Steroids for meditation: 3 secrets to soothing a crazy mind

Meditation. You might be one of the few who can actually sit quietly, close your eyes, and find the zone. But for most people, like me, meditation is impossible. The above video shares a story of my going to meditation camp several years ago. As you’ll see, back in the day, I was pretty spiritual yet maintained an appetite for unhealthy tendencies. Can you relate? When the management found me “cheating,” I was promptly expelled from meditation camp. Who woulda thunk such a thing could be possible?! Nowadays, I still struggle with meditation but after a recent trip to India, I have an entirely new perspective. In India, almost everyone struck me as having a cheerful perspective. Despite their lack of physical space (by 2050 India will become the world’s most populous nation), Indians seemed to have a different kind of space…in the mind. When our minds are cluttered with thought and our bodies are packed with tension, it’s hard to appreciate even the largest house surrounded by acres of wide-open space. In my book, I share more accessible styles of meditation utilizing exotic chocolate, good tunes, and fine wine as the means to clear space in the mind. Consider the words of the yogi Satprem, “There is no more room on the teeming beaches, no more room on the bustling roads, no more room on the ever-growing anthills of our cities. The way out is elsewhere.” For those who find sitting meditation impossible, here are are 3 tips to sneak into the "zone": 1. CHOCOLATE Everyday, once a day, create a ritual around a chocolate truffle. Of course, if you starting doing this ritual 3 or 4 times a day, it becomes problematic for the belly. But just once a day, a delicious chocolate has an ability to untangle the mind from the chaos and lure you into a quieter and "sweeter" space. 2. MUSIC With the popularity of wireless cell phone connections in our automobiles, it's common to only talk on the phone while driving. Remember the old days when we used to listen to music in the car? Don't underestimate music's power to part the river of thought and reveal an underlying sea of tranquility. 3. WINE If you don't drink, all the power to you. But for the millions that do enjoy wine, mindfully enjoying a glass can sweep your senses to the rolling hills of Napa or the ancient vines of France. What would the purist meditators say about your "meditation with wine?" Do you really care?! By David Romanelli (www.yeahdave.com) My book Yeah Dave's Guide to Livin' the Moment: Getting to Ecstasy through Wine, Chocolate, and Your Ipod Playlist is now available online or a bookstore near you.