Clint Eastwood: TM is a Great Tool to Overcome Stress

Iconic actor, director, composer, filmmaker Clint Eastwood has been dedicated to his daily practice of the Transcendental Meditation technique for more than 40 years. He spoke about the technique during a videotaped message he prepared for the launch of the David Lynch Foundation’s “Operation Warrior Wellness”—a nationwide initiative to teach TM to the tens of thousands of veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Here is this the video from the Operation Warrior Wellness event:

“I am a great supporter of Transcendental Meditation. I have been using it for almost 40 years. I think that it is a great tool for anyone to utilize as tool for stress. Stress of course comes along with every business, but especially considering the stress that our men and women of our armed forces go through—the anxieties of going to or coming from combat, and the stress syndromes of various types—I think that it [TM] is a great tool. There are enough studies out there that show that Transcendental Meditation, or TM as we all call it, is something that can benefit everybody…. I think that it is a great system to use in life in general—otherwise why would I have been doing it all these years.”

Mr. Eastwood first spoke publicly about Transcendental Meditation in 1975 when he appeared on “The Merv Griffin Show” with the founder of the Transcendental Meditation program, Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. He’s been quietly enjoying his daily TM practice ever since.

During a December 2009 interview in GQ Magazine, which coincided with the release of his new film, Invictus, Mr. Eastwood was asked about whether he continues to practice TM. He responded in that typical Eastwood-like simple and direct way:

“Twice a day. It works great. Because it just gives you a chance to gather your thoughts. I’m religious about it when I’m working.”