Mandurah family’s ‘happier life’ after meditation

Daniel said he was feeling the burden of everyday pressures, including money, work and family, and did not feel happy with his life. 

“I was achieving things that I thought would make me happy,” he said.

“But all these things were adding stress. I thought: ‘I’m not here to just worry and die’.”

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Daniel said he found a flier in a local shop for non-profit organisation Mandurah Meditation, and the concept made sense to him.

He booked in for a seminar and his life “immediately” changed. “I just got happier, and happier,” he said. 

“You can learn to do it even when your at work. Before I would get stressed, but now I am in control of my mind...my mind isn’t controlling me and my thoughts aren’t running away, making the suffering.”

Only recently Harvard researcher Sara Lazar documented the effects mindfulness meditation had on gray matter in the brain. 

Hayley Wylie, Daniel’s wife, said the family-of-five followed her husband’s lead, and were better off for it. 

Prior to meditation, Hayley said her and Daniel had achieved “everything they ever wanted”, but were not content.

“Everything we achieved together actually made things more stressful,” she said.

She said she could now self-reflect and be more in control of her life.

Their three children’s life pressures, including sport, school and friends, had become easier to manage now, Hayley said. 

“Initially the children were skeptical but now they want to practice mediation,” she said. “It’s a huge safety net for them.”

Cassidy (11) said he had become a lot calmer and less stressed from meditation. 

“I used to not listen to my parents...now I can see all my thoughts, and the bad stuff I was doing,” he said.

“Now my minds a lot clearer there’s a lot less stuff I’m worried about. If someone says something mean to me, I don’t worry. 

“I’ve been really happy now and have been doing my work really good.”

Volunteer Soonhee Dhal Kwon said there were about 25 volunteers that worked at Mandurah Meditation. 

Ms Dhal Kwon said she volunteered at the centre because she was so grateful for what she had learnt.

“We don’t need to live in a mind-jail anymore,” she said.