Meditation
Why is it so hard to meditate? You just sit and do nothing. It can’t be that difficult, can it? Well, if you’ve ever tried to truly sit and do nothing, you’ll find that it’s extremely difficult. In less than a second, your mind begins to chatter. It searches relentlessly for something to occupy it. It acts like a small child clambering for your attention, and when it doesn’t get what it wants, it becomes unruly and sometimes nasty. It can call you lazy for not doing something more productive with your time. It can beat you up at times and rob you of your inner peace. The mind does not like to be ignored.
A couple years ago, I made a diligent effort to practice a mindfulness meditation routine. I made it two months, not exactly achieving enlightenment status, but I learned a few things in the process. I learned how hard it is to still and quiet the mind. First off, it takes forever to get comfortable. Your body starts to fidget, an itch creeps up your back, or your neck tenses up. You notice all the things you didn’t notice before because your mind was always in the way. Once your body finally gets comfortable and somewhat relaxed, the mind will bring up that “To-Do” list that needs to get done, sometimes it will yell at you to “get moving.” If you tell your mind to settle down, it quickly brings up that TV show you’ve been wanting to watch, or that book you can never seem to finish. Whatever the excuse, the mind wants to be occupied.
One of the goals of meditation is to turn that mind off, at least for a little while. The mind is a great tool. Humanity has only scratched the surface of what the mind can achieve, but sometimes it’s good to take a break and shut it off and give yourself a break, because a mind full of clutter and chatter can become exhausting.
When I made the effort to mindfully practice meditation, I started simple. I tried to think of nothing, and each time a thought would pop into my mind, I would stop and try to refocus. Like anything else, it seemed to get a little easier with a bit of practice.
During my two-month routine, I was able to reach a certain state of relaxation at times. I think that my mind basically wore itself out from trying so hard to distract me. It got tired, took its ball, and went home to pout. When the mind finally gave up, a shift seemed to occur. I felt more centered and balanced. I gained a sense of calm and peacefulness. I felt more grounded and connected to my spiritual side. I gained insights into how my mind worked and learned to see all the distractions it created which pulled me away from that state of centered calm. Now, when that little gremlin tries to pull me away, I can stop it before it gets too out of control.
Why did I stop meditating after two months? Because it’s hard. I suppose it’s similar to exercise and eating a healthy diet. To receive the benefits, you need to get into the habit and routine. It won’t happen on its own. You need to practice regularly, but life gets in the way. Obligations and commitments always seem to pop up, but that’s how it goes. We’re on this earth for a relatively short period of time, so we have to get things done. I get that. I’d like to start the practice again, and I hope to find the time. I learned that it’s important to pause for a few minutes each day and slow down the mind. Doing so helps us stay balanced and connected to things beyond the realities of everyday life.
