Today’s post is by Pat Wetzel, our guest in episode 309 video and audio. Pat shared her enthralling story of resilience and overcoming adversity. She also told us about her unusual hobby. Pat spoke about meditation on the show and tells us more here.

The idea of meditation may conjure up images of sitting cross-legged in a remote mountain cave, talking to no one for days on end.  Or perhaps of sitting on a white beach, as the surf pounds the sand, and the wind gently passes by. But the reality is that meditation can be practiced anywhere, anytime.

What is meditation and why the mystique about this ancient tradition? Is it some sort of cult? What’s the point?

Meditation a totally learnable skill that can lead to heightened awareness throughout all aspects of your life. It is both a practice and a discipline. It means training your mind for peace and clarity.

According to the National Science Foundation, “80% of our thoughts are negative and 95% of our thoughts are repetitive.” Buddhists call this “monkey mind”.

With all these random thoughts, most of us are living a story that’s not our own. You’re smart, or not so smart. You’re too thin or too fat. You’re not good enough. Do this, do that. Underneath this onslaught of thought, who are you really? Are these thoughts your own or is that guiding voice in your head a result of societal and familial expectations or past trauma?

Learning to quiet your mind is a skill and an experience that expands your life because when you can recognize the content of your thoughts, you can start to consciously choose what to think and believe. You get to create a life and an outlook that is truly your own.

Meditation is both experiential and measurable. On the measurable side, a Harvard study (among many others) showed changes in stress, empathy, and sense of self among meditators. Researchers noticed a thickening of the cerebra cortex in areas associated with attention and emotional integration.  

But in my mind, the power of meditation is that it is experiential. What does that mean?

Think about the difference between reading about chocolate versus savoring it. On paper, you can learn that there are all sorts of chocolate: white, dark, milk, bars and bon bons. They might include nuts or coconut or fillings. The quality may vary with the ingredients. But none of this book knowledge prepares you for the sensation of the sweetness as it spreads across your tongue, coating your mouth, melting, the taste lingering.  

Meditation is experiential, just like eating chocolate. It can be an experience of expansive peace, connection, and oneness beyond one’s body or mind.  It lingers in your soul, in your awareness, far past the actual act. And the memory, the knowing, of that experience is just as real as chocolate melting in your mouth.

This opens the door to a richer inner life. You can only change what you’re conscious of and as you start to observe your thoughts, you can recognize the various belief systems that have guided you to this point. Here, in this space of the observer, you have the power of choice. Why do I think that? Where did that belief come from? Is it one I want? Is it who I am?

As Ram Dass pointed out:

“The quieter you become, the more you can hear.”

What would happen if you sought mental peace and made it your daily practice? How might your life and your relationships change? How might the discipline change you?

Pat Wetzel, a graduate from the University of Pennsylvania and Wharton Business School, embarked on her adult journey in the bustling city of New York. Little did she know that her path would take a dramatic turn, when she was diagnosed with a serious neurological disease myasthenia gravis.  A divorce and the resulting chaos forced her to reimagine her life.

A chance encounter with the sport of soaring-flying high tech motorless airplanes cross country-became the portal to unexpected adventure, leading her to soar to new heights, both metaphorically and literally. Her adventures in the air became the backdrop for conquering challenges, finding courage and connecting with a greater natural world.

Through her experiences, Pat Wetzel has emerged not only as an individual who is wise, but as a podcaster and author with a profound message to share. In “Bump In the Road: 15 Stories of Courage, Hope, and Resilience,” she channels her unique perspective, weaving together tales of human strength and triumph. The stories, based on her weekly podcast Bump In The Road, inspire others to navigate life’s bumps with hope and to find courage in the face of uncertainty.

In this book, Pat’s story and the story of her 15 guests is a testament to the unwavering power of the human spirit and a reminder that even amidst the bumps in the road, our potential for growth knows no bounds.