When Meditation is a Waste of Time

I have a busy mind. Totally guilty of that, and sometimes I wonder if I have an actual problem. I’m always thinking of something I have to do, or that I forgot to do, or that I can’t forget to do. Always.

I’m always evaluating and considering and reconsidering. Did I do that right? Could I have done that better? Did I make the right decision?

It feels like I’m constantly on-the-go, in a rush to get to somewhere or in a rush to get home from somewhere else. Sound familiar?

If you’re anything like me, the mere thought of meditation is a joke. You’re too busy to meditate. You’d probably go insane from trying to sit in one place for 5 minutes (except in front of Netflix of course).

The problem is, you think this is how it’s supposed to look:

And when it doesn’t look like that, you think you’re doing it wrong. When you try it, it feels weird. You don’t like feeling weird, so you decide that meditation is not for you. You also decide that because you’re so busy, it’s kind of a waste of time anyway.

And that’s where you’re quite wrong. In fact, meditation is one of the best and most productive uses of time I know of. While there’s no one way to meditate correctly, I can offer some suggestions to make it easier and a little less frustrating, irritating, or intimidating. I finally came around to understanding the amazing power of meditation when I was forced to do it.

I was injured. I couldn’t run. I couldn’t exercise. I was going insane. I decided to try meditation, and I lost more weight in that 2 week span than in the weeks prior…

Did you catch that?!?! I lost more weight MEDITATING than DOING CARDIO. Do I have your attention now!?

The thing is,

We become what we think about ~Earl Nightengale

So what’s going on between our ears really is super important. And it really can be super noisy and chaotic. Half the time there’s so much noise, I bet you don’t even know what you’re thinking about.

But more commonly, you’re thinking negative thoughts. You’re thinking about limits. Of worries. Of fears. You’re thinking about all the things that aren’t going the way you want them to. You’re coming up with reasons why you’ve been unable to change. Why it’s pointless to even try.

You may have asked, “Why do I even try? It never works anyway.”

Here’s where you are quite right… When your predominant thoughts are of failure, fear, and worry, your results get right in line to match. When you shift your thoughts to potential, to promise, to success, to unbridled joy and gratitude… guess what?

You sail right past the limits that used to hold you back. You grow. You stretch toward the sun. You open your petals, and you blossom. Your results, your life, your day to day experience rises up to match your thoughts. There is no other way.

So how do you shift your thoughts? The best way I know is through meditation. It’s simply a conscious practice of getting to your happy place. Nothing more, nothing less. Spend more time in your happy place on a regular basis, and you’ll see your reality start to morph before your very eyes.

Here are a few tips to make it painless, I promise!

1. Try it while you’re already in bed. Either at night or first thing in the morning. You’re already used to relaxing in those moments and you may find it more natural to slow down at those times.
2. Keep it brief. 2-5 minutes is totally fine! As you get more comfortable, you may wish to try it longer and longer. Or you may not. That’s ok too! What I do know is if you try to set a timer for 30 minutes to sit down and be quiet, you are very likely to get frustrated and give up!
3. Use a guided meditation. Quiet meditation or soft music is wonderful. But if you’re new to this, I highly recommend using a guided meditation. That way all you have to do is listen to someone else walking you through it step by step. There are thousands of guided meditations out there. Just pick one and try it. I’ve got a few of my own here.
4. Be gentle with yourself. If at first you freak out, try and try again. I think there’s a famous quote that goes something like that. Just don’t give up! The whole point is to do something that’s a little bit uncomfortable at first, and it can become a path to supreme comfort! But you’ve got to get through the little bumps in the beginning.

I promise it’s worth it.

If you give yourself just a few minutes a day, for a couple of weeks, you’ll start to see changes you never imagined.

You’ll understand why finding peace and quiet is more productive than anything on your to-do list. You’ll understand why it’s never a waste of time to go within. You’ll stop seeking answers from everyone else and instead listen to your own intuition. You’ll be able to feel your own internal compass, which will help you make better decisions in all areas of your life.

I have a few guided meditations on the Insight Timer app. They were once intended for the members of the 14-Day Reboot Challenge and TransformU, my programs to promote a healthy and happy lifestyle through plants. However, they are so powerful, I hope they can be shared far and wide to bring great positive change to anyone who wishes to listen. If you go to Insight Timer and search for my name you’ll find a list of available options. It’s a great place to start!