Struggling to start a regular meditation practice
I remember how it took me a while to establish a daily meditation practice. And it wasn’t because I was not convinced of the benefits. Our brains are tricky in this respect, making it generally difficult to start a new habit.
Have you perhaps signed-up for a gym-membership and not been able to commit to the schedule you had set out for yourself? Does this kind of struggle sound familiar?
Our complex brain structure requires a repeated form of the same activity, over a certain length of time, to deeply recognise the direct benefits for body and mind. Only then, can the path be paved for a healthy new habit to form.
During my early meditation days, the sitting practice was clearly not a favourite. I struggled with what seemed like a simple act of ‘non-doing’: sitting in stillness, observing my thoughts, emotions & body sensations. I kept thinking to myself: ‘Instead of sitting here, I could be doing this, or sorting out that and actually be productive’. We are habitual doers, after all!
The trouble with this mind-set is that you do not allow yourself to fully immerse in the practice, as your attention gets constantly pulled into wanting to be somewhere else. This form of implicit resistance to the practice, can create tension in the body, which in turn sends the signal to the brain that this is not the most pleasant of activities to be engaging in.
This is one common reason why some people have difficulties starting a regular meditation practice.
So, what changed for me, months later, is finally finding a comfortable sitting posture and consciously relaxing my body at the start. What also helped is being clear about my intentions to practice, for example, by telling myself ‘I wish to strengthen my ability to live with ease and contentment’. And then it clicked, and a sense of natural longing for the practice gradually developed.
Today, my formal practice gives me a great sense of peace, a time for myself to relax and allow my thoughts to settle. This offers me the mental clarity and stability to productively and responsively engage with the rest of my day.
I know quite a few people who recognise the benefits of mindfulness practice, yet say that they haven’t developed a liking to formal meditation. If you find yourself in the same boat, perhaps my story can inspire you to relax into the practice and be patient.
Don’t give up too soon .. the benefits are countless!
