Stop Trying to Meditate
I hear so many people say these words "when I try to mediate...".
It is this initial approach to meditating that can result in frustration or even worse may mean you give up a meditation practice or feel as though you are doing it wrong.
It’s “trying” that is the problem.
When we “try” we are making an effort, creating an action.
Meditation is beyond this.
Meditation dates back 1000's of years & science is starting to catch up with it.
This practice is 1000's of years old & yet we struggle with it?
Where could we be going wrong?
Firstly, lets treat ourselves with a huge amount of grace & compassion as we explore this. Let's remind ourselves that meditation was quite an esoteric practice & those that practiced it led a relatively quiet life, a life very often separate from family. Consider the obvious differences between a person with no responsibilities, able to wander, to
roam in comparison to the average modern day person.
We are living polar opposite lives.
In Primordial Meditation, the universe naturally created sounds, at different times of the year & during the moon cycle & these sounds were
heard by wise sages & passed on from generation to generation.
Let's taken a moment to actually imagine our world being so, so quiet that we could listen to the whispers of the universe... the quietness, the connection, the sense of oneness...
Let's take another moment now to give ourselves a break if we struggle with meditation after the noise of just one day.
What I would like to support you with though is your approach.
Our culture & our upbringing is geared towards progress, trying, achieving, passing exams, academia & all that comes with that, goal setting & success.
So, when we turn towards all that meditations offers us, the inner world of: our heart, a sense of oneness, intuition, clarity, creativity, contentment, inner knowing, divinity, wholeness ( I could go on...) you can see quite clearly the disparity.
We cannot approach meditation like anything else we have been conditioned to approach.
Therefore we drop "trying to meditate"
Drop the effort.
Let go of "trying".
When you can, allow a time for a longer meditation to become curious.
Get comfortable and sit.
Allow time to welcome every thought with no pressure to redirect or suppress
the thought.
As you welcome all thoughts, consciously slow your breath, shape your exhales so they become a little longer than your exhale.
Allow time to "watch" your thoughts...
For example, are you mentally list-making or planning? Are you replaying an interaction or conversation? Replaying memories? Or you drifting into tomorrow? Further ahead?
Just stay curious. As you cultivate curiousity you'll begin to feel a sense of separateness from your thoughts.
Let go of shaping your breath & gently & softly move mind towards a mantra (SO HUM) works beautifully with the breath.
Be aware of the moment you begin to force a state of mind or you feel yourself "trying". This is an action, a conditioned action of the mind to achieve.
Meditation is beyond this.
Imagine your meditation practice to feel as gentle as holding a baby bird in your hands.
Be gentle, allow thoughts to arise & pass & return again & again to the mantra.
If you would like to receive your personal mantra, get in touch & I can let you know what details I need from you. It is a beautiful sacred ceremony & when you receive your mantra, it’s yours for life, to return to or use regularly & once passed to you becomes forever silent.
