Meditation and ADHD: How Meditation Can Help With Your Overall Wellbeing

In this episode, I share a powerful experience I had meditating with Buddhist monks in Chiang Mai, Thailand. That time sitting quietly in a temple halfway across the world taught me something simple but profound about the way our minds work. I talk about meditation through the lens of ADHD—the wandering mind, the endless stream of thoughts, and the feeling that we’re “bad” at focusing. But meditation isn’t about having a perfectly quiet mind. It’s about the practice of noticing when our thoughts chase squirrels and gently bringing them back. Every time we do that, we’re actually strengthening the part of the brain responsible for focus, emotional regulation, and decision-making. In other words, the wandering mind isn’t failure—it’s the training. I also share a meditation instruction I read in a temple that taught me so much: breathing in, holding the breath for a moment, softening the eyes and the mind, and then expanding your awareness outward with compassion for all living things. Breath holds can briefly increase carbon dioxide levels in the body, which can sharpen awareness and help calm the nervous system when practiced gently. Combined with widening our attention and intentionally sending out love and compassion, this practice can create a surprising shift in mood and resilience. In this episode, I reflect on how simple moments of mindfulness—whether in a temple in Thailand or in the middle of an ordinary day—can help us train our minds, build focus, and reconnect with a sense of calm and compassion. 🧘‍♀️✨