New Yorkers say they have no willpower; Meditation can boost the "willpower area" of the brain

In the 2011 Stressed in America Findings published by the American Psychological Association (APA), New Yorkers, more than other Americans, cited willpower as the leading barrier to making lifestyles changes, including those that reduce stress. Furthermore, New Yorkers said making lifestyle and behavior changes required too much time and effort. It doesn’t have to be that way, but New Yorker may not realize what’s really going on. A chronic lack of willpower, never enough time in the day, not enough energy to get important things done–in my line of work (Transformation, Meditation, Metaphysics and Personal Alchemy), those are symptoms of an “energy leak”. Plug it up with an organic meditation practice, which can build up the areas of the brain that help to boost willpower.

Your level of willpower, effectiveness, efficiency and even achievement (among other attributes) are related to your level and balance of Inner Power. Stress can have a huge impact on this equation. Meditation is an important tool for developing inner power and preventing the energy leaks caused by stress and other things. And research is finally catching up to support the usefulness of meditation overcoming addictions, anxiety depression, and a lack of mental focus. Not surprisingly, more and more meditation groups are popping up in the New York City homes, offices and public places. And last year’s report from the APA showed New Yorkers were twice as likely to meditate as other Americans. But although more New Yorkers are meditating, it doesn’t mean they’re meditating well. I’m always surprised to see, practitioners, especially experienced ones who have fallen into a common meditation pitfall that impedes their progress and keeps them stuck and caught up in the “same old same old” of their everyday life. It’s one of the reasons that in my Meditation Program at the City College of New York (http://www.HealingSpirit.com/meditation), I teach more than just meditation technique and stress management. I also teach conscious energy management, emotional management, self-management, life management, alchemical consciousness, and how to make challenging changes more easily.

Most New Yorkers, and probably most people, turn to meditation primarily as a stress management aide. That’s only the tip of the meditation iceberg. New Yorkers who meditate merely to relax and de-stress may be missing the boat…and the greater benefits of the practice. Meditation also helps with the other issues of well-being that concern New Yorkers. Stress management was only #2 on their list of goals. #1 was having a good relationship with family, while #3 was doing well in career or studies. Meditation is a bridge between your life goals and your ability to achieve them. And it’s a portal to what lies beyond your goals, beyond your mind, and what you think is beyond your power.