Below are excerpts from “How Transcendental Meditation Changed My Life,” written by Paola Varvaro and originally posted on The Huffington Post.

Day One

“My new journey begun that day, after a few minutes into meditation, tears started to flow freely as I released the tension from that day and from many others in my past.

“At the end of my first meditation, I felt much lighter. I felt the benefit immediately. I love my mantra, and I like the fact that I promise not to tell anyone… it feels special. In the deep silence, I found my peace, a softer me, and the anger and despair melted away. As I drove back to Santa Monica, even the terrible LA traffic seemed to soften, and the streets opened up in front of me… I was not hallucinating; on the contrary, I was totally present and alert!”

Two Years Later

“Since my first meditation two years ago, I have been meditating every single day as prescribed…. 20 minutes in the morning […] and 20 minutes later in the day, whenever I can find time and a quiet space. Sometimes the evening practice has been a challenge if I’m working and I can’t really take a break, but I always find the time.

“I look forward to TM every day as it’s a little break from the outside world and my overly busy mind. When I first started TM, I was impressed at how many thoughts normally run through my head, and let’s face it, the majority of them are crap! But little by little, my mind quieted down, and I started to dive within.”

Tough Times

“A few years ago, during the last recession, I was laid off from a job I loved. It was just before Christmas and it was absolutely devastating for me. If it weren’t for some savings and my family’s help, God only knows where I would be today… Since then I have been freelancing or getting little jobs that I really don’t like. TM has helped me through these tough times; it has given me the peace, strength, and focus necessary to look for a great, new job opportunity. The more I connect to the peace inside myself, the happier I feel, and I’m able to bring that happiness to everything that surrounds me.”

Has the TM technique changed your life?

Share your story with us! Whether it’s a few words, sentences, or paragraphs, we’d love to hear from you!