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Powerful meditation advice that changed how I approach life
Meditation is fraught with challenges. Most of us have tried it and failed. It’s no wonder why. Sitting in stillness and quieting the mind sits in direct opposition to the constant busyness of our world.
We’re sold the idea that the more we do, the more we will have. The assumption then is that having more will lead us to fulfillment and happiness –– even if deep down we know that this isn’t necessarily true.
In our culture both individually and collectively, there’s a continuous focus on moving forwards, doing more, becoming more, having more, and ultimately, being busier.
If you struggle with meditation you aren’t alone
A range of studies have found that most people are uncomfortable sitting in stillness for even short periods of time.
One study found that spending just 6–15 minutes alone in a room without distractions was challenging for most people. So great was the discomfort, that many people gave themselves an electric shock to appease boredom. One man even shocked himself 109 times during a short period.
Personally, I’ve consistently struggled with meditation preferring laughter over mindfulness (something I still view as an essential tool). Recently though, I’ve refound…
