Happy Clients Share Their Stories Of Change
These amazing stories are where you’ll hear directly from clients who have worked with me. These are their real stories of transformation, healing, and growth. These reflections come from them as they once felt overwhelmed by anxiety, fear, or life transitions and found clarity, calm, and strength through our work together. Their experiences offer a glimpse into what’s possible when you take that first step toward change.
Enjoying these stories? I’d love to hear yours! Email your story along with a photo to [email protected], and I’ll review it for possible sharing on this page.
“COVID is what initially brought me to meditation with a group. I already knew how to meditate and I felt I needed some support with isolation caused by covid. What started as a thread in my day gradually became a closer bond of women showing up for each other to see how we each were doing. This got me out of focusing so much on myself and more plugged in with others.
Morning meditation became part of my day.
The bond that had begun to grow now strengthened as I went through a divorce after 15 years of marriage. The example of others, their wins, and losses helped me trust I was and would be ok.
Within the 3 years I have deepened my relationship with others and myself. I underwent diagnosis and treatment for cirrhosis of my liver. The breathing I had learned came in handy as I underwent medical procedures and pain management. I also felt tethered to my women as I knew they were cheering me on and of course praying for me.
Why would I spend money on guided meditation? I spend a nominal fee on meditation because it anchors me, and calms and rejuvenates me. For me meditation now has become an integral part of my life.”
“Why would I spend money on guided meditation? I spend a nominal fee on meditation because it anchors me, and calms and rejuvenates me. For me meditation now has become an integral part of my life.”
- Gerry R.
“My introduction to meditation began after being diagnosed with Stage IV Ovarian Cancer in January 2021. It was overwhelming to hear that diagnosis, and all the treatments and recommendations of things I should do to help me in my healing and this journey all seemed too much. But the one thing that I consistently heard from all my doctors was that I should start meditation to help me through this and how beneficial it would be for me. Never having done meditation before, I was very hesitant. I was given websites and recommended videos to watch to learn this, but it was so hard for me to do it and keep up with it on my own. I finally reach out to Jill to help me begin with meditation. She helped me through guided meditation that targeted exactly what I needed when I needed it.
Meditation has now become such an important part of my life as I continue my journey and fight with cancer. It has given me peace with my situation and helps calm me down when I am feeling stressed and hopeless. But it’s helped in so many other ways; it’s hard to name them all. I use meditation to help me fall asleep; I have a cough and it’s hard to breath at times because of the cancer spreading to my lung – meditating helps slow my breathing so it’s easier to breath and actually stops my coughing; I still work and taking a break to meditate during the workday helps so much with the daily stress of work and deadlines.
Meditation has become such an important part of my life that is so needed for my well-being. Thank you for introducing me to this and helping me in so many ways."
“Meditation has now become such an important part of my life as I continue my journey and fight with cancer. It has given me peace with my situation and helps calm me down when I am feeling stressed and hopeless.”
- Peg S.
- Tam B.
“Meditating with a group gradually allowed me to feel a part of something bigger.”
“Although I had meditated on and off before, I never regularly practiced it, and never in a group. A friend of mine had been attending meditation for a while and kept encouraging me to “just give it a chance.” I am not a people person by nature, so was quite hesitant. However, I gave it a chance. Due to some medical issues, I wasn’t sure I could do it. After about a week, my hesitancy was greatly reduced and a new morning routine began to establish itself.
Morning meditation gave me a reason to push myself to get out of bed in the mornings. The meditation allowed me to focus on what was right before me instead of fretting about what was in store for the day. Meditation focused my mind on breathing, clearing my cluttered mind, and getting ready to begin my day without endless mind chatter getting in the way of what I needed to accomplish.
Meditating with a group gradually allowed me to feel part of something bigger. I felt supported and welcomed. I was raised in a culture that declared women selfish when they did things just for themselves. As part of the group, I was freed from that burden. I could fully experience the gifts of meditation because I wasn’t there just for myself; I was also there to support others.
Morning meditation became a healthy start to my days. In addition to calming my active monkey mind, being part of a regular meditation group has enlarged my capacity for compassion, acceptance, and mutual support. My relationships outside the group have benefitted as well. I’ve taken the kind and calming influence of the group from meditation into my days and live a kinder, calmer life.”
“It was coming at me from all sides: Troubled family relationships, my husband severely ill, financial issues; and the general difficulties of raising a teenager. At the end of one particularly difficult day, the accumulation of stress tipped me over the edge. That night the symptoms began: hives, constant itching, a full scale systemic histamine reaction.
Allergy tests were all negative. The doctor prescribed Allegra for 3 months, then 6… When I stopped the Allegra, the itching came back. After 9 months I made the decision NOT to have to take antihistamines for the rest of my life!
I had what’s called histamine intolerance. This condition is understood to be the result of gut issues that cause sensitivity to specific foods; but stress is considered to be a key aggravator. In addition to the food issues, I had to address the stress.
This is when I began meditating regularly with Jill. After just two weeks of an elimination diet and some suggested supplements, AND my bi-weekly meditation sessions, my symptoms began to abate.
Frankly, I was shocked that it happened so quickly. It’s not supposed to. But I continue to meditate regularly and am now (mostly) eating whatever I want, with no problems.
What’s even more wonderful is that meditation had affected all aspects of my life in positive ways. I am so much better at dealing with stressful situations in general.
I now consider meditation as a permanent component of my self-care.“
“I am so much better at dealing with stressful situations in general. I now consider meditation as a permanent component of my self-care.“
- Nancy D.
- Jill D.
“I found a support group that met online that turned out to be invaluable to me. Initially, I thought there was no way that online meditation would be as effective as my private meditation practice. I couldn’t believe how wrong I was.”
“I got my breast cancer diagnosis. At first, I was in shock and denial. Then reality hit. It would have been so easy for me to give up or give in, to throw in the towel, to let it rule my life and how I thought. It would have been easy to feel sorry for myself, to isolate myself, to let cancer steal my passion, steal my personality, steal my joy, steal my life. My cancer wanted me to lie in bed all day, to not participate, to let life pass me by. So many times in my life, I learned that nothing stays the same but when I got my diagnosis – I knew I had to go with it, not fight it, not give in, in order to be okay. I had to accept it; I had to accept help; and getting the help I needed was what put me on the journey of discovery. When I started treatment, I found that meditation gave me a new meaning. Gently using my breath, I found myself relaxing – all in a safe and supported frame of mind. It helped me realize that I could forge a much deeper connection between my mind and body through regular meditation practice. I never felt lonely, but I did feel alone. I knew there were so many others going through the same things I was.
Through my cancer center, I found a support group that met online that turned out to be invaluable to me. Initially, I thought there was no way that online meditation would be as effective as my private meditation. I couldn’t believe how wrong I was. We talked about what we were going through and got ideas from one another. Then we meditated together. My practice became a richer experience. I felt a deeper connection and meaning. It encouraged me to come together with others to practice meditation, talk together about my ideas and my experiences, my challenges and victories – big and small – and share how mindfulness impacted my daily life. Also, meditating with a support group helped me to develop a habit. The group gave me feedback. I found spiritual support in numbers. I learned from others.
The woman who started the group could no longer run it. She asked if I would feel comfortable taking over. Because of this new path I was on, I decided to start coaching this group because they were going through the same life-changing issues. This . . . became my calling, to coach others to find what I found, that “inner peace” – which just means the knowledge and true acceptance that everything “happens when it happens”. And I continue to learn, every day, to be okay with that. It is incredibly freeing to learn to let things be as they are, without judgment.
No one wishes for a life changing diagnosis, but because of it, I have found what I truly want to do, what I truly love to do. I am grateful everyday.”
"My journey with Jill as a meditation guide began when I followed a friend’s recommendation to join a small, intimate group of women. From the start, I felt welcomed into a caring community—women who truly support one another, and Jill, a warm and compassionate soul who immediately made me feel included.
As I navigate my own journey with cancer, the support I receive from this group has been incredibly meaningful. I never imagined I would open my heart so fully—to both express and receive love in this way.
Alongside the group, I also worked with Jill one-on-one through her personalized meditation course. We focused on the specific cancers in my body—not to fight them, but to acknowledge and watch them with love and presence as I gently released them.
Each week, Jill created and recorded a guided meditation just for me, crafted with such compassion and insight into my healing journey. This process allowed me to approach my healing with compassion instead of fear, and it became a deeply transformative part of my journey. The meditations brought a sense of peace, clarity, and even beauty to a path that could have felt only dark and uncertain.
Jill’s guided meditations and visualizations are truly works of art. She skillfully weaves together her clear, soothing voice, music, breath, and vivid imagery to create a deeply moving experience. These meditations help me connect with my body and heart, leading me inward to a place of calm, presence, and renewed energy.
Each one is a beautiful journey. Jill guides with such creativity and care—I highly recommend experiencing these special gifts from her heart."
"From the start, I felt welcomed into a caring community—women who truly support one another"
- Naviella L.
Happy Clients Share Their Stories Of Change
These amazing stories are where you’ll hear directly from clients who have worked with me. These are their real stories of transformation, healing, and growth. These reflections come from them as they once felt overwhelmed by anxiety, fear, or life transitions and found clarity, calm, and strength through our work together. Their experiences offer a glimpse into what’s possible when you take that first step toward change.
Enjoying these stories? I’d love to hear yours! Email your story along with a photo to [email protected], and I’ll review it for possible sharing on this page.
“COVID is what initially brought me to meditation with a group. I already knew how to meditate and I felt I needed some support with isolation caused by covid. What started as a thread in my day gradually became a closer bond of women showing up for each other to see how we each were doing. This got me out of focusing so much on myself and more plugged in with others.
Morning meditation became part of my day.
The bond that had begun to grow now strengthened as I went through a divorce after 15 years of marriage. The example of others, their wins, and losses helped me trust I was and would be ok.
Within the 3 years I have deepened my relationship with others and myself. I underwent diagnosis and treatment for cirrhosis of my liver. The breathing I had learned came in handy as I underwent medical procedures and pain management. I also felt tethered to my women as I knew they were cheering me on and of course praying for me.
Why would I spend money on guided meditation? I spend a nominal fee on meditation because it anchors me, and calms and rejuvenates me. For me meditation now has become an integral part of my life.”
“Why would I spend money on guided meditation? I spend a nominal fee on meditation because it anchors me, and calms and rejuvenates me. For me meditation now has become an integral part of my life.”
- Gerry R.
“My introduction to meditation began after being diagnosed with Stage IV Ovarian Cancer in January 2021. It was overwhelming to hear that diagnosis, and all the treatments and recommendations of things I should do to help me in my healing and this journey all seemed too much. But the one thing that I consistently heard from all my doctors was that I should start meditation to help me through this and how beneficial it would be for me. Never having done meditation before, I was very hesitant. I was given websites and recommended videos to watch to learn this, but it was so hard for me to do it and keep up with it on my own. I finally reach out to Jill to help me begin with meditation. She helped me through guided meditation that targeted exactly what I needed when I needed it.
Meditation has now become such an important part of my life as I continue my journey and fight with cancer. It has given me peace with my situation and helps calm me down when I am feeling stressed and hopeless. But it’s helped in so many other ways; it’s hard to name them all. I use meditation to help me fall asleep; I have a cough and it’s hard to breath at times because of the cancer spreading to my lung – meditating helps slow my breathing so it’s easier to breath and actually stops my coughing; I still work and taking a break to meditate during the workday helps so much with the daily stress of work and deadlines.
Meditation has become such an important part of my life that is so needed for my well-being. Thank you for introducing me to this and helping me in so many ways."
“Meditation has now become such an important part of my life as I continue my journey and fight with cancer. It has given me peace with my situation and helps calm me down when I am feeling stressed and hopeless.”
- Peg S.
“Although I had meditated on and off before, I never regularly practiced it, and never in a group. A friend of mine had been attending meditation for a while and kept encouraging me to “just give it a chance.” I am not a people person by nature, so was quite hesitant. However, I gave it a chance. Due to some medical issues, I wasn’t sure I could do it. After about a week, my hesitancy was greatly reduced and a new morning routine began to establish itself.
Morning meditation gave me a reason to push myself to get out of bed in the mornings. The meditation allowed me to focus on what was right before me instead of fretting about what was in store for the day. Meditation focused my mind on breathing, clearing my cluttered mind, and getting ready to begin my day without endless mind chatter getting in the way of what I needed to accomplish.
Meditating with a group gradually allowed me to feel part of something bigger. I felt supported and welcomed. I was raised in a culture that declared women selfish when they did things just for themselves. As part of the group, I was freed from that burden. I could fully experience the gifts of meditation because I wasn’t there just for myself; I was also there to support others.
Morning meditation became a healthy start to my days. In addition to calming my active monkey mind, being part of a regular meditation group has enlarged my capacity for compassion, acceptance, and mutual support. My relationships outside the group have benefitted as well. I’ve taken the kind and calming influence of the group from meditation into my days and live a kinder, calmer life.”
“Meditating with a group gradually allowed me to feel a part of something bigger.”
- Tam B.
“It was coming at me from all sides: Troubled family relationships, my husband severely ill, financial issues; and the general difficulties of raising a teenager. At the end of one particularly difficult day, the accumulation of stress tipped me over the edge. That night the symptoms began: hives, constant itching, a full scale systemic histamine reaction.
Allergy tests were all negative. The doctor prescribed Allegra for 3 months, then 6… When I stopped the Allegra, the itching came back. After 9 months I made the decision NOT to have to take antihistamines for the rest of my life!
I had what’s called histamine intolerance. This condition is understood to be the result of gut issues that cause sensitivity to specific foods; but stress is considered to be a key aggravator. In addition to the food issues, I had to address the stress.
This is when I began meditating regularly with Jill. After just two weeks of an elimination diet and some suggested supplements, AND my bi-weekly meditation sessions, my symptoms began to abate.
Frankly, I was shocked that it happened so quickly. It’s not supposed to. But I continue to meditate regularly and am now (mostly) eating whatever I want, with no problems.
What’s even more wonderful is that meditation had affected all aspects of my life in positive ways. I am so much better at dealing with stressful situations in general.
I now consider meditation as a permanent component of my self-care.“
“I am so much better at dealing with stressful situations in general. I now consider meditation as a permanent component of my self-care.“
- Nancy D.
“I got my breast cancer diagnosis. At first, I was in shock and denial. Then reality hit. It would have been so easy for me to give up or give in, to throw in the towel, to let it rule my life and how I thought. It would have been easy to feel sorry for myself, to isolate myself, to let cancer steal my passion, steal my personality, steal my joy, steal my life. My cancer wanted me to lie in bed all day, to not participate, to let life pass me by. So many times in my life, I learned that nothing stays the same but when I got my diagnosis – I knew I had to go with it, not fight it, not give in, in order to be okay. I had to accept it; I had to accept help; and getting the help I needed was what put me on the journey of discovery. When I started treatment, I found that meditation gave me a new meaning. Gently using my breath, I found myself relaxing – all in a safe and supported frame of mind. It helped me realize that I could forge a much deeper connection between my mind and body through regular meditation practice. I never felt lonely, but I did feel alone. I knew there were so many others going through the same things I was.
Through my cancer center, I found a support group that met online that turned out to be invaluable to me. Initially, I thought there was no way that online meditation would be as effective as my private meditation. I couldn’t believe how wrong I was. We talked about what we were going through and got ideas from one another. Then we meditated together. My practice became a richer experience. I felt a deeper connection and meaning. It encouraged me to come together with others to practice meditation, talk together about my ideas and my experiences, my challenges and victories – big and small – and share how mindfulness impacted my daily life. Also, meditating with a support group helped me to develop a habit. The group gave me feedback. I found spiritual support in numbers. I learned from others.
The woman who started the group could no longer run it. She asked if I would feel comfortable taking over. Because of this new path I was on, I decided to start coaching this group because they were going through the same life-changing issues. This . . . became my calling, to coach others to find what I found, that “inner peace” – which just means the knowledge and true acceptance that everything “happens when it happens”. And I continue to learn, every day, to be okay with that. It is incredibly freeing to learn to let things be as they are, without judgment.
No one wishes for a life changing diagnosis, but because of it, I have found what I truly want to do, what I truly love to do. I am grateful everyday.”
“I found a support group that met online that turned out to be invaluable to me. Initially, I thought there was no way that online meditation would be as effective as my private meditation practice. I couldn’t believe how wrong I was.”
- Jill D.
"My journey with Jill as a meditation guide began when I followed a friend’s recommendation to join a small, intimate group of women. From the start, I felt welcomed into a caring community—women who truly support one another, and Jill, a warm and compassionate soul who immediately made me feel included.
As I navigate my own journey with cancer, the support I receive from this group has been incredibly meaningful. I never imagined I would open my heart so fully—to both express and receive love in this way.
Alongside the group, I also worked with Jill one-on-one through her personalized meditation course. We focused on the specific cancers in my body—not to fight them, but to acknowledge and watch them with love and presence as I gently released them.
Each week, Jill created and recorded a guided meditation just for me, crafted with such compassion and insight into my healing journey. This process allowed me to approach my healing with compassion instead of fear, and it became a deeply transformative part of my journey. The meditations brought a sense of peace, clarity, and even beauty to a path that could have felt only dark and uncertain.
Jill’s guided meditations and visualizations are truly works of art. She skillfully weaves together her clear, soothing voice, music, breath, and vivid imagery to create a deeply moving experience. These meditations help me connect with my body and heart, leading me inward to a place of calm, presence, and renewed energy.
Each one is a beautiful journey. Jill guides with such creativity and care—I highly recommend experiencing these special gifts from her heart."
"From the start, I felt welcomed into a caring community—women who truly support one another"
- Naviella L.
Living Your Life Without Stress
Disclaimer
I understand that by using this website, I will be receiving coaching services from Meditation To Live Well LLC, which are not intended to substitute for professional mental health care or medical care, and are not intended to diagnose, treat, or cure any mental health or medical conditions. I also understand that Meditation To Live Well LLC is not acting as a mental health counselor or a medical professional.
Right Vs Left Brain
Our left and right brain offer us two different dimensions of thinking and perceiving. The left side is rational and analytical, but also unreliable and dependent on our natural and controlled filters. The right side is abstract, conceptual and perhaps even more truthful, but its insights are harder to grasp intellectually.
The United States values the rationality and practicality of left brain thinking and puts more importance on it in our educational system. Concentrated thought and planning is considered to be needed for progress and success. Contrary to our right brain, its emphasis is on intuition, creativity, and spirituality. It takes in the emotional importance of the effect of our actions on others and their consequences for the world that surrounds us.
The left brain likes to categorize; the right, is more about holistic awareness, looking at the whole picture, looking at relationships, looking at how things fit together. It's okay that things are vague. Unlike the right, the left likes certainty. It's about living things rather than abstract. The left brain manages what is repetitive, familiar, and mundane.
A left brain meditation would be a disembodied experience, a very detached experience; in contrast, a right brain meditation would be more about really feeling the body and being present in the world. A left brain meditation may be about concentrating and focusing; the right approach would be about having very open awareness, accepting everything as it is within your awareness, not analyzing, and not judging. The left brain is also about manipulation, grasping, and changing things. The right brain is about accepting things as they are.
An example of a left brain meditation could be where you're counting the breath - a mental
process. In this meditation, you are using a mental process as a way of concentrating and
focusing.
In contrast, right brain meditation is about feeling the breath in the body, fully embodying the experience, and noticing it within the space around you. Practicing that the breath isn't just something that happens to the body. The idea is an open awareness rather than concentration, embodied feeling rather than abstract, accepting things as they are rather than trying to change them.
A left brain meditation is positive thinking like, "I'm going to change my thoughts." "I'm going to make myself think positively." Whereas a right brain meditation would be, "I'm just going to allow my thoughts to be as they are." "I am aware of my environment in this moment."
My meditations invite you into this right brain way of being: open, gentle, and accepting. Together, we create space to notice whatever arises, without judgment or analysis. You simply rest in awareness, feeling the breath move through your body, embodying the experience of each inhale and exhale, and sensing how it unfolds in the moment, exactly as it is.
Listen to my Micro Meditation For Anxiety Podcast*, The Right Brain.
*Airs 6:00PM 9/28/25.
