Why Is It So Hard To Meditate | Some Of The Common Reasons

September 23, 2021 Jason Cain

Why is it so hard to meditate? What is the best way to meditate easily?

“With every breath, the old moment is lost; a new moment arrives. We exhale and we let go of the old moment. It is lost to us. In doing so, we let go of the person we used to be. We inhale and breathe in the moment that is becoming. In doing so, we welcome the person we are becoming. We repeat the process. This is meditation. This is renewal. This is life.”– Lama Surya Das

“Meditate? Who, me?”

This is a common reaction by many who feel that meditation is the most difficult thing to do, and we are so used to our continuous mental activity. Even when relaxing the idea of sitting with our eyes closed for even 10 minutes and doing nothing sounds absurd.

So let us look at some of the most common reasons why people find meditation difficult, and I will offer some simple solutions to these apparently difficult situations.

#1: You say – I work for 10 hours in a high-pressure job, barring the time lost in traffic. It is difficult to find the time to meditate!

ok – If you don’t have time, this is exactly why you should meditate. Confused?

Meditation adds time to our day, that’s right meditation will give you more time. By meditating for 15-20 minutes daily can improve your concentration and productivity. Your work will get done faster and more efficiently, and you will be left with more time which you can use to relax and recharge yourself after a long day at work.

Remember: If you find 10 minutes to meditate in the day, you will be able to find time for everything else. You definitely need to try for yourself to really see how difficult life really is when you don’t meditate!

#2: You say – Sitting still in one place with eyes closed for 10 minutes? Are you kidding me?

It’s really not that difficult when it comes to actually sitting and meditating. At the end of those 10 minutes, you may not even realize that you had been sitting for that long!

Moreover, there’s nothing more refreshing than a short meditation session. In fact, it might make you feel as though you have just woken up from an eight-hour-long deep restful sleep.

#3: You say – If I sit and meditate, I’ll be looked at as somebody from another planet! My friends would ask, “What’s wrong with you?”

This is a general misconception among some people. Meditation is no longer an alien concept. Lots of people want to learn this technique and experience its benefits.

Moreover, it works for everyone – kids, youth and the old – at different levels. As a student, you may witness increased concentration and improved exam results. You are also better able to handle your relationships with your partner and peers.

#4: You say –My family thinks that if I meditate I will become a recluse. I don’t want to upset them.

You need to be skillful in dealing with this, and again, meditation can help you acquire the skill to become more sensitive, intuitive and well equipped to connect with your family better.

It might be initially challenging to make them understand your viewpoint but as you keep meditating, they will start observing positive changes in you – your personality and speech become pleasant, and communication skills get better.

Slowly, they will start getting comfortable with the idea, and you may even find that other family members will want to meditate with you as they see the positive changes within you.

#5: You say – Once I close my eyes, what am I supposed to do next? What will happen in meditation?

Such a feeling is natural because we are always so caught up in action and letting go completely seems impossible.

But take it easy! All you need to do in meditation is simply relax. To start with, you can take guidance from an experienced teacher. Or you can practice it at home by listening to a guided meditation and you will see how easy it is to slip into a state of not-doing!

#6: You say – It’s always too noisy at home. I have children and it is difficult to find some quiet moments when I can sit and meditate.

Have you noticed when you are tired or sleepy, how you can doze off simply anywhere -on a moving bus or train, or in the middle of a movie at the cinema? This happens because we don’t have a choice and the mind automatically switches off even amidst so much noise.

In meditation, you will over time develop the ability to switch off if you choose. But to begin with settle the kids with a nice snack, and their favorite movie, then settle yourself in a quiet room with head phones and play a guided meditation audio.

#7: You say – When society is facing numerous challenges– poverty, conflict, unemployment, and corruption - at this time you expect me to sit and meditate when so much needs to be done?

This is exactly the time when meditation can help. It gives you the strength within to be able to serve, to help bring about a resolution to conflicts.

When you meditate, your calm manner starts affecting the people around you. When you are calm, rather than being agitated, you start positively influencing the environment.

Over time, regular meditation will help change a lot of things – you might notice good things happening around you because you meditate!

“The two facets of mindfulness—awareness and acceptance—help enhance executive control,” Rimma Teper, Zindel V. Segal, and Michael Inzlicht of the University of Toronto write "Inside the Mindful Mind".“This, in turn, helps to promote effective emotion regulation.”

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Ancient Wisdom / Modern Mind: by Jason Cain