Why Meditation Became My Business Partner

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Running a business means signing up for a lot of unexpected things.
Some weeks, sales drop out of nowhere.
Other times, one customer might buy, return, and rebuy the same item—multiple times.

A few bad reviews might land all at once.
A shipment goes missing.
Inventory runs out earlier than planned.
A supplier goes silent just when you need them most.
Suddenly, you find yourself needing a lawyer for something you never saw coming.

When I used to work for someone else,
I didn’t know how many little fires business owners put out every day.
Now I do. And honestly?
Some days feel more like surviving than running a brand.

But one thing that’s kept me grounded through it all is: meditation.

Think of a muddy pond.
If you leave it alone, the dirt settles,
and slowly, the water becomes clear again.
You can see the fish, the plants, even the bottom.

That’s what meditation does for my mind.
It helps everything settle.

It lets me see—
what I’m really thinking,
what I’m feeling,
what actually matters.

It’s like holding your palm right in front of your eyes—too close to see anything.
But when you pull your hand back just a little, everything comes into focus.
That’s what stepping back with meditation feels like.

In the beginning, it was hard.
I couldn’t focus.
I told myself not to think—and ended up thinking even more.

At one point, I just flipped over a small hourglass and tried to sit still until the last grain of sand dropped.
Even five minutes felt impossible.

So I made it even simpler:
I left my phone at home and just went outside for a walk.
That helped too.
Some days, just being outside and breathing quietly was enough to reset my brain.

There are so many ways to meditate.
And honestly, you already have everything you need:
your body, your breath, your awareness.

But if you're looking for a little guidance, here are a few things that helped me:

• Insight Timer – Great free library of meditations, especially for beginners

• Balance – A simple app that adjusts to how you feel each day

• Calm / Headspace – More structured programs to build consistency

• Onrise – One I really enjoy lately: free, calming, and doesn’t feel overwhelming

You can also check out:

• The UCLA Mindful Awareness Research Center’s podcast

• Free YouTube meditations

• A local meditation class (often the price of one app subscription!)

Or just… step outside without your phone, and walk.

Meditation won’t make the chaos disappear.
But it does help me step back from it.
It gives me enough space to respond instead of react.

And over time, without realizing it,
I’m no longer just trying to be calm, or grounded, or focused—
I’m just living that way.

If things feel noisy lately,
maybe today is a good day to sit still for five quiet minutes.
Nothing fancy. Just you, your breath, and the choice to pause.

With love,
Penny
Founder of Tidalove 🌊

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