In September 2018, I embarked on what would become a life-changing meditation journey with one powerful intention: to break the generational cycles of my family. What began as sporadic sessions evolved into a transformative daily practice that now spans 1,395 consecutive days and over 180,000 minutes of meditation. But these numbers only scratch the surface of a profound journey that has reshaped my relationship with myself and the world around me.
From Crisis to Consciousness
My path to meditation wasn’t paved with serene intentions or spiritual curiosity—it emerged from necessity. During one of the most challenging periods of our lives. (When I say “our” I am referring to both my husband and I.) My husband’s job was taking a severe toll on his health, both physically and emotionally. We decided he should leave it. I had navigated the painful dissolution of a business partnership with a close friend.
We were living in a 50-square-meter cottage plagued by mold. I became the sole income earner. I carried these weights while processing deeper wounds: the loss of my best friend in 2014, a devastating miscarriage in 2015, not to mention, the lingering impact of debt and experiences like having our car repossessed, or our hard earned money stolen years earlier. And not to mention difficult relationships and breakups.
But perhaps the most significant challenge lay in my childhood. Growing up a parentified daughter and with someone struggling with life long mental health difficulties. The relationship—a dynamic that would shape the patterns & beliefs of relating to others for years to come. These circumstances crystallized my intention to break the generational cycles and stress that had shaped myself and my family’s story.
The Awakening of Body Awareness
When I first started meditating, something unexpected happened. I began to notice my body in ways I never had before. This might sound crazy, but for someone who had spent years dissociating from past experiences, this newfound body awareness was revolutionary. It was like suddenly turning on a light in a room I’d been fumbling around in for years.
Through consistent practice, I started recognizing how chronic stress had manifested in my body—tensions and patterns that had accumulated not just from recent events, but from a lifetime of carrying others’ emotional burdens. During a mindfulness challenge I later facilitated, I experienced what I can only describe as a “download” of my life’s timeline, revealing the immense stress I had been under for the majority of my life. This revelation was both overwhelming and liberating, as it helped me understand the patterns that had shaped my existence.
Breaking Free from Autopilot
One of the most transformative insights meditation has given me is the understanding of body-mind-soul awareness. In our society, we often live on autopilot, floating through our days, hustling, forcing, and rushing through life without truly listening to our bodies or noticing our experiences. We don’t rest, we don’t listen, and we certainly don’t notice. Instead, we push through, operating from a place of disconnect from our inner wisdom.
My practice has evolved from those early, uncertain sessions to become an integral part of my daily life. Meditation has given me the confidence to question things that don’t add up, whether in life, relationships or business. It’s helped me recognize manipulation and victim-playing patterns that I might have previously missed or accepted as normal. I was the proverbial “good girl”.
The Power of Boundaries and Self-Trust
Perhaps most importantly, meditation has supported me in developing the courage to set and maintain boundaries. It’s helped me recognize where I don’t feel safe and where I need to protect my energy. Through this practice, I’ve begun to break cycles of self-sacrifice and people-pleasing that had been passed down through generations.
As a 5/2 in Human Design, I’ve often been seen or the responsibility placed on me to be the fixer of others’ problems. This profile tends to attract a lot of projection making it even more crucial to develop strong boundaries. Meditation has helped me realize that I’m not meant to fight everyone’s battles for them—a revelation that has been both challenging and liberating. (Especially for someone like me, who cares DEEPLY and feels even deeper.)
Beyond Religious Constraints
One common misconception about meditation is that it requires adopting specific religious beliefs or that practicing meditation somehow conflicts with existing faith traditions. Through my journey, I’ve discovered that meditation transcends religious boundaries. While I grew up in a deeply religious Christian home, meditation has helped me develop a more expansive spiritual awareness that compliments rather than contradicts my personal beliefs.
Meditation has become a tool for developing self-trust and inner wisdom, allowing me to explore spirituality in a way that feels authentic and empowering. It’s taught me that spiritual growth isn’t about following prescribed paths but about developing a deeper connection with ourselves and our inner knowing.
Practical Tools for Modern Life
My approach to meditation has evolved to include various practices that make mindfulness accessible in daily life. From guided meditations and movement practices to simple mindfulness exercises while making tea or taking a walk,washing the dishes or even brushing your teeth. I’ve discovered that meditation doesn’t require hours of silent sitting. It’s about bringing awareness to everyday moments and learning to be present in whatever you’re doing. It’s about slowing down.
I found these 2 beautiful quotes that fit this blog… 
“I don’t live a boring life. I live a calm life. I purposely avoid things that negatively impact my nervous system. I lived in fight & flight mode for far too long. All I want now is peace, solitude and silence. All I want is to be in spaces & places that are safe and soothing for my soul. ” @soulalivebarrie (Instagram)
And then this one
“Meditation is to be aware of what is going on: in your body, in your feelings, in your mind, and in the world.” Thich Nhat Hanh
Practical Tools for Modern Life continues…
The impact on my mental health has been profound. Through meditation, I’ve learned to manage my anxiety without immediately reaching for medication, developing tools that help me recognize and address the root causes of the uncomfortability and tightness in my body rather than just masking symptoms with medication. In fact, I’ve gone from frequent anxiety attacks to experiencing none for over two years, though I still face challenges and my anxiety pops up from time to time, my meditation tools are my go to, to manage it.
The Ongoing Journey
Breaking generational cycles isn’t a one-time achievement (wam bam thank you mam — no, it’s an ongoing practice of choosing differently, recognizing patterns and consciously creating new ones. Meditation has become my anchor in life, providing the clarity and strength needed to maintain these new patterns & habits, even when life slaps you sideways.
For those of you curious about starting a meditation practice, remember that it’s not about achieving perfection or completely eliminating stress and silencing the monkey mind instantly. (There is no such thing as instant) it takes practice (lol there’s a reason why its called a “practice”) It’s about developing awareness, self-compassion, trust to navigate life’s challenges with greater wisdom.
My top tip: Start VERY small, stay curious, and allow your practice to evolve naturally. The journey of meditation is deeply personal, and its greatest gifts often come not from following someone else’s path but from discovering your own.
