Furthermore, my observations among my colleagues is that the folks who do this meditation among other things are also not really successful at it either, for the most part. A great example is the Parks and Rec clip where Chris and Ron go for meditation [1] - quite an exaggeration to be sure but it is very conflicting that you actively try to not think. In the show the running line is that for someone who tries to do everything right Chris doesn’t really attain inner peace or even true good health.

I myself have never meditated much, but have had my dad who used to disappear in to the forest for a few weeks at a time (he has done that all his life, something he learned from his father etc, as part of the culture of a traditional medicinal healer). He meditates. To clarify, he meditates ALL the time. In a loud train. While my mom watches loud annoying soap operas. While lying down. Not on a schedule he puts in the calendar. To him that was the default state of mind. In some ways not very dissimilar to what Ron Swanson does in the clip. Maybe some day I’ll try that out, but it sure ain’t gonna be by popping headphones with an app playing white noise. It’s gotta be a fundamental change in what you do in every step of life.

Having said that, it looks like even forced meditation on a schedule still helps a bit. Just don’t expect to be a long term miracle cure. It’s safe to say anything Tim Ferris says works in helping him calm down is likely not a real solution lol.

1. https://youtu.be/7lHARAJFSgw