Five reasons you won’t meditate (but should!)
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 it keeps me happy and productive at work?
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, almost impossible. 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!
Watch this Yale Research Study Video on how SKY breathing technique stands out as compared to other meditation techniques on 6 different indicators of well being.
2. 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.
Once, our father of the nation, Mahatma Gandhi was heard saying:
Normally I meditate one hour a day. But today is a very busy day, so I am going to meditate for 2 hours.
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!
With breath work and meditation, its easy to remove the fogginess from the mind, have an inner calm and be productive at work!
When you don’t have time to meditate — That’s exactly when you need it the most!
3. 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, after having had career success in life — 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? Or, I have been brushing my teeth for 30 years, I will take a vacation from brushing for a week?” — Obviously not! It’s so funny. And that’s because, when you don’t brush, it shows or should I say “smells”!
We don’t even think about dental hygiene — We just brush our teeth and it feels fresh. We don’t even think about body hygiene — We just shower. However, we think a million times about doing something about mental hygiene. Isn’t that strange? I would even say that is not a smart thing to do. Perhaps, we haven’t found a good “tooth brush” for mental hygiene yet.
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 and productive in the present moment!
4. Actually, I have other ways to de-stress. So thank you, but I am good!
There is no one way to de-stress or inculcate positive states of mind within. There is no one way to physical fitness either. However, if you want to become physically fit, it is now well understood that cardio workouts are indispensable. While you can walk for 2 hours and burn calories. You can get the same amount burnt with a good 20 minute cardio workout as well.
Similarly, while you can have your favorite way to de-stress — Listen to music, dance, go for a walk or hike up a mountain and all these are amazing in itself — It is becoming clearer today with research studies that breath work and meditation get you to a clear state of mind quicker than any other practice.
You got less time? Then pick up a breathing technique or meditation as it gets you to mental fitness much faster — Just like a cardio workout for the body.
5. 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! Some of the most accomplished CEOs, sports teams (e.g. SeaHawks), Scientists and Doctors, to mention a few, meditate.
Imagine telling your dentist, “Flossing is not my priority right now! Taking care of my dental cavities is not my priority. 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 in today’s fast-paced, deadline driven world!
Take a step to learn breath work and meditation. As a scientist, breath work instructor and working professional, I see it has changed my life for the better, made it a celebration, put the smile back on my face, and so can it for you!