207Common Excuses for Not Meditating
Many people know and understand the great benefits of meditation but still
resist it. Perhaps you have resisted starting, or you have tried to meditate, but
failed to lock it into a regular habit. These obstacles are quite normal. In fact,
anything worthwhile in life is going to involve struggle and challenge. By being
committed and overcoming these challenges, you will grow mentally and emo-
tionally. Let’s look at the most common excuses people give for not meditating.“I don’t have time.”
You have to take time in order to make time. Meditation practice makes you
more efficient and more effective. Mistakes and accidents are greatly reduced
when you take the time to pause and center yourself. If you do so, chances are
you will be able to maintain your sense of inner calmness when you find yourself
in an environment where you must be highly productive. This is the power of
presence. With all the time that people spend on social media or watching
television, you can definitely carve out a little time for your meditation practice.
It’s about managing your time well. Many of the most successful CEOs, film-
makers, athletes, and entertainers practice meditation. Despite demanding
schedules, they find time to meditate, even on the busiest and most stressful
days. If they can do it, you can do it.
“I don’t know where to start.”
Start simple and small. At the end of this chapter are eight powerful medita-
tions. If you can carve out just five minutes, then start there. Like everything
else, the key is consistency. As world-renowned motivational speaker and author
Tony Robbins says, “Repetition is the mother of skill.” The benefits will come
from getting on your meditation cushion every day. There are also lots of great
meditation apps you can download onto your smartphone.
“When I meditate nothing happens, and I can’t stop my
thoughts.”
Just as the salivary glands secrete saliva, the mind secretes thoughts. This is
a natural process. Instead of stopping your thoughts, allow yourself to direct
them. Many people have the misconception that when they meditate, they are
supposed to feel blissful and experience an endless state of rapture. Although
this is possible, the point in meditation is to be with whatever is naturally there.
Your meditation practice is like a mirror: It will reflect back to you whatever is
currently happening for you. If you are agitated, then it will reflect agitation. If
you are joyful, then it will reflect joy. The point is to not judge, resist, or push
away what is revealed to you. By watching and observing your natural state,
you will access a part of you that is bigger and more spacious than the thought
or feeling. From this place, you will find yourself less entangled and more free.