Photo by Katerina May on Unsplash
Of course, we’ve all heard the benefits of meditation. They are vast, from scientifically proven, positive physical changes, emotional balance, stress reduction, creativity, self-awareness, and so much more, not to mention the possible shift in consciousness. With all these wonderful benefits, what stops us from practicing? We decide to, become inspired to, plan to, yet sitting becomes an off-and-on activity, maybe more off than on. Why does it seem so hard? Here is a list of some reasons and ideas to begin or to get on the path again.
1) Apathy: you don’t care—so you don’t care! When you’re deciding whether to sit and meditate or scroll social media, get more coffee, or watch a show, it can be hard to just sit. You blow it off.
2) Depression: even mild depression—when you are functioning ok, you’re getting work done—can make it hard to care enough about yourself to make the effort. One thing is for sure: allowing yourself this quiet time takes a certain amount of honoring yourself, seeing yourself as worthy of this self-care.
3) It’s wasting time: Especially here in the West, we are so obsessed with being busy, being action-oriented, producing results in the ‘real’ world. We tell ourselves there is too much to do.
4) We are too important; what we do is too valuable to spend time doing nothing. This is related to number 3, but to a greater, egoic extent.
5) Distractibility: we plan to, we arrange our meditation space, decide on a time to sit, then it seems that something else always catches our attention. The dog needs to go out; the phone rings; you just realized you forgot to tell someone something, etc., etc.
And there you have it. So many reasons not to meditate. Yet in the US, according to the National Health Interview Survey, the percentage of regular meditators, now around 18%, has doubled over the last twenty years. Some meditate for purely health reasons, while others meditate as a spiritual practice. Whatever the reason, it shows you care about yourself.
I’m not immune to these reasons we fail. I am human as well! But when I get back into my regular practice, the benefits are obvious.
Here are some of the ways to get back into the routine!
1) Read some inspirational material. Something that speaks to your heart and soul.
2) Find others to meditate with.
3) Take a meditation course.
4) Start for just 5 minutes; begin with a prayer.
5) Go to a retreat
6) Design and create an inviting meditation spot in your house, away from noise and traffic. Place photos of inspiring authors and teachers, religious figures, or statues on your altar.
7) Use calming essential oils or incense that you love.
Does it seem as though the world has run amok? Do you see problems everywhere? Do you worry about the state of everything? When you meditate, you dive into a realm where these problems don’t exist, beneath the material world of suffering.
You visit the realm of consciousness, your real home, your origin. It is silent, peaceful, and in this you are fortified, gain confidence, and find healing to come back into the material world and be of service, find your purpose, and see the wonders of this world right in front of you.