INTRODUCTION
Meditation is not just about changing, becoming a totally different person, or even becoming a better person. It’s all about developing awareness and gaining a healthy sense of perspective. You’re not attempting to suppress your ideas or feelings. You’re learning to view things objectively. And, gradually, you may begin to understand them better as well. In mindfulness meditation, we learn to pay attention to the breath as it comes in and out, as well as to notice when our minds wander away from this job. This practice of returning to the breath strengthens the attention and mindfulness muscles. The concept of mindfulness appears straightforward—the practice takes patience. Mastering to meditate is no different from learning any other skill. Consider it like working out a muscle you have never worked out before. Regular practice is required to get comfortable. And it is typically simpler if you have an instructor to help you. We’ve got your back there. It takes time to become at ease with your own thoughts. There may be setbacks along the road, but that is part of the process of meditation. Continue to practice. You’re already doing a terrific job simply by turning up. There is no such thing as flawless meditation. Your attention will occasionally stray, or you will forget to track your breath. That is OK. It is all part of the adventure. The most essential thing is to meditate on a regular basis. The journey is more essential than the destination in this case.
At the beginning only Hindus and Buddhists used to practice Meditation. Soon after, one research after the other evidenced the benefits of meditation, and the practice became mainstream: physicians prescribed it for high blood pressure and other ailments; psychotherapists recommended it for anxiety and stress reduction; and corporations and hospitals established meditation rooms. Then Christians and Jews appropriated Eastern practices—for example, substituting Sanskrit mantras with words and phrases from their own traditions—and opened the vaults of their mystical past. The idea is that a successful meditation practice must begin with adequate training. Look for a form that has an honorable history of proven usage, is taught by a well-trained instructor, is simple to execute on your own, and delivers both immediate and long-term benefits. If you practice this, you will notice benefits in your life and will have motivation to keep going.
REASONS WHY PEOPLE DO NOT MEDITATE –
- The most often reported reason for individuals not meditating is, predictably, a lack of time. Even in the midst of a pandemic, almost everyone feels as if he or she has too much to do and too little time to do it in. Nonetheless, they always make time for activities that are important to them, whether it is exercising, watching their favorite TV show, reading books, or taking their children to a playground. The fundamental issue with folks who claim they do not have time to meditate is that they do not completely understand the logic of its benefit since they have not yet experienced it in their life.
- The second reason why individuals do not meditate even when they wish to is a lack of knowledge on how to do so. For some reason, individuals believe they should be able to learn the technique on their own. You can gain education knowledge, cooking skills and others on your own, but if you want to do them well and get the most out of them, you should get some proper instruction and getting some tips in a self-help magazine or trying to remember a guided relaxation from a stress management webinar is not a proper instruction. As a result, the meditation experience will almost certainly be disappointing.
- Meditation is not a passing trend; it has been practiced by people all over the world for ages. People have been practicing meditation for centuries in quest of serenity, happiness, change, or better control over their life. Our mental condition is the most important aspect in determining our success and pleasure. A person can have “everything” and yet be unhappy, nervous, inadequate, or any of a number of other unpleasant interior feelings. Meditation assists us in mastering our minds by focusing our attention. Consider attention to be a “flashlight” of awareness. Whatever we focus our attention on will be noticed and given the opportunity to flourish. Whatever we pull from our attention is kept aside and begins to wane.
- People think Meditation is just fancy form of relaxation and self-hypnosis. Relaxation is one of the primary results of meditation, but it is also one of its prerequisites. It also relieves muscle tension and soothes the breath. Meditation guides us to deeper realms of awareness by combining relaxation with attention management and contemplation. Meditation is not the same as hypnosis. Self-hypnosis is often induced by verbal self-suggestion, in which we urge ourselves to think, see, and feel certain things. It takes use of the mind’s imagination and creative potential. Affirmations, imagination, and vision are used to generate a specific frame of mind. It does not confront our training, but rather works from inside it, with the goal of altering our mental states. Many guided meditations would be better described as self-hypnosis or relaxation. The goal is to calm the mind and allow it to see reality for what it is. It provides us with knowledge, enlightenment, and a peaceful mental stillness.
- It takes years to reap the full benefits.” Meditation does not have to be practiced for years to reap its benefits. After as little as eight weeks of regular practice, meditation yields considerable physical and mental health advantages. Meditation provides advantages for people of all skill levels, from beginners to seasoned practitioners. If you wish to acquire enlightenment or a fearless condition beyond all pain, it will most certainly take a long period. However, if all you desire is better health and a little more peace and harmony in your life, many individuals begin to see these benefits after a few weeks. Hence, if someone complains about meditation’s long-term influence on your life, they should know that at least some of its numerous advantages are instant, because the practice itself is the benefit.
- For some individuals meditation might be boring. If you go into meditation expecting an interesting and enjoyable experience, you will most likely be disappointed. Meditation is not really about having fun, but that is not always a negative thing. Many people practice mindfulness meditation because the tranquility and satisfaction they obtain are unlike anything else they have experienced in their lives. Meditating is a unique pleasure that does not rely on anybody else and can provide fresh adventures.
- Several individuals believe that meditation is abandoning one’s current world and seeking to leave one’s worries behind. Anyone who has practiced meditation for a reasonable amount of time understands that it’s the other way around: meditation makes many of the things you are trying to avoid in your life and in yourself is painfully evident. Escapism is often characterized by distraction or unconsciousness/hindered consciousness. Meditation, on the other hand, removes all distractions and increases heightened awareness, making it a very inefficient escape strategy. If you approach meditation with a runaway mindset, you will quickly discover that you do not run very far. Everything you want to avoid is right there, in your head, waiting for you. However, the practitioner’s mindset, not their deeds, is the true issue solution here. Meditation is not a panacea; it is merely a method for controlling one’s thoughts and attention. It is up to the practitioner to decide what to do with it. Meditation allows you to come to know yourself better, allowing you to see things more clearly and practice more control over your thoughts.
- Meditation may be perceived by some as an attempt to achieve a private, secluded type of bliss. Practitioners frequently view things differently, making time for them and participating in self-care. Meditation does not have to be as self-indulgent as eating, sleeping, or taking a shower. It has become an important everyday activity for many of us, allowing us to live full, functioning, and meaningful lives. Although meditation does not generate a visible product, many practitioners feel that its effects spread outward, positively impacting others around them as well as the outcome of their efforts in their personal and professional lives.
- Some people are concerned that meditation is a one-way trip to an emotional wasteland, where they may as well be robots in terms of emotional expression. However, the purpose of meditation is not to eradicate or ignore your emotions, but to help you become less of a slave to them and get a better understanding of them. With practice, you may ride an emotion’s wave or just let it be and hold room for it. This is one of the possible advantages of meditation. Meditation makes us less receptive to our emotions, but it does not eliminate them. You will not lose your ability to feel; contrary, your emotions will be much more visible than before.
CONCLUSION
This article emphasized on why people cannot meditate. Though, meditation is still seen as not much useful, some people are trying to make use of it. There are few hacks for the people who cannot meditate but still want it. Firstly, one should take breath and “count” to 10, taking long walks might also help them, getting involved and playing with animals help to reduce stress and tension, one might write journal, try to let go of your negative thoughts, talk to people when in need, share your feelings, thank others for helping, be kind towards your environment. These ways also help individuals to cope up with stress and other mental issues such as depression, anxiety, mood disorders.
YLCC would like to thank Shatakshee Chatterjee for her valuable insights in this article.
