Sarah McLean - Soul-Centered: Transform Your Life in 8 Weeks with Meditation

ALSO BY SARAH McLEAN

Audio CDs

Meditate: Guided Meditations with Sarah McLean

Soul Meditations: Guided Meditations
to Transform Your Life

Copyright 2012 by Sarah McLean

Published and distributed in the United States by: Hay House, Inc.: www.hayhouse.com Published and distributed in Australia by: Hay House Australia Pty. Ltd.: www.hayhouse.com.au Published and distributed in the United Kingdom by: Hay House UK, Ltd.: www.hayhouse.co.uk Published and distributed in the Republic of South Africa by: Hay House SA (Pty), Ltd.: www.hayhouse.co.za Distributed in Canada by: Raincoast: www.raincoast.com Published in India by: Hay House Publishers India: www.hayhouse.co.in

Design: Tricia Breidenthal Cover design: Winston McLean

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced by any mechanical, photographic, or electronic process, or in the form of a phonographic recording; nor may it be stored in a retrieval system, transmitted, or otherwise be copied for public or private useother than for fair use as brief quotations embodied in articles and reviewswithout prior written permission of the publisher.

The author of this book does not dispense medical advice or prescribe the use of any technique as a form of treatment for physical, emotional, or medical problems without the advice of a physician, either directly or indirectly. The intent of the author is only to offer information of a general nature to help you in your quest for emotional and spiritual well-being. In the event you use any of the information in this book for yourself, which is your constitutional right, the author and the publisher assume no responsibility for your actions.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

McLean, Sarah.

Soul-centered : transform your life in 8 weeks with meditation / Sarah McLean. 1st ed.

p. cm.

ISBN 978-1-4019-3586-3 (tradepaper : alk. paper)

1. Meditation. 2. Stress management. 3. Mind and body. I. Title.

BF637.M4M395 2012

294.5435dc23

2012000163

ISBN: 978-1-4019-3586-3

Digital ISBN: 978-1-4019-3587-0

15 14 13 12 4 3 2 1

1st edition, May 2012

Printed in the United States of America

Meditation can transform your life. I know this because it transformed my life and the lives of many of my students and friends. As they set off on their meditation paths, they noticed that not only did they feel more relaxed and peaceful, but their constant companions of apathy, discomfort, and anxiety soon transformed into inspiration, comfort, and joy. They felt more engaged and purposeful, and their entire relationship to life was transformed.

When I began my own daily meditation practice in the late 1980s, I had no idea what was in store for me. Back then I looked like I was on the right track as a successful career woman, but I didnt feel that way. Instead, I felt dissatisfied. I longed for a purpose, I longed for love, and I longed for a meaningful life. When I turned to meditation, I had no idea that this simple practice would give me the gifts I was looking for. I learned how to become aware of the moment at hand, how to quickly return to peace after being upset, to see things clearly rather than habitually, to be kind to myself, to say what I mean, and to focus my attention on what matters. I developed genuine confidence, stability, creativity, and compassion for myself as well as all beings. I noticed the interconnectedness of the universe and felt a renewed wonder for life. Meditation served to change my perspective on everything.

Perhaps these changes seem nebulous and out of reach for you, but rest assured, they are possible. Ive taught thousands of people to meditate, including FBI agents, judges, professional athletes, teachers, students, lawyers, engineers, brain surgeons, CEOs, teens, retirees, Republicans, Democrats, Christians, Jews, Hindus, Muslims, Buddhists, atheists, and agnostics. They all, like me, found their lives transformed through meditationso much so that, in some cases, they have found a vibrancy, health, and satisfaction beyond anything they ever dared to imagine.

The meditation training program I offer in this book is decidedly mainstream. Even though Ive immersed myself in the studies of world religions, exploring mystical or esoteric concepts and practices, I wanted to use this book to make what I learned accessible to everyone. Theres no need for anyone to change their religion, adopt new beliefs, spend time in some cloistered community, or even learn a new vocabulary in order to understand and practice meditation.

And while many receive very practical benefits from meditation, there is a spiritual aspect to it as well. Meditation makes possible a soul-centered life: a life you live from your own unique and peaceful center, your own soul. Each one of us has the ability to live life peacefully, powerfully, authentically, and with compassion. I am dedicated to sharing what I know to help you become peaceful and soul-centered through meditation. If each one of us finds peace, then together we can make this world a sweeter place for all beings.

The contrast between my childhood and teen years to my adult life perfectly illustrates the power of meditation to create transformation. If my life could shift so dramatically, then anyones can. As a young girl, I was sensitive and artistic; I related better to animals and nature than to people. My father, though bright and funny, was explosive and difficult to live with. My mother, though smart and pretty, was emotionally removed and became an alcoholic. Although I felt love for everyone, I also felt disconnected and alone. I was often in tears at home and at school, and felt like a bad girl. As an adolescent, I lived up to my bad-girl persona and became a defiant, boy-crazy thrill seeker. At 17, I dropped out of high school and left home. My life quickly took another turn, and I joined the military when I was 18.

Ten years later, I was a successful real estate agent living in Washington, D.C. By then, I had been a behavioral specialist in the U.S. Army; eloped with and gotten divorced from a violent felon; earned my college degree; and explored Europe, Turkey, Pakistan, and Thailand by bicycle. Throughout that decade Id tried many conventional and not-so-conventional ways to answer the questions, Who am I? Why am I here? and How can I be happy? But even in my late 20s and having made it, I still couldnt shake the question, What is my life about? I had some vague sense that the answer would come someday, but I was confused and didnt know where my future would lead.

I soon experienced what some might call a dark night of the soul. I became depressed and inconsolable, and felt that I didnt want to live the life I was living. I didnt know where to turn. The old way wasnt working, but I didnt know how to start something new. I realized I was having a spiritual crisis. For weeks I cried, prayed, read, and went for long, long walks. Eventually I was pointed toward meditation. It snapped me out of it. Quite soon after learning to meditate and adopting a daily meditation practice, I decided to leave everything I knew behindmy job, my house, my roommates and friends in Washingtonand drove off with my cat to Florida to live a simple life by the beach. I wanted and needed to be in peace.