Dr. David Alter

If you think of the designer, how we co-evolved with nature, I'll say one thing real quickly.

There's a saying, energy, how does it, nature is never rushed, but all is accomplished.

And I think that's an original rhythm that meditation helps us to reconnect with.

I don't know that research.

So what I'll offer is my own experience and my own speculation.

I think that the question in a sense presupposes a binary reality.

Is there a difference between doing it alone or is it better to do it in a group?

What's the difference, right?

And I would say it's both.

because in order for it to help you, whether you're alone or in a group, you have to take in and experience that benefit.

But if you are individually impacted by that benefit, now how you interact with others, the rest of the day may be different.

And so you're able to bring to others and have them bring to you a different

level of reactivity, a different level of engageability, and that's a social benefit.

So if we are collaborating on a work project or in a marriage relationship or in parenting responsibilities, if we're bringing a different self to that effort, I suspect we can get things done differently and probably better.

So I think it's a both and is my naive reaction, Barry.

The idea of control is one that I really have trouble with, okay?

In part because I don't think it actually exists.

That might be true.

So I know people will come in and say, I need to find balance in my life.

It's a different way of saying I need to have control.