“Transcendental Meditation has probably been the single most important reason for whatever success I’ve had”
Ray Dalio, founder, co-chief investment officer and co-chairman Bridgewater Associates, the largest hedge fund in the world
Ray Dalio Credits Transcendental Meditation for His Success
On a normal day, Ray Dalio practices one 20-minute meditation session as soon as he wakes up in the morning and another one right before eating dinner. Each one, he says, feels like a “20-minute vacation” that eases anxieties and puts him into a state of relaxation — enabling him to make better business decisions.
“You’re peaceful. You’re quiet,” he says. “You’re not awake, but you’re not asleep.”
Extensive research shows that practicing Transcendental Meditation can help alleviate stress, anxiety and depression. For those in business, there’s another bonus — creativity.
Great ideas come during TM because your mind is settled and open. You can access quieter levels of thinking, where your creativity tends to thrive.
Oscar Winning Film director Martin Scorsese discusses the positive impact of TM on his creativity and ability to solve problems:
How does TM add value to the lives of those of us in business?
Transcendental Meditation reduces fatigue and improves concentration. If you are tired at the end of the day, a 20 minutes meditation can bring back alertness and energy.
Highly efficient use of travelling time. TM is portable. You can meditate for a few minutes on a train, in a taxi, or even in reception before a meeting. TM requires no special physical posture, nor a totally silent environment. TM can be especially helpful during long-haul flights. It provides deep rest, even if you cannot sleep.
TM is practised with no goal in mind, yet creative ideas and solutions to problems can appear spontaneously. Entrepreneur and occasional stand-up comedian Thomas Drewry says that, “solutions and creative ideas often manifest themselves during or after meditation. All it takes is to be ready for the download.”
TM can have significant health benefits. There are around 330 peer-reviewed studies of the biological and physiological effects of TM, and its benefits in many different conditions. Dr Norman Rosenthal, a world-renowned psychiatrist and medical researcher describes how TM can be used to help people with high blood pressure.
Prioritisation of goals. The inner calmness gained through regular practice can help us discern the hierarchy of our to-do’s. Instead of perpetually fire-fighting, we can take a step back and differentiate between the important, the urgent, the valuable and the just plain loud.
Case Study
Oliver’s Real Food introduces Transcendental Meditation into their business as a way of nurturing the individuals and enhancing coherence and co-operation: