Many people often tell me that they can’t do meditation. It is not their cup of tea. Their mind is a mess, agitated, and all over the place. At the same time, you can’t really fail at meditation, if you understand it in a right manner.
If you take a moment to contemplate; is meditation about forcing mind to think or not think certain thoughts? Does it entail feeling certain emotions? Does it mean cultivating special visions or state of mind?
If you said yes to any of the above, you have a very good chance of struggling at meditation. Your expectation of what meditation should do or what it is will continue to taint your experience.
On the other hand, if you simply rest your body on a cushion, floor or chair and be disciplined, to whatever extent without being unnecessarily hard on yourself, about acknowledging whatever appears in your bodyscape or mindscape, you are already doing meditation.
If you struggle with meditation, see if you can reset your efforts by consciously remembering the following words next time you sit:
Show up
Pay attention
Tell the truth, without judgment or blame
Don’t be attached to outcome.
—Angeles Arrien
Just sit, notice without expectations, acknowledge whatever comes to you, and don’t label your experience in terms of good or bad. When done, get up and be grateful for the time you have spent in your own good company. With that you can’t really fail at meditation.
Your meditation is successful now.
Parmjit Singh, PhD
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