Don Bremner, author, neuroscientist:
"In a nutshell, here's what meditationSHIFT teaches in 'An owner's guide to the mind':
Your suffering and unhappiness aren't the result of external things - they aren't caused by everything 'out there.' To the contrary, your suffering and unhappiness are caused by the stories your mind tells you about everything 'out there.' These stories dictate your state of being - they determine who you are, how you feel, and what you do. If you strengthen awareness of these stories, you can stop getting caught up in them. If you stop getting caught up in them, you can better deal with the challenges in your life...and be a lot happier as you go through your days.
It's like a hostage (you) being freed from their captor (your compulsive mind)."
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"In a nutshell, here's what meditationSHIFT teaches in 'An owner's guide to the mind':
Your suffering and unhappiness aren't the result of external things - they aren't caused by everything 'out there.' To the contrary, your suffering and unhappiness are caused by the stories your mind tells you about everything 'out there.' These stories dictate your state of being - they determine who you are, how you feel, and what you do. If you strengthen awareness of these stories, you can stop getting caught up in them. If you stop getting caught up in them, you can better deal with the challenges in your life...and be a lot happier as you go through your days.
It's like a hostage (you) being freed from their captor (your compulsive mind)."
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Thomas Shaw, author, "The Happiness Formula":
"Meditation isn't about relaxing. It's not about stopping thought, either. It's an exploration of your direct experience. It's understanding how thoughts, feelings, and emotions 'come into being and exist.' It's learning how to keep them from guiding your actions and reactions, and affecting your quality of life. In short, it's about suffering less. And, no one teaches mindfulness and meditation better than meditationSHIFT."
"Meditation isn't about relaxing. It's not about stopping thought, either. It's an exploration of your direct experience. It's understanding how thoughts, feelings, and emotions 'come into being and exist.' It's learning how to keep them from guiding your actions and reactions, and affecting your quality of life. In short, it's about suffering less. And, no one teaches mindfulness and meditation better than meditationSHIFT."
What people are saying.
Over the past 15+ years, people around the world - of all ages and backgrounds - have worked with meditationSHIFT, read our books, and taken our courses.
Below you'll find testimonials, reviews, and comments - visit us on social media for feedback and comments from thousands more.
note - certain words in the reviews were underlined or bolded by us for emphasis.
Below you'll find testimonials, reviews, and comments - visit us on social media for feedback and comments from thousands more.
note - certain words in the reviews were underlined or bolded by us for emphasis.
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"This constant narrative in my head judged everything. It caused me to lose my temper, it convinced me that I couldn't achieve my goals, and it drained my self-confidence by constantly replaying all the 'failures' in my life. Your course changed all of that.
This is something that should be taught to us as children - understanding my mind and how to deal with it is the single most important thing I've ever learned."
- Samuel Rasmussen, Indianapolis, Indiana
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Brad Russell (London, England):
"This constant narrative in my head judged everything. It caused me to lose my temper, it convinced me that I couldn't achieve my goals, and it drained my self-confidence by constantly replaying all the 'failures' in my life. Your course changed all of that.
This is something that should be taught to us as children - understanding my mind and how to deal with it is the single most important thing I've ever learned."
- Samuel Rasmussen, Indianapolis, Indiana
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Brad Russell (London, England):
There comes a point when we all have to make a choice - you can take responsibility for your life and do something to make it better, or you can blame your problems on everything and everyone else. If you choose to take responsibility, meditationSHIFT will help you understand the role your mind plays in your life, the problems it creates, and how to unburden yourself from all of it.
Shannon Levitt (Dallas, Texas):
Thank you for de-mystifying mindfulness and meditation! And, thank you for showing me that the happiest people are those who are able to break free from the mental drudgery and non-stop thinking, and use all those hours previously lost to their minds to actually live their lives.
Mark Bryant (New York, New York):
Take a few hours and read this [An owner's guide to the mind]. If you don't get anything from it, you only lose a few hours of your time. But, I'm betting that most people will find it to be an eye-opening experience - it is a blueprint to understanding what makes you "tick," and it will help you discover how it's possible to distance yourself from the mental dialogue that is constantly running through your head. If you do your part over the next 21 days, you can absolutely change your life.
And more...
"After reading Tolle [Eckhart Tolle's "The Power of Now"], I was trying to figure out how to implement his teachings. I stumbled across your course and was pleasantly surprised to find that it presented many of the same concepts in a more concise manner. And, the 21 days of instruction helped me apply it all to how I lived my life. I can't begin to thank you because it's had a huge impact on everything I do."
- Dana Jacobs, Schaumburg, Illinois
"What you teach is the basis for success in everything: jobs, relationships, happiness. If there is any secret to life, this is it! Once you figure out the role your mind plays and how to deal with it, amazing things start to happen."
- Gary L. Sutherland, Ottawa, Ontario (Canada)
"I suffered from anxiety, and quite often found myself in a miserable state. If I wasn't spending all my time imagining future situations and getting stressed out/worried about them, I was sitting around beating myself up about the past or things I felt I should have done differently. My focus and memory were terrible, and my productivity was non-existent. I tried to meditate several times over the years, but I would do a few days here and a few days there...and then quit.
Your course made the difference - I was finally able to build a habit out of meditating. It's almost six months later, and I'm still doing it every day! All of my problems aren't cured, but I am the exact opposite of how I was before - anxiety and depression are almost gone, I'm aware of my thoughts and don't get 'swept away by them,' and I am more motivated and happier than I've ever been. Thank you for making it easy to understand and do!"
- Tracy Litchner, Seattle, Washington
"As a fan of 'The T.A.D. Principle,' I was leery of a new version. To say I was pleased would be an understatement. You gave me a deep understanding of why I do the things I do, and you showed me things I wish I could have fully grasped 20 years ago. I look forward to meditating - I've been at it for a few weeks now, and I have never been more motivated. I feel you have put me on the correct path - many thanks."
- Robert Weller, Sacramento, California
editor's note: "An owner's guide to the mind" as first released as "The T.A.D. Principle" over 15 years ago. You can read more about our history and evolution on the "About us" page.
"We are all looking for ways to be happier, and I found a lot of food for thought reading your manual. I found myself coming across sentences and thinking 'this is a great nugget of wisdom I need to write down and read every day.' Page after page, I saw another nugget and wrote it down. Once I reached the end, I realized I had two hand-written pages!"
- Leslie Downs, Portland, Oregon
"I spent most of my life blaming everyone else for my problems. I didn't want to accept that I was responsible (more accurately, my mind was), or that I had the power to make things better. 'That won't work for me' was my standard reply. You changed everything, and I can't thank you enough."
- Nicole Morris, Manchester, United Kingdom
"It is hard to believe something that starts out with the line 'You are going to die' is one of the most positive, insightful things I have ever studied. I can honestly say this is a life-changer. Everything is easy to understand, and it only took me an hour to read initially. I am working on the 21-day plan now. I never thought I would be meditating, but I am...and my stress level has never been lower!"
- Tom Craig, Vancouver, British Columbia (Canada)
editor's note: Tom submitted the following addendum - "Next month will mark a year anniversary with meditationSHIFT. I stand by my original review, and want to say that things have only gotten better. Moreover, I appreciate your excellent support - you quickly answer my questions, and were kind enough to chat with me on Skype. Thank you for everything!"
"Your course helped me become aware of my mind's non-stop activity, and allowed me to reclaim a lot of the time I spent 'lost in thought.' I had no idea what was really going on until I started observing. Thank you for teaching me how to get control of my runaway mind!"
- Katrina Melton, San Diego, California
"This should be required teaching in all public schools. If everyone had to study and understand their mind, the world would be a better place."
- David Richardson, Las Vegas, Nevada
"...improved my sleep habits."
"Helped end my life-long anxiety and panic attacks."
"My stress levels plummeted..."
"...allowed me to manage my ADHD."
"As a student of philosophy and the inner workings of the mind, I found the concepts you present encapsulate what I have been studying for the past few decades. It is direct with no fluff, and you provide great information and exercises to understand and escape the control your mind holds over you."
- J. Castle, Leeds, England
"I stumbled across meditationSHIFT almost 12 months ago after reading a friend's post on Facebook. Your course is detailed and informative. The daily motivation got me to do it and stick with it. I never understood how crazy my mind was, and the problems it created. I'm a different person now - I've never been happier or less stressed."
- Charlotte Metzer, Yardley, Pennsylvania
"Most people don't want to be unhappy, they just don't know any better. They keep looking for ways to be happier, as if the answer existed 'out there.' Thank you for helping me change my misconceptions and, as a result, my life. The more aware I become of what's going on in my mind, the more peaceful I become; anxiety and depression are losing their grip."
- Chuck Baker, Nashville, Tennessee
"I've been telling my readers about 'The T.A.D. Principle' and meditationSHIFT for years, and I just finished reading the new version they released ["An owner's guide to the mind"]. It is on a completely different level from previous editions, and represents more of an exploration of the things we do that make us unhappy, and what we need to do to find happiness in ourselves as opposed to looking for it externally. The mantra-based meditation technique is easy to understand and even easier to do. If you purchased in the past, you get this new version free so send them an email. If you haven't purchased it, I highly recommend it - it will have a tremendous impact on your life."
- Trader-X, in a post to readers on the Trader-X financial blog, June 4, 2012
"I explained it as a 'happiness program' to my wife. Here are the steps:
(1) Read, (2) Internalize, (3) Shed Delusions, (4) Practice and Implement, (5) Meditate, (6) Make mindfulness a part of your daily life.
You have my permission to use that in the next edition if you want!"
- Roger Davis, Alpharetta, Georgia
editor's note: we may very well use that, Roger. Thank you!
"Based on everything I read, I knew meditation could help with a lot of problems I faced. But the instructions I found always seemed to be mixed with religious-type overtones. I just wanted the facts - how did my mind cause these issues, and how could I fix it? Your course delivered, and the results were amazing! Less stress, less anxiety, more clarity...and things improve more the longer I do it."
- Todd Mundel, Wellington, New Zealand
"I never realized how miserable my mind made me with the constant dialogue - judging, doubting, and generally being negative and unhappy. It's like I was stuck in a bad dream without knowing it. You helped me change my relationship with the voice in my head."
- Josh Baker, San Francisco, California
"Stress, anxiety, depression. Endless worry. I have been dealing with all of it for decades. I tried meditating before, but I was never able to stick with it until I did your course. You said it was more than 'how-to-meditate,' and it was; it was comprehensive, well put together, and enlightening, to say the least. Thank you!"
- Dennis Haslet, Boston, Massachusetts
"I've heard, or read, it all before. But I haven't been moved to action. It's all in how you package it, and you package it nicely - simple, clear, easy to understand. I guess it's time to stop with the excuses and do something, because if happiness is waiting on the other side of something I haven't achieved, I'm never going to get there (I think I plagiarized you a bit)."
- Charles Kriger, Toronto, Ontario (Canada)
"True happiness cannot be obtained, because it already exists inside of you. True happiness is revealed. An amazing concept I never considered before your course."
- Toni Belkins, Gold Coast, Queensland (Australia)
"Liberating - now you just need to figure out how to get 7 billion people to do it. It's more than just a 'how-to-meditate' class, it's a revelation on what's going on in your mind."
- Janet Temer, Chicago, Illinois
"I read your Facebook page for almost a year, and got a lot from it. But, I was resistant to do your course because I always thought I could do it on my own. What's so hard about mindfulness? I had a lot of stress and anxiety, I had sleep problems, and my mind was always racing. I thought meditating might help, but I always found excuses to keep from starting.
My friend who introduced me to your Facebook page had taken your course almost a year earlier, and I could see the changes in him. So, I finally decided to give it a shot. Three months into it and I am meditating every day, I'm much more mindful in my activities, my stress and anxiety are at all-time lows, and I'm more at peace than I've ever been."
- Lee Samuels, Denver, Colorado
"Over the years, I tried everything to help with my issues - drugs, therapy, positive thinking. I went from one extreme to the other, and the rest of the time I was like a zombie going through the motions. I never really understood my mind or how to deal with it before finding you. So many people are like me, and they need this!"
- Jamie Kinkaid, Rosemount, Minnesota
"What I pictured in my head: sitting on a mountain, wearing a robe, chanting.
What actually happened: you showed me that my unhappiness was because of my mind. You helped me understand what was going on in my head, and how to deal with it.
The results: hard to explain, but amazing! I never realized how I identified with my thoughts, and how they directed my life. Like you say, it's like I was on 'auto-pilot,' going wherever they took me. Usually being miserable. Now, it's just the opposite. It's cliche to say that you changed my life - but, you changed my life."
- Steven Chang, Miami, Florida
"I don't worry as much..."
"...helped with my depression and negative self-image."
"...improved my focus and productivity."
