- “I fall asleep”
- “I can’t stay still”
- “I cannot focus”
- “I have no time”
- “I can’t sit up and meditate”
- “It is impossible not to have any thoughts”
These are all common comments that people have made about meditation.
Let’s attempt to tackle each of these “reasons”:
“I fall asleep”
Meditation, when practiced regularly, has the effect of slowing down the mind and calming the nervous system. It reduces the “flight, fright or fight” reactions and allows us to come back to our centre and respond to situations in constructive ways.
So, if it is your first time meditating, and you doze off, that is not altogether a bad thing. At least it means you have relaxed! Like anything else, meditation is a practice and as the saying goes: “Practice makes perfect”! You have to keep going in order to reap the benefits.
“I can’t stay still”
Feeling fidgety is yet another refrain that is often used. In the hectic busy-ness of everyday life, your nervous system might be programmed in a way that you are unable to relax. Over time however, this constant tension could result in chronic stress, anxiety and even affect your immune system. Being unable to sit still for prolonged periods of time might be a sign that your nervous system needs calming. The Max Meditation SystemTM is one which is designed to specifically relax the body, bring one back to stillness, to set you up for the meditation.
“I cannot focus”
Not being able to focus is likely the product of an overactive mind. Why is your mind so stimulated? It could be that you overload your mind and body with too much information without giving it a chance to release. With a racing mind, sleep and being able to stay present with your loved ones might be affected. Once more, meditation is a practice that can bring you back to and remain in the present so that you can truly enjoy life and live it alive! This could be difficult the first few times but it gets better! I promise!
For those who might have difficulty focusing and have avoided meditation like the plague for this reason, perhaps come to it with an open mind and without expectations. Don’t overthink it! Just roll with it and see how it goes. And if you need something to focus on, focus on your breathing!
“I have no time”
As for time, well, that is entirely up to you isn’t it? While you are unable to control how much time you have, what you do with the time that you do have is entirely up to you. After all, who else but you is in charge of how you choose to spend your time?
In all honesty, a regular meditation practice actually helps you with better time management, thereby giving you the ability to accomplish more in a day. Think about it. If we reacted less and responded more constructively through a more regulated nervous system, there would be far less drama to deal with. Or, if you are able to get to know yourself better by staying in the present and connecting with yourself, all of your decisions would be made with better clarity and serve you better.
“I can’t sit up and meditate”
It’s just a little bit of practice. Lying down is where sleep happens but sitting up is when your crown can connect with something greater and receive higher energy. Then you can sleep better!
“It is impossible not to have any thoughts”
Last but not least, let’s clear up the misconception that one has to have no thoughts in order to be able to successfully meditate. For many, it is virtually impossible to have no thoughts. So scrap that!
Meditation allows us to come to a place where we can let our thoughts go. In other words, not engage with them as it comes in. By creating space between our thoughts and immediate engagement, we are able to see things more clearly and respond more calmly to life in general. With practice, this can be a normal way of life. Imagine living in a far less triggered way? Sound good?
See you soon in meditation!
–Grace Hui, Life Activation Practitioner & Ritual Master Apprentice, London, UK
Courtesy of The Modern Mystery School United Kingdom & European Union
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