Theophile is a lawyer. He worked in finance in Paris and New York for 15 years and now lives in Chamonix, France. 



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Théophile Strebelle

<h4
    id="h-th-ophile-strebelle-has-worked-as-a-lawyer-in-paris-and-new-york-for-15-years-his-busy-work-schedule-was-taking-a-toll-on-him-so-he-decided-to-take-a-break-and-is-currently-in-india-here-he-shares-with-us-how-a-practice-of-meditation-helped-him-break-the-thought-pattern-that-was-driving-his-life">
    <strong><mark style="background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)"
            class="has-luminous-vivid-amber-color">THÉOPHILE STREBELLE </mark>has worked as a lawyer in
        Paris and New York for 15 years. His busy
        work schedule was taking a toll on him, so he decided to take a break
        and is currently in India. Here he shares with us how a practice of
        meditation helped him break the thought pattern that was driving his
        life.</strong>
</h4>

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<p>
    For most of my professional life, my main concerns have been
    productivity and efficiency: how can I execute the maximum number of
    tasks as perfectly as possible in a minimum amount of time? My days
    started with a list of things to do and my life energy was used to
    execute them. My reward for that was an ephemeral feeling of
    accomplishment. Every day would start with a new “to-do” list. I was
    doing what I had been taught at school, and then at work: executing what
    people were expecting from&nbsp;me.&nbsp;
</p>

<p>
    After years of living this way I could see an improvement in my
    profitability but none in my well-being. The number of things that I
    “had to&nbsp;do” was increasing. My mind was pushing for more action
    every day.&nbsp;
</p>

<p>
    One day, I started to seriously question this never-ending push for
    action and achievement. Where is this drive coming from? Is this way of
    living a part of my nature or only the result of my education?&nbsp;
</p>

<p>
    To find out, I made a radical change in my life.&nbsp;I stopped working.
    What would happen to my mental state if I had nothing to do?&nbsp;I
    organized my life in a way that I had zero obligations. No work, no
    social interactions. At that time I was thinking that this decision
    would instantly erase my mental loops and bring me immediate balance and
    calmness.&nbsp;
</p>

<p>
    Things didn’t go that way. At all. I first started doing things that I
    have always wanted to do. Spending time in nature, in creative
    activities, reading books, and learning new skills. I was enjoying these
    activities and my mind was stable and focused while performing
    them.&nbsp;However, while I was inactive and at rest, my mental activity
    was still very strong and my thoughts were all over the place. There was
    no improvement in my overall well-being. I was fulfilling my desires but
    nothing had changed. Worse, the activities I was doing were stimulating
    me so much that the lows felt lower. I was not satisfied. It felt like
    the changes I had made to my existence were not right.
</p>

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    <figure>
        <img  alt="finding-peace2" class="lazyload has-img-center"
            src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/finding_peace2_255aaca640.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-11T07:46:22.420Z" />
    </figure>
</div>

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<p>
    I was looking for guidance when a friend of mine suggested meditation. I
    thought I had nothing to lose and was willing to give it a
    try.&nbsp;This is where the real change happened. I got introduced to
    the practice by a trainer and right after the first session I slept
    profoundly, like I had not slept in a very long time.&nbsp;I remember
    being surprised by such a quick change and decided to give a serious and
    disciplined shot to the practice. I started meditating every day and at
    fixed hours.&nbsp;At first, my mind was still racing, and my thoughts
    were altering my ability to concentrate. Slowly, session after
    session,&nbsp;I started noticing small changes. My mind was getting
    clearer. My focus during the day was increasing and the number of
    thoughts was decreasing. I was not feeling any urge to feed my mind with
    multiple thoughts. At the same time, I realized that some thoughts were
    signals to the changes I had to make in my life. Some others were
    unimportant and I could let them go.
</p>

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    <figure>
        <img  alt="finding-peace3" class="lazyload has-img-center"
            src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/finding_peace3_c0f063421c.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-11T07:47:01.897Z" />
    </figure>
</div>

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<hr />

<h4 class="has-text-align-center"
    id="h-it-triggered-an-almost-vital-motivation-to-deepen-my-practice-and-put-my-thoughts-at-the-service-of-the-expansion-of-my-heart">
    <mark style="background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)" class="has-luminous-vivid-amber-color">It
        triggered an almost vital motivation <br />to deepen my practice
        and put my thoughts<br />at the service of the expansion of my
        heart.</mark>
</h4>

<hr />

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<p>
    Then, in a very subtle way, the space that had been made available in my
    mind started to fill with a sense of calmness and balance I had never
    experienced before. I had learned how to remain unmindful of my thoughts
    so that they did not affect or trouble me. That state became so precious
    that my will for growth became a priority. It triggered an almost vital
    motivation to deepen my practice and put my thoughts at the service of
    the expansion of my heart.&nbsp;
</p>

<p>
    Today, after a few months of regular practice,&nbsp;my mind has become
    clearer than it has ever been my entire life. My focus has increased. I
    feel lighter. I found the courage to make decisions I had
    avoided&nbsp;for many years. I feel transformed, anew, and refreshed. I
    know better where my priorities are, and what is right when I make
    decisions.&nbsp;This practice has been a time- and life-saver. I know
    that today I found the perfect tool for growth and a guide toward peace,
    my heart.
</p>