Linda Cohen, Special for The Republic | azcentral.com 11:35 a.m. MT March 15, 2017

A woman is in a sitting meditation on the grounds of the Insight Meditation Society (IMS) Retreat Center in Barre, Mass.(Photo: Insight Meditation Society/Associated Press)

Question:

I am very upset right now. I am 22 years old and doing well in my career. I'm a capable and intelligent woman, but I'm having a difficult time with my family.

We are a close extended family and get together often for family dinners.At one of these dinnersI told the family that I'm doing a lot of meditation with a group and love it.The family went ballistic when I said this and the reaction was over the top.They accused me of joining a cult and likened it to the Jones Massacre of many years back.It wasn't just a few in the familybut the entire group that jumped on it.

I told them I wasn't changing my religion (and the family isn't very religious), but that the benefit to me was feeling relaxed, grounded, more energetic, and increased decision-making skills.

This made no difference to my family.I get phone calls several times a week giving me lectures, and I've even declined dinner invitations because I feel bullied.I might mention that as a family we don't generally have this kind of behavior so it's of great concern to me.

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I am the baby in the family and don't know if that makes any difference, but I feel like lying about the whole thing and telling everyone that I've quit the group.

By the way, the people in the meditation group are all educated and successful people and do practice their born religions while embracing the practices of meditation.I don't know what to do but I feel a lot of condemnation from the people I love the most.

Meditation Madness

Dear Meditation Madness:I admit the family is behaving in an emotionally "over the top" manner and seems to be totally ignorant of the benefits of a meditative practice (I'm a practitioner myself).It's safe to say that billions of people globallypractice meditation, and in most of these countries there is a high "happiness quotient."This is the case in Bhutan, which is a country noted for its Gross National Happiness and where meditation is a way of life.

Have you asked the family why they are so against this practice? I can't imagine a response that would justify their extreme reaction.

You must feel so disappointed because you were trying to share something meaningful to you with people you care about.

Here's the kicker:You are an adultand don't need the approval of your family to follow what is important to you and your well-being.I suspect that your family's opinion has weighed heavily in other areas of your life. It's fine to listen to opinion, but in the end YOU have to make the decisions that benefit your life.

If the subject is raised at the next family gathering, just be assertive and let everyone know that you will follow your heart and that the subject is closed.

I might even suggest inviting them to a meditation session, or download some meditations from the Internet (there are many choices).If only one of your relatives follows suit and sees the benefit the rest might just let it lie. All you need is one ally and the whole situation will be history.

Remember, you are an adult and don't need approval from anyone but yourself.

Linda Cohen is a Scottsdale life coach and Arizona licensed professional therapist with a specialization in marriage andfamily therapy. Do you have a question about life challenges?Send it to "Ask Linda," c/o suzanne.lambert@arizonarepublic.com. Questions will be published anonymously.

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Family goes beserk over practice of meditation - AZCentral.com