From macchiatos to mindfulness

Subiaco-based author David Michie wears many hats - writer, meditation coach, Buddhist and coffee lover. But it's the latter that brought him to where he is today.

"Caffeine drove me to meditation," he says, sipping a latte.

Michie, originally from South Africa, was working in London's busy Trafalgar Square in a "wonderful but stressful" PR job.

After suffering an allergic reaction resembling ant bites, he went and saw a doctor, who dosed him up on antihistamines. Realising he didn't want to be dependent on medication in the long term, Michie went to see a naturopath.

"I was sceptical of complementary medicine," he says. "We discussed what I was doing on a daily basis, which included drinking six cups of coffee, and she said I was systemically stressed. She suggested meditation."

Michie took the naturopath's advice, cutting back on the caffeine and taking up regular meditation.

In the 20-odd years since, he's written a number of books on the topic, including Hurry Up and Meditate, Buddhism for Busy People and Enlightenment to Go. (The rash also disappeared.)

Why Mindfulness is Better than Chocolate is his latest book. It encourages readers to pay attention to the present moment, without judgment.

Michie said cutting through the noisy nature of our minds, which brings us agitation and dullness, can be difficult but, once mastered, mindfulness can reduce stress, promote sleep, enhance mental clarity and improve memory.

"You can control the thoughts you have," he says. "It's all about interpretation. Mindfulness gives us a range of options."

It comes down to changing the way you look at things, which Michie sums up in a quote by eighth-century Buddhist monk Shantideva: "Where would I find enough leather to cover the entire surface of the Earth? With leather soles beneath my feet, it's as if the whole world has been covered."

Chocolate is used in the book title and during Michie's coaching workshops to show how everyday occurrences such as eating can breed mindfulness.

"The highlight of my mindfulness seminar is often an exercise I call the 'Lindt technique' where I invite participants to mindfully enjoy a Lindt chocolate," he says. "From opening the foil wrapper, to savouring the smooth, liquid heart of the chocolate as it bursts in the mouth. For two to three minutes a blissful silence ensues."

In short, people are generally happiest when their mind is focused on the present moment, not wandering from past to future.

For those willing to take the challenge, Michie suggests trying mindfulness for 10 minutes a day. Like anything, it takes practice.

"Most of the time your mind is on something other than meditation; we tend to focus on the past and present," he says. "It's not about a belief or religion or philosophy; it's about seeing your own mind. It's fantastic for stress management but there's much more to it. When you start to meditate it's like throwing a pebble into a lake - it has a ripple effect across your whole life."

Michie's latest book uses examples in the form of Buddhist teachings and contemporary science to illustrate the ways mindfulness can fit into our everyday lives, with minimal effort required.

"One of the most exciting things about being alive today is the convergence of east and west, of ancient and modern," he says. "In this book I try and show how they're all coming to the same conclusion. Everything we experience is through our mind and it's not about a belief of religious philosophy, it's about seeing your own mind. We're trying to find happiness by rearranging external factors, but it's on the inside."

Meditation also led Michie to Buddhism and he converted to it after moving to Perth 16 years ago.

"It's life-enhancing," he says. "And it's completely secular: these practices are not about buying into religion."

Buddhism has also taught him that anyone can meditate. "What people don't believe is 10 minutes in the morning is enough to change your life profoundly."

When it comes to putting pen to paper, Buddhism has been a source of inspiration for Michie. "I'm trying to share the messages precious and meaningful to me," he says.

"As a writer you write about what you care about."

Why Mindfulness is Better than Chocolate is published by Allen & Unwin ($27)