The Secret of Top Performers

“People think of meditation as a huge undertaking.
Don’t think of it like that.”

— Deepak Chopra

At Conscious Motivation, we believe that practicing mindfulness and meditation are critically important for achieving our dreams. 

We have written about seven ways meditation will change your life: increased happiness, reduced anxiety and stress, improved communication, sharpened focus, maximized productivity, better sleep, and heightened intuition.

But, despite the numerous benefits of meditation, many people still fail to give it a genuine try. In my experience, the root cause of this failure to try meditation is fear of the unknown; these individuals are not comfortable with what they will find when they attempt to still their minds.  

But what if I told you that many of the most famous movie stars, artists, athletes, and businesspeople—those who have achieved their dreams and are performing at the highest levels of their chosen professions—practice meditation?  These top performers practice meditation to maximize focus, enhance creativity, reduce stress and anxiety, and experience true peace and happiness in the most high-pressure environments. 

Does knowing this increase your interest in meditation? 

Today, we want you to learn how practicing meditation has transformed the lives of these top performers in their own words.  

28 Top Performers Who Meditate

Russell Simmons – Entrepreneur, Producer, Author

“Meditation helps young people and adults to get control of the noise...

The noise is the cause of almost all sickness and sadness. If we can calm the noise, our relationship with the world benefits tremendously…

There's nothing greater than being present. Presence is pure bliss. And if we want greater happiness, then we should take the time to look inside for that happiness.” 

Jerry Seinfeld – Producer, Actor, Comedian

"With the 'Seinfeld,' I was doing a TV series in which I was the star of the show, the executive producer of the show, the head writer, in charge of casting and editing, for 24 episodes on network television - not cable - for nine years! And I’m just a normal guy. And that was not a normal situation to be in… So I meditated every day. And that’s how I survived the nine years." 

Oprah Winfrey – Billionaire, Media Titan, Philanthropist

"Being still with ourselves and coming back to center and recognizing that something is more important than you…brings a kind of energy…an intention that we’ve never had before. You can’t imagine what’s happened in the company… It’s been fantastic…The one thing I want to do is center myself every day and make that a practice for myself. Because I’m 1,000 percent better when I do that."  

Russell Brand – Comedian, Producer, Activist

"Meditation changes consciousness! 

Breathe. Take a look inside yourself. There’s an awareness behind your fear, there’s an awareness behind your desire.” 

Alicia Keys – Music Artist, Producer, Actress

"I found my way to meditation, and I started focusing on clarity and a deeper knowing of myself. I focused on cultivating strength and conviction and put a practice in place to learn more about the real me."

Eva Mendes – Actress, & Model, Businesswoman

“I’m actually big into meditation…and that really helps create not only a sense of balance, but all the other stuff this is gonna sound cliché … serenity and kind of a calm state of mind... And not that I’m like that all the time, but it helps me deal with life’s ups and downs, coming from more of a centered place.”

Paul McCartney – Music Artist, Composer, Businessman

“In moments of madness, meditation has helped me find moments of serenity — and I would like to think that it would help provide young people a quiet haven in a not-so-quiet world.”  

Jennifer Aniston – Businesswoman, Actress, Producer

“I’d say a little over a year ago I started doing Transcendental Meditation and that’s really changed everything. 

Starting your day off with that and ending with that is pretty powerful.

Twenty minutes, you just notice the difference! When I get lazy and don’t get it in, I can feel a difference in the day. 

So I try to meditate first thing when I wake up.”

Sheryl Crow – Music Artist, Actress 

"One of the things – and this comes from someone who was highly self-critical and a type-A personality – that has changed my life is meditating. 

As we all know we are living and navigating through an immense amount of chaos in the universe. Our kids are growing up with this kind of chaos and this stress that is being handed down to them and thrust upon them. 

They are not equipped to understand how the central nervous system is braced the whole time trying to handle that and it comes out in very destructive ways with kids, whether it’s not being interested in school, getting into violence or drugs or whatever.

This is the right thing to do. It is the message that should be sent throughout the world that all of us on this planet can talk about peace but peace begins within all of us. 

It’s not about having a peaceful relationship with someone which means not getting into arguments or getting along. Peace is something deeper than that. It is tapping into something that exists in all of us and makes us unique, and that helps us to be pure. 

But we get away from that because our brains are so over-reactive and we are constantly being dictated by chaos. I feel this is the right thing to do and should be part of the school systems but also should be part of our daily life throughout.” 

Ellen DeGeneres – Comedian, Actress, Producer

"Transcendental Meditation is the only time I have that stillness.

It gives me this peaceful feeling.

All the benefits you achieve from just sitting still and just going within. It really is a beautiful experience."

Big Sean – Music Artist

“Life got me meditatin' like I'm in the Himalaya.s” 

"I really be getting my mind right before I get in the booth.

You could call it crazy, or whatever, but I could just tell you it really affects how I feel…Usually, what that does is just raise my vibration, man. I'm just ready for it. And then I go in the studio and knock the sh-t out." 

Ray Dalio – Hedge Fund Billionaire, Founder of Bridgewater Associates  

“There are different parts of our brain that have a very big influence on us...

For instance, the amygdala is the part of the brain that has the “fight or flight” response producing anxiety. The pre-frontal cortex is the part dealing with “executive functioning,” it’s the part that’s reflective. It’s the part that has the ability to say, “Do we want to do that? Do we not want to do that?” We put things in perspective… 

Those two parts of the brain fight with each other. In other words, one part constantly whispers to you, “Do that because it’s exciting! Don’t care that it may be harmful!” The other part of the brain says, “You don’t want to do that.” During meditation, the first part calms down, and the pre-frontal cortex lights up.

So that’s why meditation leads to open-mindedness. To creativity. Meditating is a process of opening up. It’s like taking a hot shower — even though you’re not thinking of something, a great idea comes through and you just grab it.”

Evan Williams – Billionaire, Co-Founder of Twitter

“[Meditation is] not a perk that makes this a nice, fluffy place to work. It makes you better and it makes the company better. We really believe in the hard science aspects of it.”  

Katy Perry – Music Artist

“It’s something that’s with you for your whole life…

You learn your mantra, it never leaves you, and it’s the deepest rest your brain gets. For people that are so creative and have this kind of creative faucet that never turns off – it just continues and continues – it can be a little exhausting.”

Kobe Bryant – Professional Basketball Player

“I think it's [meditation is] important because it sets me up for the rest of the day.

It's like having an anchor. If I don't do it, I feel like I'm constantly chasing the day, as opposed to being able to be controlled and dictate the day.

Not that you're calling the shots on what comes forward, but the fact that I am set and ready for whatever may come my way.

I have a calmness about whatever comes my way and a poise. That comes with starting the day off with a meditation.”

Cameron Diaz – Actress, Producer, Model

“Meditation is helping you to tap into something that’s already inside of you… that’s you, in essence. That’s something that was super-empowering for me once I grasped that.” 

Steve Jobs – Billionaire, Co-Founder of Apple, Philanthropist

"If you just sit and observe, you will see how restless your mind is. If you try to calm it, it only makes it worse, but over time it does calm, and when it does, there's room to hear more subtle things - that's when your intuition starts to blossom and you start to see things more clearly and be in the present more. Your mind just slows down, and you see a tremendous expanse in the moment. You see so much more than you could see before. It's a discipline; you have to practice it."

Lena Dunham – Producer, Actress

“Meditation has made it possible for me to weather certain challenges and storms and public moments that I didn’t ever imagine would be in my life. It gathers me up for the day and makes me feel organized and happy and capable of facing the challenges of the world, both internal and external.” 

Rick Rubin – Music Producer

“In meditation we experience the silence from which all creativity springs. The act of creation—whether from a blank page to a poem, an empty space to a building, a thought to a song or film—starts with a void. The more intimate a relationship we can build with that silent void, the more clearly the art can shine through and spring forth. Meditation is the vehicle to connect to that silence.” 

Miguel – Music Artist

“A lot of people don’t understand that voice in your head that is consistently going, or thinking. There is a way to take a break from that, and just kind of be in the moment. That is what that whole meditation is about. It’s just brilliant… It’s good to take a breath from everything and just center yourself. That is the best way of describing it.”

Novak Djokovic – Professional Tennis Player

“Obviously, there is a huge amount of pressure and stress and everything involved, so you need to have a place where you know you can switch off and recharge your batteries. I guess [Meditation] it’s private, in a way. But I just can say that it’s… very calm and very beautiful… where I like to spend time.” 

Marc Benioff – CEO of Salesforce, Entrepreneur, Philanthropist

"I am very interested in keeping a clear head. So I enjoy meditation, which I’ve been doing for over a decade — probably to help relieve the stress I was going through when I was working at Oracle. "

Liv Tyler – Actress

“Meditation and being close to yourself helps everything in your life… It helps [me] make better decisions and be a better mother, and just deal with the daily stress of the modern world that we live in. It helps with everything.”

Moby – DJ, Musician

“I thought… meditation involved… moving to some country and renouncing wealth and materialism… [but] it’s a simple practice that calms the mind… and the thing that won me over… was its effectiveness. Nothing else helped me quiet my mind and go to a calm, centered place. The thing that makes it effective is you don’t have to do all that much, and, as a profoundly lazy person, I appreciate that.”

Soledad O’Brien – CEO, Starfish Media, Ex-CNN Anchor

“I appreciate very much the opportunity to take the time to focus and meditate and it allows me to experience a state of deep rest and relaxation that can be game-changing; and sometimes a life saver in a crazy world… It helps alleviate stress and pressure when you’re trying to balance life and being a mother.” 

Martin Scorsese – Film Director, Producer

“A lot of drama is projected onto the screens of our consciousness and minds… And I guess the common response is to tough it out… Yet… for the last few years, I’ve been practicing meditation. It’s difficult to describe the effect it has had on my life. I can only mention maybe a few words: calm, clarity, a balance, and at times – a recognition. It’s made a difference.” 

Gisele Bündchen – Supermodel, Actress

“I practice Transcendental Meditation twice a day. Every morning and lunchtime or evening, for about 20 minutes.”

Hugh Jackman – Actor, Singer, Producer

"Meditation is all about the pursuit of nothingness. It's like the ultimate rest. It's better than the best sleep you've ever had. It's a quieting of the mind. It sharpens everything, especially your appreciation of your surroundings. It keeps life fresh… 

Some of the clearest ideas or epiphanies I’ve had in life happened during or after meditating. 

Everything becomes clear and the truth starts coming out… 

In meditation, I can let go of everything. I’m not Hugh Jackman. I’m not a dad. I’m not a husband. I’m just dipping into that powerful source that creates everything. I take a little bath in it… 

For me, the best way to [handle stress] is with meditation. That is why I meditated before I hosted the Oscars, why I meditate before I go onstage, why I meditate in the morning and during lunch when I’m on a film set."
 

Reap the Rewards of Meditation 

Now, you definitely owe it to yourself to give meditation a try if you made it to the bottom of this list.   

Like any other training, you will not see the results of your labor immediately. But, if you make a commitment to stick with 5 minutes of meditation every day for a few weeks, your return will be worth much more than the investment.   

(You can find tips on meditation for beginners at the bottom of the Change Your Mind, Change Your Life post.)