Our meditation brings emotional stability, physical stamina, and sharper thinking – we know this, so why do we struggle so much to bring ourselves to that quiet place? There are a few reasons for this and they are valid. So let go of being hard on yourself for all those missed chances to calm your mind and check out these hurdles that might be preventing you from being truly present to yourself and how to get through it to better your meditative practice.
- Meditation brings you in touch with reality.
- While intellectually being in touch with reality sounds like a positive aspect but in truth, this can be immensely painful. We see the news, we connect to losses, we recognize the starvation and pain that encompasses the globe -and mostly, we touch upon our powerlessness in light of suffering.
- How to heal this: allow yourself to cry. Sessions can bring deep feelings to the surface and allowing yourself to cry is accepting reality for what it is -in part. If you can sit long enough, you will touch upon the light and bring yourself into a loving space for all the wonderment in the world.
- Meditation takes time.
- You may be familiar with the adage of “If you don’t have time to meditate for 5 minutes, then meditate for an hour.” Meditation is creating a space of self-care. This means getting honest with yourself about how your time is being spent and where you are on your own priority list.
- Schedule time and RESPECT yourself. How often do we place a reminder in our calendars to self-care and then skip over it because other demands seem more important and pressing? Make a decision and keep that commitment.
- Meditation requires stillness.
- Yes, there are walking meditations and it is wonderful to have mindful activities, but really quieting the body, requires stillness to the best of your ability.
- This is a great opportunity for you to get in touch with your energetic inner child and pay attention to them and find out why they are so fidgety. Within a few moments, you’ll have insightful answers and creative solutions.
- Meditation needs vigilance.
- The mind wanders. In a society that rewards fast thinking and acting, it makes sense that as a thought occurs, our bodies respond and unthinkingly we spring up from our seated position, ready to take action.
- Here breathing techniques can be helpful. By placing our attention on the breath, on the sensation of breathing, we can bring focus and concentration to the moment at hand.
- Meditation defies perfection.
- Condemning ourselves for any number of reasons means that our perfectionist attitudes are in control. When we give ourselves up from self-centered ideas of who or how we ought to be, we can reach our goals.
- Be-you-tiful.
- Meditation must be consistent.
- We do so much each and every day. Adding on a task like meditation can feel overwhelming and a burden to do daily. However, meditation is not a treat that we give ourselves, it is an essential way of living to survive and thrive.
- Make certain that meditation is a part of your daily life. Teach your friends, family, colleagues to respect your meditation time. Even better, have them join you!
