Episode #296: Emily Fletcher – The Secret Superpower Of Top Performers (Meditation)

Emily Fletcher is the founder of Ziva, the creator of The Ziva Technique and regarded as the leading expert in meditation for high performance. The New York Times, The Today Show, Vogue and ABC News have all featured Emily’s work. She’s been named one of the top 100 women in wellness to watch, has taught more than 15,000 students around the world and has spoken on meditation for performance at Google, Harvard Business School, Summit Series, Viacom, Wanderlust Festival & The Omega Center. Ziva graduates include Oscar, Grammy, Emmy and Tony award winners, as well as NBA players, CEOs, busy parents, entrepreneurs and everyone in between.

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“Meditation is a tool that helps you get rid of stress from your past.”

Show Notes:

  • Commonalities of sustaining excellence:
    • They have a magnetic quality.  Others are drawn to them.  People look to them.
    • They have the ability to shift their state of being.  Not just being calm.  They are able to be variable and can adapt to situations
  • Meditation increases adaptability
    • Meditation helps you take care of yourself
    • Rest, nurture your brain and body
  • The failure of most when they attempt to meditate:
    • Emily is on a mission to rid the world of “ex-meditators” — people who have tried and failed and given up on it
    • There have been 58 million downloads of meditation apps
      • Free apps are gentle by design and not as useful
  • Advice — There is a difference between mindfulness and meditation.
    • “Meditation is a tool that helps you get rid of stress from your past.”
    • Mindfulness is “the art of bringing your awareness into the present moment”
  • Meditation gives your brain and body tools.
    • “Kind of a nap sitting up. Mind alert, body getting rest.” — Relieve stress from now and past
    • It is not a toy.  It’s a very powerful tool.  You need proper training
    • It’s ridiculously simple, yet powerful
  • Biggest misconception  — “People think they have to clear their head.  They think thoughts are the enemy.  That’s not true.”
    • “People think they are too busy to meditate… You know we’re talking about your brain right?”
  • Emily was on Broadway for 10 years… Living in constant state of anxiety… Sick, insomnia, was miserable.
    • She noticed another performer had none of those issues.  She asked what she did and found out meditation was the key…
      • Emily took a class, and liked it so much she went to India to be trained professionally.
  • She created Ziva… An online meditation tool.
  • It’s about manifesting “consciously creating the life you love”
  • “Don’t water the weeds” — Don’t focus on the wrong things
  • Visualization — Manifesting “the brain doesn’t know the difference between real memory and an imagined one.” Imagine it’s all happening now.
    • “Access collective consciousness” — Place your order
  • Advice — Direct application… Instead of worrying, or speculating, take less time… Imagine crushing your goals.
    • Get into the feeling space… To call your spouse and tell them about the dream vacation you’ve earned.  Imagine it as if its happening right now.  Who would you call?
    • A lot of us are secretly held back by limiting beliefs
  • Skeptics?
    • Find a teacher you respect.  Mindfulness was originally designed for monks.
      • You must do it, commit, karma will improve, skin, body… All improves
  • Stress messes so much stuff up…
    • 44% of people are on anti-depressants
    • Stress = anytime asking your body to adapt to something not natural
    • Emily’s goal is to eradicate unnecessary suffering — anxiety, overwhelm, insomnia
  • Does Emily feel pressure to live up to a high standard based on her business?
    • “Thank you for asking.  I get stressed, but it’s about not staying stressed.  I went through postpartum depression after giving birth.”
  • Brene Brown — Vulnerability as a strength
  • Being comfortable in your own skin:
    • Intoxicating
    • Attractive
    • Feel better around others
    • “Detachment is sexy, neediness is not”
  • Increase levels of consciousness
    • Helps with becoming more comfortable in your own skin
  • Emily spends 44 minutes per day meditating
  • Why joining The Learning Leader Circle is a good idea
  • Use the “Get To Know You Document“

“Detachment is sexy, neediness is not”

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