Five reasons you can’t meditate?!
I have been a regular (almost daily) meditator for the past 10 years and have seen many benefits in my own life — Reduced restlessness, smoother emotions, better sleep, less prone to react and a calmer state of mind. Did I also mention that I feel happy many times for no reason?
However, when I share the benefits of breath work and meditation with friends, colleagues and acquaintances, I sometimes get boomeranged with reasons why meditation is impractical or why it is not possible to do! I will list them below and share my perspective on each:
Meditation is hard, in fact impossible!
I was once on Udub campus in Seattle and in the process of sharing with a friend on how meditation keeps me calm and focused through my projects. He interjected me and said, “Meditation? It’s impossible! I tried to have no thoughts, but it is not possible.” And he just walked away. I was left flabbergasted — At his conviction on why it is impossible to meditate! While here I was, meditating every day and benefitting from it!
One thing I want to point out here is — There is the practice of meditation and there is the state of meditation — The latter, sometimes described as a state of no thoughts is indeed hard to achieve. Yet the former — techniques to sit still and quieten the thoughts are totally doable. And the benefits come with time and persist. In fact, breathing techniques such as Sudarshan Kriya make it so much easier to calm the mind down and get to the meditative state. This is something I do every day along with millions of meditators around the world!
Where is the time for meditation?
“Meditation! I have no time for it, super busy next few months!” Well if you are super-busy the next few months, then you really need to meditate!
I hear this from many people, that no one has time to meditate in today’s busy world filled with deadlines.
How does meditation help when you are busy? I wouldn’t even say it helps — I would say, it is what keeps me sane and calm in a stress-filled deadline driven workplace. Breathing practices and meditation are known to keep the mind away from flight or fight response. A lot of stress-related situations at work are filled with triggers for fight or flight. And succumbing to triggers leads to a loss of focus, bitterness and a host of negative emotions that impact productivity and peace of mind. So research backs the necessity to breathe and meditate, especially when you are busy!
When you don’t have time to meditate — That’s exactly when you need it the most!
I am too young to meditate or need meditation
“I am too young man. Maybe when I get older!”
There is a perception that meditation is something people do when they are winding down their lives — Time to introspect and slow down, maybe? In India, there is a tradition of people going on longer pilgrimages once they are free of responsibilities post retirement.
Do we tell ourselves, “I will brush my teeth when I grow older and now is not the right time?” — Obviously not! It’s so funny. And that’s because, when you don’t brush, it shows or should I say “smells”!
Imagine, how much stress and anxiety gets accumulated in our brains when we don’t do anything to release it. Breathing and meditation are the brushes for the mind that we need to incorporate every day — To keep the mind free of worries, anxieties and stay focused in the present moment!
It’s not my priority
“My priorities are different in life at this point” — I have heard this a few times.
Meditation is so fundamental to improving the quality of life and having a calm and focused state of mind — That it underlies and affects every activity we do in life. Smart people meditate!
Imagine telling your dentist, “Flossing is not my priority right now! I have deadlines to take care off at work”
If meditation, breathing and relaxation techniques are not your priority — You have got your priorities wrong!