10 Reasons You May Be Giving Up On Meditation Too Soon

Meditation is known to reduce stress and anxiety. Yet, many people I talk to either shy away from meditation or give up on it too soon. They know it’s good for them but haven’t dared to attempt it for various reasons.

According to thegoodbody.com, close to 500 Million people meditate globally. However, the site also states that the age group that meditates the most is over 45. This statistic makes me wonder if most people are waiting until life is less busy to pick it up as a hobby.

Although people of all ages benefit from meditation, it is most helpful if we get started early. It is especially beneficial when dealing with life’s critical moments like picking a partner, parenting, figuring out our careers, etc. Meditation helps us gain clarity to make informed decisions during those vital moments.

In this post, I will cover the most common reasons why people may not be inclined to meditate or give it up too soon.

1. Meditation is too hard

You may have tried meditation before or heard people talk about how meditation is too difficult. However, with proper guidance, any new skill can be more manageable. When we want to learn something new, we seek a teacher. We find someone who enjoys it, is good at it and can model it for us.

We don’t attempt to run a marathon without building up to it from 5Ks, half-marathons, etc. Meditation, similarly, is a skill that takes time to build. So finding a reliable source to learn it from, whether it is an app or a spiritual teacher of your liking, is key to setting yourself up for success.

2. I can’t sit for so long

Image by Mahamevnawa Mahaviharaya from Pixabay

Most people visualize meditation as something we only do in a still position for an extended period. The central concept of meditation, though, is to bring awareness. It brings awareness to your body, surroundings, and mind.

If sitting is too difficult, you can try walking meditation or meditation in any daily activity like eating or brushing, where you focus on your task without getting lost in the usual thought activity.

Don’t do any task in order to get it over with. Resolve to do each job in a relaxed way, with all your attention. Enjoy and be one with your work.
― Thích Nhất Hạnh

3. I am doing it all wrong

One of the main reasons people give up on meditation is because they think they are doing it wrong. Most meditation practices refer to our minds as monkey minds, where our minds swing from one thought to another.

It is normal to have thoughts when we sit down to meditate. Being distracted is part of the meditation process. It doesn’t mean we are doing it wrong. Too many thoughts are ok, and too few are ok. There is no perfect way to meditate.

Whatever you experience when you simply rest your attention on whatever’s going on in your mind at any given moment is meditation. Simply resting in this way is the experience of natural mind.
Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche

4. I don’t have time to meditate

When we associate meditation with this zen-like prolonged activity, our minds are less inclined to practice. One can begin meditation practice in as little as 5 minutes. Once you are comfortable with the idea, you can increase it gradually.

If we compare this to the amount of time we spend on Netflix or social media, we can make time for it. Training our minds to handle life is just as important as entertainment if we think about it. Who knows, It may even have long-lasting benefits.

5. It’s a solo activity

You may enjoy group activities like yoga or a HIIT class and think meditation isn’t for you. However, even though you may be alone while practicing meditation at home, it is most impactful when you practice it with a community.

Finding a group, you can meditate with where you can share your experiences strengthens your drive so you can stick with it. You realize that everyone else is having similar experiences, even the ones who have been meditating for years.

6. I do not see any benefits

We meditate so we can find calm in our daily lives. Meditation reduces stress, but it comes later as we gain more experience. If you are brand new to meditation, it’s best to begin when things in your life are somewhat normal and not during a traumatic experience.

In one of my group meditation sessions, an experienced teacher said that when we meditate, we expect something perfect to happen. But, in reality, meditation teaches you to be ok with whatever is happening. It’s essential to adjust your expectations when we start our meditation.

7. All practice, no theory

We can’t learn how to run by reading about running. Meditation similarly is learned by practicing regularly. However, in my experience, it is most fruitful when you supplement it with some reading.

Doing so lets you learn what to expect during the initial stages and clear any self-doubt.

8. Too many choices in meditation

There are many different styles of meditation. It takes trial and error to determine which instruction best suits you. It took me a while to figure out the one I liked the best. Early on, I tried some and gave up because I couldn’t relate to them.

Finding one that’s flexible in its approach will help you stick with it for a while. For instance, if meditating with the breath is too difficult, you can learn to meditate by focusing on sounds. The Tergar style of meditation I practice allowed me this flexibility and helped me tweak my practice to what suited me best.

9. Hard to make it a habit

Mediation, like any new habit, takes a while before it becomes regular. So we need to be patient and kind to ourselves while making space for it. I cover this topic in depth in this post here.

10. Progression is the key to longevity

We can meditate for short periods initially, but it is most beneficial when there is a progression. Starting small and building it up slowly sets you up for success. You may begin with an app but switching to other serious practices which help deepen your practice enables you to stay with it longer.

Meditation isn’t about becoming a different person, a new person, or even a better person. It’s about training in awareness and understanding how and why you think and feel the way you do and getting a healthy sense of perspective in the process.
Andy Puddicombe

Meditation is a way to train our minds, so we are better equipped to deal with life. It is easier to rely on copying mechanisms like alcohol when stressed. But meditation though it requires a dedicated effort, reduces our dependency on quick fixes that harm us. Does any of this resonate with you? Do share your experience with meditation.