I’ll never forget my first attempt at meditation. I was travelling through India with a friend after finishing business school in the US, exploring yoga and meditation (it feels like a lifetime ago).

I vividly remember the discomfort—the physical pain of sitting still and, even more challenging, the mental struggle of being alone with my restless thoughts. My "monkey mind" was in full swing, and I found sitting with myself and my big energy almost unbearable!

I remember sneaking glances at others in the class who seemed so serene, while I felt like I might implode. How could anyone find peace in this excruciating stillness?

For much of my life, I was in what I now call my "striving phase"—always seeking the next adventure, constantly moving, chasing the excitement of new experiences and that dopamine hit from the next shiny thing. The idea of sitting still felt deeply uncomfortable, like it was getting in the way of my next mission.

When we’re always on the move—physically or mentally—it becomes incredibly difficult to be with ourselves, especially the uncomfortable parts of ourselves. And yet, everyone kept telling me that to be more successful, focused, productive, or kinder, I had to meditate.

But did I really?

Thanks to my restless energy, I went on a quest to find other ways to cultivate presence and self-awareness—methods that didn’t rely solely on meditation.
I became a mindfulness facilitator, a yoga teacher, attended retreats, trained in Wim Hof breathing techniques, trained as a breathwork instructor, and did ecstatic dance.

And guess what? For those of us with a restless spirit, there are countless ways to practice mindfulness, tap into our full spectrum of emotions, and experience many of the benefits of meditation—without necessarily sitting in silence.

For some of us, I believe we need some gateway practices that can help us return to our bodies and feel more comfortable slowing into being with ourselves, and then meditation can follow. For me, this was a journey of many years.

Tune into today’s podcast, where I’ll be sharing some of these alternatives and how you can find presence in ways that feel right for you.