I tried to meditate for years.

I used every app, and tried many techniques. I simply couldn’t make it stick.

But one day, I got it right. And it changed my life.

How meditation works for me

Several friends recommended that I talk to Laurent Valosek of the Peak Leadership Institute. He's been the CEO of three startups, so he understands stress!

Laurent specializes in teaching Transcendental Meditation — with the specific goal of maximizing leadership performance and potential. Practitioners use mantras to transcend their usual level of awareness — and the practice is typically taught 1:1.

Practitioners use mantras to transcend their usual level of awareness — and the practice is typically taught 1:1. It may sound mystical! But meditation is about physically conditioning your brain.

I now meditate twice a day: once in the morning, and once in the afternoon.

Initially, I simply felt happier. But as I built the habit, my creativity improved. I could solve problems faster and more easily. And now, I can stay focused for significantly longer than before.

Using rituals to boost your creativity

For me, meditation is a "creative ritual" — something I always do before my most productive work. But there are all kinds of ways to transition into focused thinking time.

Want some inspiration? See these intriguing rituals of famous writers. James Joyce wrote when fully clothed in bed. French writer Colette would start by picking the fleas off her cat!

The power of neuroplasticity

It doesn’t matter what the ritual is. What matters is the repetition.

The more you do it, the more you benefit from neuroplasticity — the brain's incredible ability to adapt and strengthen neural pathways. You can rewire your brain — and learn to think in new ways — well into adulthood!

Repetition gradually associates your chosen routine with creative thinking. The result: you can enter a creative mindset more easily, and for much longer than before.