If you are just getting started on your journey of meditation and meditative practices, the chances are you have already had to leap a few hurdles, and have most probably fallen at a couple as well. Anyone who is willing to take meditation seriously and is hoping to feel the most positive effects of it has to come to terms with the undeniable fact that it isn’t necessarily easy. Of course, there are those lucky souls for whom meditation comes very naturally and who have been able to empty their minds and slip into a meditative state whenever they wanted for as long as they can remember – but these people are few and far between. Those new to meditation will find that it requires practice, exercises, patience and dedication. However, like all the best things in life, working for the bliss of meditation makes it all the more rewarding, and any regular practitioner of the meditative arts will happily confirm to you that it is completely worth the wait. That doesn’t mean to say that it isn’t frustrating or disheartening when you can’t get yourself to completely switch off and drift into a meditative state. In order to avoid problems when meditating, it is worth considering just why they happen.
Calming the busy mind
Firstly, remind yourself that you can meditate. Nobody on earth is completely incapable of doing so, and it is something which our minds and bodies actually want to do – we spend almost all day every day exhausting ourselves, and ignoring the fact that we crave some peace and detachment from our hectic lives. However, it is exactly these hectic lives and the busy spaces we inhabit, the stressful things which we have to do which cause the biggest problems whenever we wish to meditate. The fact that we spend almost all of every day juggling various thoughts, opinions, choices and tasks in our minds means that it is often very difficult indeed to really let go of such things, and we have become so accustomed to living in a state of high stress that our minds find it very difficult to release all this extra pressure and allow us to relax. Such things also cause a deep sense of attachment to the material world, something which really must be overcome should you want to achieve deep meditative relaxation and adopt a state of positive thinking.
Avoid distraction
One of the main reasons why we fail to meditate is due to the distractions which surround. Some of these distractions are obvious and easy to avoid – turning off your telephone and intercom greatly help – but other distractions are more subtle. Electronic frequencies in the air, difficult thoughts or worries, all these things can halt meditative practices and cause a lot of frustration. If you are struggling with these things, many experts would recommend investing in a decent pair of headphones and making use of meditative music. This music will wash over your body and mind, coax vivid visualizations from your unconscious and really help overcome any distractions. Just remember – you can meditate – maybe all you need to do is experiment a little more, alter some of your methods, and don’t give in to frustration!
About Jamila Gorman
Jarmila is a writer in the personal development niche with a strong – and ever-growing – desire to help people create their dream lives. She is a passionate student of the amazing abilities and potential of the human mind. From her lifelong love of athletics came an interest in finding out just what the words “limit” means; and how to get the mind past its whining to push on and do more. Years of ultra-cycling and an attitude of “bring it on, I can do this” have honed her ability to overcome self-imposed limitations in other areas of her life, a skill she now shares with a worldwide audience. Jarmila is a writer with a goal to inspire you to LIVE your life, on purpose, out loud and with a big smile on your face. You can find more of Jarmila’s articles on meditation at the Silva Method Life. When she is not writing, Jarmila is outside taking photographs, hiking the Colorado mountains or cycling to the far horizon.
