This week we’re chatting with Jennifer Potter, founder and CEO of Frankly. 

Hi, Jennifer! If you could recommend One Good Thing everyone can do to improve their mental health, what would it be?

Learn to meditate without the need for apps or guidance.

Interesting… why?

Meditation is something I can do anywhere and any time of day, and once you’ve learned how to do it, it costs nothing (other than 20 minutes of your time).

It is by far in my opinion, the single best tool for managing stress, navigating complexity and staying true to your own needs in a world trying to convince you otherwise.

How does your One Good Thing work?

Meditation works on a conscious and unconscious level. It acts like a simple spring clean for the thoughts and feelings inside my head and heart, dropping me through the practice into what is referred to as the superconscious (which sits below our subconscious). This is where the deeper stuff lives.

If I’m honest, most of my meditations feel like I’m sitting down to have a nanna nap (which I’m also now a big fan of). They’re calming. If I’ve set an intention to meditate, my nervous system (which is typically running at least a dozen open tabs in my head about the multiple projects I’m navigating), tends to settle down. As I settle down into myself (rather than being pulled by the outside world), I start to feel more grounded and I’m able to know what truly matters. The small stuff falls away. I’m reconnected to what really matters in my life. It acts like a mini regroup for my brain, heart and body.

What are the benefits of meditation without any apps or tools?

The biggest benefit for me is that my stress levels are reduced and any stress that remains is manageable. I’m clearer about what matters and what decisions I need to make (which is essential when running your own business). I’m calmer. And I’m also more courageous because on some level I feel unhooked from the conditioning of the outside world and more connected to what matters most to me.

It’s also a benefit that I can do anywhere, anytime and it doesn’t cost me a penny. So, the return on investment for the one-day workshop I used to learn this practice has paid back several times over and will continue to do so for as long I’m alive and make time to meditate. It’s also made me a better leader and business owner. I’m more compassionate, more empathetic, braver in my relationships, clear and considered and less willing to be triggered.

Are there any potential pitfalls?

The only pitfall is not making time to do it. Some days when I’m super busy, I only meditate for five minutes, but most often I meditate for 20 minutes a day. If I miss a few days, it’s OK. And when I’m really stressed, I meditate twice a day and sometimes for longer.

How do you personally do your One Good Thing?

For me, I like to hit pause in my day or start my day with a meditation. I like to sit, although I know some people like to lie down (but I tend to fall asleep lying down). I set my timer for twenty minutes and relax into my breathing. I then say the mantra I was taught in my head a few times and remember to practise letting go mentally. Sometimes I feel like I’m even more busy in my mind in the twenty minutes and other times I get a lovely spacious calm feeling. I often say it can feel like I’m in an elevator smoothly descending to a basement and when the doors open there is space and calm and I breathe better. No two meditations are the same.

And how has doing this changed your life?

I tried for many years to meditate and struggled to ‘get it’ until I came across Jo Royle’s Effortless practice nearly 10 years ago. I wanted to have it in my toolkit as I was navigating a tricky time. I was about to face my abuser from 20 years ago in court. It was by far the most stressful thing I have had to get through in my life. Meditation kept me from spinning out. I’d even go so far as to say it kept me calm.

From then on, I’ve been a huge fan. It stops me from overthinking and ruminating over problems and challenges. It helps me to be creative in tackling challenges in my business and I’m pretty sure it makes me a calmer, kinder and more balanced person to be around in my relationships.

Frame Of Mind is Stylist’s home for all things mental health and the mind. From expert advice on the small changes you can make to improve your wellbeing to first-person essays and features on topics ranging from autism to antidepressants, we’ll be exploring mental health in all its forms. You can check out the series home page to get started.

Images: Getty