Have you ever told yourself that you don’t have time to meditate? Or that you’ll meditate later, or that you’ll meditate on a day that’s not quite so busy?
Why do you tell yourself that?
Is it really because you are short of time? Perhaps:
- you fear what will come to mind if you stop and look within.
- you think you’ll never get everything done if you take time out.
- your healthy work ethic drives you to work beyond healthy limits.
- you sacrifice pleasure and rest for a sense of achievement.
- you experience a sense of disapproval when you don’t complete the tasks you set yourself.
- you only give yourself permission to relax once you’ve ticked everything off.
These are just some of the reasons I’ve put meditation aside, often with the promise that I’ll do it ‘later’.
Sometimes I wonder whether any of these ‘excuses’ are valid. And then I’ll remember that meditation does not really require any time at all. I can always simply choose to be mindful. I can soften my breath as I type. I can relax my shoulders as I drive. I can listen a little more attentively on the phone. I can check in with my thoughts and emotions as I walk. I can do a formal meditation anytime I find myself waiting.
In this way, meditation and mindfulness become a part of my daily life. They cease being things I can put off and instead become new ways of relating to the world. Indeed, anytime I find myself putting meditation off, I can use that as a reminder to meditate!
For more on this topic, see my article How Much Meditation is Enough?
I found the course to be very practical.
I like the way the lessons have built on each other — starting from the basics and leading into more layers of understanding.
Everything is presented clearly and simply in a way that kind of demystifies meditation without reducing its impact or importance.