hour. I don’t know who the heck would have time for that. I usually just do 10 minutes
I so love your style, Lindsay. I’ve tried meditation a few times but I’ve yet to make it a habit. Even though I enjoy crunchy kale. Might be time to get Dan’s book. Thanks for sharing.
Haha, thanks! 🙂 I had to re-start trying to meditate a few times before it stuck. It’s just such an odd thing to do.
Hi Lindsay,
I started following your blog earlier in the fall, and I just want to say that your posts really speak to my soul at this point in my life. I have a BS in wildlife biology and MS in science literacy research…but have finally made the decision to take some risks this coming spring and explore freelance writing (with my part-time random research and environmental ed jobs still there to support me)–so, thank you for the motivating posts! It was especially awesome reading this post because I downloaded the Headspace app about 2 weeks ago, and I absolutely love it. Those simple guided meditations get me to sleep like nothing else, and coupled with short self-yoga stretch sessions in the morning, I’m honestly already feeling the benefits of having a clearer mind. I’m glad you shared your experiences, go you!
Ashley
Awwww, you’re welcome! 🙂 Freelance writing has been awesome. I’m not super stoked about not working in wildlife right now, but honestly I’m making more as a freelance writer now than I ever have before and I get to choose my own schedule. I think ideally I’d like to do a combo of both – work PT in some sort of wildlife job for the fun of it, and PT doing freelance writing since that’s the bill payer.
Have you checked out the Earn More Writing Facebook group? There’s tons of newbies in there and it’s a great place to get help and feedback. It’s a lot of personal finance writers (*raises hand*), but I’m trying to boost up the science writer contingent as well. Represent! 😀
Agreed, the combo freelance writer-wildlife job would be super ideal. I haven’t checked out that FB group, but I will now! Thanks for the lead, I’m really excited about the new year!
You might have already gotten a tip, but NPR totally did a segment on Dan Harris and his meditation experience on Morning Edition today. How timely your post is!
10% Happier is probably my favorite of the MANY books I’ve read this year! In November I started trying to cultivate a daily meditation habit, and decided to extend that experiment through December. It hasn’t been easy. It’s frustrating sometimes and I know that I’d be most successful in the morning but often find myself trying to meditate in the evening instead. Or I’m so tired that I skip it entirely (this especially happens on nights I’m writing a blog post and am up past my bedtime doing that). So the attempt to make it an actual habit continues. I’m not giving up on it though, since I have a feeling it’ll do me a world of good!
That’s the spirit! I usually meditate in the morning but it’s tough sometimes. I just get too sleepy. As long as you keep trying, though, you’ll find a groove that works for you (most of the time, haha)!
Hi Lindsay, I would love to find this flying unicorn. It is always trying to evade me!
I have used headspace and I think it is great for newbs like me. I am good at consistently working out my body not so much with my mind though.
Ha! I agree. Flying unicorns would be amazing. It also does seem weird to work your mind out, but hey – it’s a machine just like your legs and your arms too I guess. Thanks for stopping by!
Unique post, that had me so intrigued I decided to download Headspace app. I love the idea of meditation and truly believe in its ability to help you in so many ways. This post is just what I needed to motivate me to start meditating every day. Thanks for this post.
Awesome, I’m glad you’re giving it a shot! Like I said, it’s weird at first, but stick with it and you’ll see the benefits! 🙂
My husband read Harris’ book about 4 years ago and signed us up for a year of Headspace back then. We weren’t consistent and let it lapse for a few years.
He found he enjoyed meditating and signed back up a few months ago. Now, we share an account and do it together. I find it needs to be done in the morning if it’s going to get done. Whenever I’ve done it midday or at bedtime, it’s nap time.
Great article!
Thanks Amy! Yep, I’m the same way. If I do it later in the day, it’s lights out. Glad you guys picked it back up!
I do meditate but I’ll admit it’s sporadic, which I’m always trying to better, because it DOES help. And it doesn’t help in some magical ah-ha moment kind of thing, but you will notice that over time you (or at least me) get less reactive about things, like with the edits. I really liked that book BTW. I still use “is this useful” whenever I start to feel frustrated.
I need to remember to ask myself that more often when I get frustrated about edits. Sometimes I think editors hate me, haha.
Thanks for this post and for pointing out the apps. I knew of Headspace but not the 10% one. I even read Dan’s book and absolutely didn’t recall he had an app (it must have been mentioned somewhere).
This is the 2nd time today meditation has come up for me. It must be a sign. I have tried it but not stuck with it. I’m good at habits AFTER I establish them. It’s the establishing part, and finding something that works for me I struggle with.
Ha! It must be a sign.
I totally recommend the 10% Happier app if you’re a super-skeptical person. The Headspace app is great, but the 10% Happier app has more humor and is mroe relatable for someone just starting out, I think.
Good luck!
I have a couple of friends who recently got into meditation, but I am not going to lie…I am still a bit skeptical.
Your post has definitely made me think about the possibility more, and I am going to check out 10% Happier! Will see where this path takes me, but I am happy to hear it has aided you and your finances!
Thanks for the insightful post!
Definitely give it a shot and read the book too if you can! Dan Harris is just as skeptical, if not more so, than I am. He also interviews some of the real meditation cuckoos and it’s hilarious.
Lindsay – awesome post. I’m another no-frills meditator. I’ve been doing a daily 15-20 minute meditation at the desk in my bedroom for about a year. No incense, no candles, no multi-armed hindu figurines. Not that there’s anything wrong with all that. It’s just not my thing.
You’ve nailed the benefit of meditation with this:
“You can insert a wedge in the normal stimulus-response cycle. Rather than being a mechanical robot driven by instincts and urges like hungry-eat, bored-shop, or Battlestar Galactica-beer, you can instead break the cycle.”
When I’m in a really good meditating groove I can actually feel the stimulus-response gap widening. Every verbal jab from a family member or co-worker is met with a simple thought of “I don’t need to respond to that.” Every twinge of anxiety is recognized for what it is and is dismissed.
Of course you don’t want to get too relaxed, there are still a few Cylon Centurions out there.
Haha! I hadn’t even thought of the multi-armed Hindu figures. I may get a garden statue-sized one and put it on my front doorstep to scare door-to-door salesman away.
That’s great to hear that you’re able to be more in control of your thoughts too. More power to you!
I agree.
Not everyone is open to it. I stopped trying to preach to others, but meditation has helped me in dozens of ways. For some, it takes a moment like Tim Ferriss had when he realized almost 80% of the successful people he interviewed meditate. He then started. He knew the benefits but didn’t have motivation until then. I hope your post motivates some to try it.
Meditation isn’t just for retreating from the world (AKA Monks), it can be for conquering in the world. Or just enjoying it. When I expand outside of my comfort zone, mindfulness is there to help me.
I learned from the book, “The relaxation response” decades ago, but now I recommend Headspace.
Thanks for an insightful post!
Thanks for stopping by! You’re right; you can’t tell someone to try it. They have to want to try it on their own. Hopefully a few more people do try it after reading this post!
I’ve now done the first 30 days of headspace. I was laughably bad at the sitting/standing exercise. I think I’m probably the least mindful person on the planet. I think I’m about 10% of the way towards my 10% improvement. Also I like Battlestar Galactica and beer. Can we be friends?
Haha, there’s always room for more friends here! Glad you’re giving meditating a shot even though it’s weird. 🙂