Short & Snappy Interview! Dina Proctor, best-selling author and life coach...

Photo: Kimberly Quackenbush Photography

My Short & Snappy Interview this week is with Dina Proctor, author of the best-selling book, Madly Chasing Peace: How I Went from Hell to Happy in Nine Minutes a Day (Morgan James Publishing, 2013). From the depths of depression and alcoholism, Dina turned to meditation. She found that 3 minutes of meditation 3 times a day was enough to restore her inner peace – a far cry from the lengthy sessions typically associated with meditation practices. Now a certified life coach, Dina teaches her 3 x 3 method to others and sees spectacular results.

Dina is a long-time friend of mine, and her heart-felt, intuitive approach to life inspires me every day. A few years ago, I began listening to her 3 x 3 guided meditations regularly, and my quality of life has soared since then. It is a pleasure to feature Dina and her unique brand of wisdom for daily living!

CSM: HOW DID A MEDITATION PRACTICE HELP PULL YOU OUT OF DEPRESSION AND ADDICTION?

DP: Meditation completely blew me away in its power to heal me both mentally and physically. It enabled me to access realms of heightened consciousness and to literally rewire the neuropathways in my brain, which is the underlying cause of my own transformation. 

CSM: WHY IS IT EFFECTIVE TO MEDITATE IN SHORT SPURTS DURING THE DAY?

DP: I interviewed Dr. Bruce Lipton and asked him exactly that question. He explained that when we use meditation in short bursts several times a day we are constantly and consistently interrupting our subconscious programming, thus enabling old thought patterns to be broken and the neuropathways in the brain to be rewired, leading to lasting transformation. 

CSM: YOU ALSO MAKE SHORT GUIDED MEDITATIONS FOR KIDS, WHO ARE NOTORIOUSLY ANTSY. WHAT ARE SOME SPECIFIC BENEFITS YOU'VE SEEN IN KIDS WHO MEDITATE?

DP: I believe that kids are, for the most part, more in tune with nature and their intuition, so with practice even antsy kids can become peaceful meditators. In my experience and from research I’ve read, kids who meditate are calmer, less anxious, have a better ability to concentrate and are less likely to have tantrums and mood swings. 

CSM: ANY ADVICE FOR PARENTS WHO WANT TO START THEIR KIDS ON MEDITATION?

DP: I'd advise parents to start their own meditation practice first - that may be what gets the kids interested, just to find out what their parents are doing! Once it becomes a way of life, bring it to the children by setting a timer for just a few minutes and sharing a simple visualization or breathing exercise for the meditation time.

CSM: TELL US THE GIST OF YOUR LIFE-COACHING PHILOSOPHY. ANY NEW PROJECTS IN THE WORKS?

DP: I believe that anything we want to change or transform in our lives (our bodies, our relationships, our financial situations) all starts within. I coach people to train themselves to think differently, open their minds to what’s possible, and enable themselves to experience profound inner transformation. Once the inside is right, it’s amazing to watch the outside fall into place. 

I work with one-on-one clients, teach group classes both in person and virtually, and have a program to certify other coaches in the 3x3 Meditation and 3x3 Focus System modalities. I’m also filming a series of tips on happiness for a local TV channel - just 2-minute segments on how we can find more peace and reduce stress in our everyday lives. I’ve also partnered with Mind Power Technology to create 3-minute video/audio sessions that enhance the 3x3 Meditation experience. 

Dina Proctor is a life and business coach, and best-selling author of the book "Madly Chasing Peace: How I Went from Hell to Happy in Nine Minutes a Day." Supported by Jack Canfield, Dina's 3x3 Meditation method is helping thousands to transform their personal and professional lives all over the world. Meet her at www.madlychasingpeace.com.