You know that meditation is great for your mind, body and soul—but fitting it into your life can be easier said than done. If you find it hard to sit for 30 minutes with your legs crossed, trying to suppress your thoughts, you’re not alone. For me it’s nearly impossible. But my guest on this episode—award-winning author, broadcaster, speaker and meditation expert Lori Saitz—says it’s OK. There is more than one way to meditate, and you can find a method that works for you. No matter how much stress you’re dealing with or what the universe throws in your path, Lori says, a regular practice can change your life in so many positive ways.

In this episode Lori and I talk about:

• How meditation helps to rewire your brain and positively impact your life in both immediate and long-term ways, such as reducing stress, boosting creativity, improving your relationships, and even helping you sleep better
• Why almost everyone’s midlife experience has an undercurrent of “suck” and why that needs to be acknowledged before you can get to a better place
• How women were conditioned to bury our feelings and rationalize away our dissatisfaction (“I should be happy because I have X, Y or Z”), and how meditation can help if you’re losing your zest for life or feel that something is just off
• How you know when your soul is calling for growth—and find the courage to respond to that call
• Steps you can take to discover your personal meditation “style” and make it work with your lifestyle
• How to use meditation on the spot in stressful moments, to calm yourself where you’re at
• When it might be a good idea to consider a midlife sabbatical

Lori also explains why she thinks big transitions in midlife should not be dubbed a crisis, but rather a re-evaluation or reawakening. And she talks about the hardest thing she’s ever done—leaving her 22-year marriage, which she describes as “fine”—and why she had to do it.

This episode will change your mind forever about meditation! Full show notes available at Morebeautifulproject.com.