We Reply to 3 Common Excuses to NOT Meditate + Inspo to Start a Steady Practice
Many people want to try meditating, but need meditation guidance to get started. Science has proven that meditation reduces stress and anxiety, promotes kindness and emotional wellbeing, and improves different functions within the brain such as memory, sleep, and focus.
With the many benefits that come with a regular meditation practice, it’s no wonder meditation and mindfulness has become a mainstream wellness trend.
One recent study has even proven meditation to treat and prevent opioid addiction.
But the benefits of meditation are no secret . . .
The most brilliant minds in the world have been harnessing the power of their minds for years. Steve Jobs lived in India practicing meditation and accessing his infinite potential before coming back to the USA and starting Apple.
The Beatles created one of their most popular albums, The White Album, while meditating in the Maharishi Mahesh-Yogi ashram in India.
Top executives and CEOs such as Elon Musk, Oprah, and Jeff Weiner meditate daily, and they’ll be the first ones to tell you how much it impacts their day-to-day lives.
So, why aren’t you meditating yet?
The Top 3 Excuses for NOT Meditating:
- I can’t meditate because I can’t stop thinking
- I like to be productive in the morning and I want to get to work as soon as I wake up
- I’ve tried meditating and it didn’t work
My first piece of meditation guidance to address these excuses: meditation is worth it, so keep trying.
So worth it.
In fact, cultivating a daily meditation practice is what’s literally changed my life for the better. I was initiated into sadhana (a traditional, daily practice consisting of kriya, mantra, and meditation) over two years ago, and since then, my life has taken a 180.
I went from working a corporate, 9-5 job to working for myself. I went from putting energy into toxic relationships to putting energy into positive ones.
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I went from feeling unsure, unclear, stressed, anxious, and afraid, to feeling confident, empowered, and crystal clear on who I am and what I want.
Coming from someone who thought she would never meditate due to my chaotic mind and overly anxious nervous system, read on for meditation advice that addresses each common excuse we’ve all heard (or used!) for not meditating.
Meditation Guidance for Each Common Excuse NOT to Meditate
For those of you who can’t stop thinking:
You need meditation more than anyone else. That’s like somebody saying, “I’m too dirty to take a shower.” It’s illogical.
The point of meditation is not to stop thinking. The point of meditation is to observe your thinking and tap into moments of stillness – even if your mind is restless.
With time, the storm will calm. The water will become less choppy, and you’ll tap into the clarity and peace that a calm mind brings.
For those of you who think you don’t have time:
Meditation increases your capacity to do more, in less time. In fact, meditation is proven to increase productivity. The late Steve Jobs practiced mindful meditation for decades, and credited it for his creativity, focus, and clarity.
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Meditation might be a small time investment in your day, but it will end up saving you so much time throughout your day by calming your nervous system, managing stress and challenges with ease, and improving focus, concentration, and memory.
Since I began meditating, my days have been more productive, more efficient, and I’ve been better able to navigate challenges.
For those of you who don’t think it works:
Meditation is a practice that takes time to develop. Just because you’ve tried it a few times and haven’t seen results or progress yet, does not mean meditation doesn’t work.
That’s the same mentality of a person who is completely out of shape but thinks if they go to the gym three times they will be fit. Getting in shape takes time and dedication, just like meditation.
Meditation is a practice that, with time, you will see steady improvement. I’ve been practicing meditation every day for over two years now, and still have ah-ha moments and breakthroughs.
My meditation guidance? View this as a practice for life. Not for a day.
The Best Meditation Guidance? Try It. Stick With It. See the Results for Yourself
My meditation practice has allowed me to begin every single day calmly and with clarity, tapping into my pure potential. It has been incredibly transformative in my life.
After practicing meditation consistently, you start to experience feelings of clarity, peace, pure bliss, and connection to your true nature.
The best meditation advice I can offer? Open your mind, put your excuses aside, and try it. Commit to a regular meditation practice, stick with it, and you will inevitably experience the results for yourself.