Tom Cronin is a coach, meditation teacher, author, speaker, and producer. He is a co-creator of The Portal, a unique film-book experience, and part of his commitment to helping people reduce stress and anxiety. Tom is also the Founder of the Stillness Project and has created a number of digital products to help teach people how to achieve stillness and calm.
Where did you grow up and what was your childhood like? Did you have any particular experiences/stories that shaped your adult life?
I grew up the middle son of 5 children on a country farm about 100km outside of Sydney. It was a beautiful simple childhood that was about building cubby houses, catching tadpoles and watching them grow into frogs, and playing cricket in our neighbour’s backyard. We went to church every Sunday without fail and I think there were the early seeds of my spiritual journey
What is something you wish you would’ve realized earlier in your life?
Meditation ☺
What are bad recommendations you hear in your profession or area of expertise?
You shouldn’t have thoughts in meditation or thoughts in meditation that mean you’re not meditating well. This is why a lot of people don’t meditate and it’s not good advice or teachings.
Tell me about one of the darker periods you’ve experienced in life. How you came out of it and what you learned from it?
Around the age of 29, I had extreme anxiety, depressions, panic attacks, insomnia, and addictions. I was quite a wreck. It was in the darkest hour that I came across meditation and it changed my life.
What is one thing that you do that you feel has been the biggest contributor to your success so far?
Meditate daily.
What is your morning routine?
I like to wake up around 5-6 am and ideally I will go for a run, a stretch, or the gym and do some exercise as I usually have heaps of energy when I wake up. Then I meditate and journal in my Success Planner that I designed.
What habit or behavior that you have pursued for a few years has most improved your life?
Each week I meditate, go to the gym, go to yoga class, sweat in a sauna, and read books. All of these have changed my life
What are your strategies for being productive and using your time most efficiently?
My Success Planner that I created helps me map out my day and get clear on the best use of my time.
What book(s) have influenced your life the most? Why?
Emmanuel’s Book by Pat Rodegast because it is so simple and yet so powerful in its message. It was like a light bulb moment on every page and then The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle because it was like the words that were making sense of my meditation experiences and brought it all together.
Do you have any quotes you live by or think of often?
Yogastah Kuru Karmani which is Sanskrit for ‘established in being, perform action’ meaning move in the flow if the stillness of being not in your reactive emotions.
