During this week’s May Cause Miracles conference, I listened to Gabby Bernstein interview Dr. Frank Lipman, a pioneer and internationally recognized expert in the fields of Integrative and Functional Medicine. He explained that as a culture, we are stressed out and over-stimulated. As a result, we spend an enormous amount of money on pills to mask the anxiety symptoms and we spend even more money going to doctors to tell us that yes, our bodies are stressed and inflamed and therefore we are sick with diabetes, heart problems, cancer, etc. Prolonged stress, whether as a result of emotional, environmental or physical causes, is disastrous for the adrenals. Our adrenals, the endocrine glands that sit at the top of the kidneys, are chiefly responsible for releasing hormones in response to stress. Initially, it results in chronically elevated cortisol levels, resulting in weight gain, especially around the midsection. Overworked adrenals eventually crash, leading to adrenal exhaustion, where the body is unable to maintain adequate adrenal hormone production. When our bodies are in constant fight-or-flight mode, our immune and digestive system function significantly diminishes as the body exerts all it’s energy on dealing with the stress. And if you’ve read my articles before, you know very well that poor digestion and improper elimination is the root cause of all disease in the body.

“Meditation is the million dollar drug,” Dr. Lipman proposed. Ask yourself - what does my body need in order to heal? Where is my stress coming from? What do I need to change in order to feel better? Be fearlessly honest with yourself. Listen up. That’s your inner guide speaking. Free healing is available to everyone, we just need to tap into it.



Meditation is a beautiful practice. Setting aside 5 minutes in the morning before I leave for work has shifted the way I go about my day, my reactions and my perceptions. I was not a believer back in Yoga Teacher Training when my teacher had suggested we set aside time every morning to meditate. I made excuse after excuse - I’m too busy, my mind won’t shut off, I can’t sit comfortably without moving, I will be late to work, I just can’t.

Now, as I am in the midst of reading “May Cause Miracles” by Gabby Bernstein, I am on a manifestation journey, and meditation is part of the package. I’ve finally succumbed to the power of meditating every day and it has become my favorite habit. The first few mornings I struggled with the irresistible magnetism of my to-do list, what I’d eat for breakfast, what I needed to get done at work… but once I settled in, the five minutes in silence really seemed to fly by.

The first step in meditating is finding a comfortable seat. For me, this is a cozy cross-legged seat with my yoga bolster propped up on the floor at the foot of the bed, a blanket underneath my seat as a cushion, and the gorgeous Manhattan skyline out the window waiting to greet me when I open my eyes with gratitude. The second step in meditating is to close the eyes and be still. No fidgeting! Focusing on the breath or a mantra is the key here. Inhale silently say “Let.” Exhale silently say “go.” I’ve also been recently meditating to the mantra Inhale “Love.” Exhale out “Fear.” Step three is to concentrate. Concentrate on your object of meditation. Once your body and mind are in a relaxed and calm state, you need to channel your thinking or learn to concentrate. This concentration on a particular area within yourself or an image etc., will translate to experiencing a profound state of self standing which is free from the mind. You are detached from the ego here. Meditation allows us to purely a witness to our fear, and let the emotions pass without judgment. For this reason, when we meditate we may have profound realizations or shifts in perceptions. As Gabby says: “As you add up new perceptual shifts you will begin to see miraculous changes throughout your life.” Yes, meditation is beautiful.

For me, awareness, relaxation, meditation and being in touch with my inner guide has been the most tremendous, beneficial change I’ve made. I listen to me now and trust the little inner promptings of my spirit and I have been lead to what I need to see, read and hear. After going to dozens of doctors that have told me there is nothing wrong with me because their basic blood work shows nothing out of place, that I fall in the ‘normal zone’, I finally have found a solid, reliable and knowledgeable team (I call them my “tribe”) of medical doctors, neuropaths and integrative nutritionists who have taken the initiative to dig deeper when I describe my symptoms. I have hope now, which no doctor was previously able to offer in me. My digestive troubles are healing, my adrenal fatigue has eased, and my autoimmune condition is kicked into remission. It’s been a great journey and as I am healing, I am also getting closer to me and trusting in my gut, literally! Listening to what feels good, and what doesn’t. Knowing what actions in my life are not serving me. Knowing I am in control of my destiny, knowing I can dream big and my inner guide will lead the way, trusting that the Universe has my back. I live with ease, there is a zero stress tolerance policy in my life. That is a bigger gift than I could have hoped for.

Has meditation helped you overcome a challenge or shift your perspective? I’d love to hear from you.


Are you having trouble sitting still or starting a daily meditation practice? I’ve been there, and I’m happy to help.

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Also check out Elena Brower’s book, Art of Attention co-written with author West Coast yogi artist Erica Jago. Art of Attention is a stunningly illustrated yoga workbook designed for practice, contemplation, and creativity for students and teachers.

As always, thank you for reading and sharing yourself in this beautiful community. All my love,

Fern Olivia