Deepak Chopra on ‘Trump-induced anxiety,’ Oprah for president and his 86th book
Deepak Chopra set out on a spiritual journey around 35 years ago in an attempt to give up smoking. Now he leads more than 6 million people in a guided meditation practice and has recently published his 86th book and 25th New York Times bestseller, “You Are the Universe.”
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Chopra spoke with Yahoo Global News Anchor Katie Couric about the book, meditation, how he handles critics and President Trump.
Throughout Chopra’s career, he’s been criticized for encouraging so-called pseudoscience, but he doesn’t let it get to him.
“I think, sometimes, your harshest critics can be your best friends in a sense,” Chopra said. “If you don’t take them personally, they’re giving you feedback.”
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To ensure that the science in the book was accurate, he wrote his latest book with leading physicist Menas Kafatos and even had Stephen Hawking read the book before it was published.
For a relatively stress-free man, Chopra has found himself concerned about President Trump and the current administration — and he’s not alone.
“You have to just look at what’s happening on social media, and you will see that it’s a real thing right now that a lot of people are actually going to therapists for Trump-induced anxiety,” Chopra said.
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While Chopra said he wouldn’t make an “armchair diagnosis,” he does believe Trump lacks “emotional intelligence, empathy and perspective.”
He says the first step toward a solution is for all to come together with a shared vision and listen to one another.
“We need to be complementing everyone’s strengths, because there are a lot of extremely talented people in this country,” Chopra said. “In fact, we have more talent that any other country.”
The physician and Oprah have recently launched their eighth 21-day meditation experience. Chopra decided to team up with his longtime friend for this project because of how effective she is at connecting with people. He even thinks she’d make a great president.
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“I think we need some elements of the divine feminine right now in our world, which, for lack of a better word, looks insane,” Chopra said.
Chopra guided Couric through an on-the-go meditation that anyone can use throughout the day for a little moment of peace. In it, he poses the question: What am I grateful for?
