Intelligent & Intuitive Discipline over Controlling Discipline

Motivation gets you going, discipline keeps you growing

This week I am teaching an Integrated Meditation Course to a group of brilliant humans, and one of the things we are always discussing when building a meditation practice, or in our leadership programs is around Discipline.

Most people view discipline as painful, and therefore shy away from it. And there’s good reason for this, as it’s often presented as this gruelling, push yourself and Do The Thing at all costs type mentality. I think for example a lot of what Andrew Huberman shares is super helpful. But it can also get a little crazy, with massively lengthy lists of morning routines and an intensity that makes me shudder.

I speak with so many people that have injured themselves by not listening to their body, or are having a meltdown because they missed a few meditations, and are taking it all too harshly. We are humans, not machines, and the minute the ego convinces us otherwise we are making an appointment with disappointment.

We can instead embrace discipline as a pathway to self understanding. Our students learn as much about themselves as to HOW they approach a steady meditation discipline as to the actual seated eyes closed meditation. And I encourage them to embrace that.

Controlling Discipline is when we insist that we do things no matter what. It usually involves the Inner Critic jumping in to crush us when we don’t follow through on our commitment. Controlling Discipline is like wearing a thick heavy coat in Summer, it’s agitating, not a great fit, and suffocating.

Intelligent Discipline is where we truly acknowledge who we are in the fullness of our humanity. We don’t pretend that we are anything other than who we are in this moment. We take the intel and we use it to adapt, to build new habits from a place of deep knowing and understanding. For example, if we have the kind of personality that leaps into January with ambitions - probably unrealistic ambitions - and then by February have dropped off from our commitments, and then feel ashamed about it, there’s going to be work to be done on understanding what the mechanics got us here. What conditioning and aspects of our personality are we ignoring? Self knowledge and acceptance means that discipline can become a path of discovery, not something to beat ourselves with.

Intuitive Discipline is also feeling into how we feel each day, moment to moment. It’s about making wise, FELT decisions and commitments. This might mean waking early to hit the gym, a yoga class but discovering we feel wrecked when we wake. Intuitive Discipline is about feeling into what we need each day, throughout each day. And then starting each day fresh, and not convincing ourselves we have ‘broken it so why bother’. It’s about present moment awareness and a feeling into ourselves on a physical and mental level.

So if you can combine Intelligent Discipline - who am I really and what am I working with + Intuitive Discipline, we can really start to make some progress day by day. There are no ‘hacks’ for this, there is just slow transformation, which in today’s world is highly undervalued, and very much needed.

With love,

Jac x

“The teachings and exercises of the meditation teacher training were a joy and I did not want the course to end. Jac’s is a great storyteller and her teachings are both fun and insightful. The diversity of the meditation teaching protocols allows freedom to develop your own meditation style and to help craft the right meditation practice for your students. The admin support and online resources make the course very accessible and easy to follow along at your own pace. I feel more confident to step forward as a meditation teacher after completing The Broad Place MTT.” - Sandy Kilgour

If you’re feeling called to be of service in the world, and want to help minimise stress, tension, fatigue and increase clarity, calm and enhance consciousness for people, then this training is the right fit. We will dive deeply into how to be of help in a confusing world, how to help people regulate their nervous systems and to feel more emotionally empowered in their lives. You will learn how to lead with excellence, and guide people through a meditation experience so that they can feel more confident, clear, inspired and dynamic. Are you what the world needs right now?

This 8 Week intensive Online certification course from The Broad Place is designed to equip you with the skills to create and deliver guided meditations that focus on relaxation, clarity, and personal growth. Spanning mind, body, and soul, this program emphasizes both writing and teaching meditations in a range of settings. You will engage in practical, experiential learning to gain the confidence and expertise to lead guided meditations for diverse audiences.

Global Time Zone Friendly

So that we can fit the majority of time zones globally, each week will have two time options available – Wednesdays 6pm Sydney Time and Thursday 9am Sydney Time. This will be UK/Europe Wednesday mornings and for USA it will be Wednesday evenings and Australia, NZ and Asia Pacific students can attend either. You are more than welcome to attend both if you like also, but they will be the same structure per call.

“I recently completed the Meditation Teacher Training course for the second time with Jac from The Broad Place. I can honestly say that it was as amazing as the first time. Perhaps I was able to immerse myself a little deeper into the studies as I had also completed IM a few months prior, but I was able to go deeper into what had come up for me in those previous 12 months with teaching. More questions.

I was able to take much from Jac and my fellow students. Everyone has different questions about teaching styles, the techniques, limiting beliefs about teaching and what ‘showing up’ looks like, but it’s funny how the same questions resonate with us all.

And in her usual style, Jac was amazing, knowledgeable, hilarious and always her authentic and real self, which makes the whole learning experience so much more enjoyable. Did I mention hilarious? I laughed every live call.

If you are looking to learn from someone in relation to teaching meditation, then I can not recommend Jac and the broad place enough. You will most likely make life long connections and have an absolute blast along the way” - Daniel Whiteley

Who Is This Training For?

This training is perfect for a wide range of professionals and individuals, including therapists, school teachers, yoga and meditation instructors, HR professionals, coaches, bodyworkers, and those in the wellness industry and anyone wanting to be of service in the world. Whether you’re looking to integrate meditation into your existing practice or begin a new journey as a meditation guide, this course provides the clarity, creativity, and skills you need.

It’s also ideal for anyone who thrives in a supportive community, where live, dynamic teachings are paired with a small amount of at-home study and quality peer interaction. Jacqui will be there to guide you throughout the whole process with her compassionate, creative, and down-to-earth style. You will absolutely feel supported within this process – it’s The Broad Place specialty!

“I have been practicing meditation for three years. It is an integral part of my life. As a yoga instructor, I was ready to take not only my practice, but the practice of my students, to a new level. I wanted to learn to teach meditation. I begin searching for meditation teacher trainings. I had been following The Broad Place for sometime on Instagram. One day I saw that Jac was offering a meditation teacher training, and I knew I had to join! What an amazing journey it was! To know Jac is to love her. I discovered Jac on a podcast interview with Lacey Phillips, and I absolutely loved her incredible personality. Perhaps what drew me to her more than anything was how much I relate to her. She is compassionate, quirky, a little ADHD (like me!) and a lifelong learner. I’ve learned that those with an endless curiosity are the best teachers. Jac is also so down to earth and I absolutely loved learning from her. I feel ready to begin teaching meditation straight out of the program. The program was extensive and the interaction with the group made it feel incredibly accessible and had a family-feel to it. I felt supported and guided the entire way. If you are looking for a meditation teacher training that will open your mind and your heart, that will lead to amazing friendships as a bonus, this is the group for you! I can’t recommend it enough!” - Melissa Whalen

This training focuses on the Body, Mind, and Soul, providing a holistic framework to teach meditation confidently across different demographics.

The Three Pillars include:

• Body: Somatic practices, physical relaxation, and nervous system regulation

• Mind: Emotional intelligence, mindfulness, and mental clarity

• Soul: Spiritual growth, purpose, and higher consciousness