Many people start practicing Meditation for various reasons. Some want to overcome stress and anxiety, or some want to balance and healthy lives or seek higher purposes.
Somehow they start Meditation, but over the time, Meditation becomes difficult to practice, or It seems hard for them, so they simply omit this precious practice.
There are some extraordinary persons who haven’t practiced Meditation yet but provoke myths and misunderstanding regarding this practice. They say Meditation is very hard, or Meditation is a practice of prolonged sitting without thinking anything, and so on.
When I first start Meditation, I believed that it’s a business of monks who live renounced life. As a worldly being, I will not take any advantage and manage to continue my meditation practice. But I was wrong.
If you are struggling due to these types of false impressions and understand Meditation is difficult for you, then read this article until the end.
I am sure you would be able to find those causes which are inhibiting you from practicing Meditation and making the practice very hard. You will also know that Meditation is very simple, but due to our misbelief, we made it more challenging.
Why Meditation Is Hard, Or Why It Seems Difficult?
Due to some misconceptions and myths, Meditation has become difficult or seems difficult than it has to be. Your expectations and desires to get something from Meditation are one of the biggest causes of this problem.
Because when those hopes are not fulfilled, Meditation becomes hard to practice. Also, this selfish attitude spoils all good efforts and obstructs you from progress.
I’m not saying that you shouldn’t have any expectations from Meditation. Instead, your first priority should be a learning approach. I emphasize more on nurturing trees (meditation practice) rather than desperately wishing for fruits.
Don’t make it complicated Meditation is a simple practice of focusing your attention on the object of Meditation, and when you got distracted in thoughts, gently bring attention back onto the process. That’s how simple Meditation is. We will further discuss on this topic later.
Let’s know what those reasons which make Meditation very tough for you.
#1 Learning from wrong people
The common reason why you are misguided from the right way is that you believe and learn from wrong gurus or people who spread wrong practices and myths, which may seem fascinating at the first instant, but those are far away from the truth.
They present or frame simple meditation techniques in a complex way to leverage personal benefits. Some ordinary people among us also provoke this type of misconception and myths about which they have no knowledge or experience.
There are many myths regarding Meditation that misguide the practitioner. Here, I want to list down two famous of them.
- Meditation is the practice of controlling the mind and stopping thoughts.
- Meditation means sitting still and having complete control over your body and mind.
I know these seem compelling, and by hearing these types of concepts, you may blindly believe in them and make them your center of attention. Then they become your primary concern, and you judge yourself every single time based on these principles.
This could be one aspect that makes your practice harder than it is.
Rather than holding any myths or beliefs, You should believe in yourself and in your experiences. There is no need to merely believe in other’s beliefs or run behind someone else experiences.
#2 Having high expectations
Someone said this right “Expectations are the thief of joy.” Having high expectations of getting something out of Meditation often distract you.
I have seen many people start their meditation journey with many demands in return. They are influenced by other people who appeal to leverage from Meditation in abundance.
They say if you do Meditation, you will be out of anxiety, stress, fear, and feel love, kindness, ecstasy, or something magical will happen like levitating, walking on water, or most famous kundalini awakening, etc.
I am not saying that these couldn’t be possible; instead, I believe you could get more precious than this kindergarten stuff. But here, I want to make you understand that you shouldn’t start Meditation merely with these types of selfish desires.
This type of motivation won’t last long, and with this motive, you will soon be disappointed and leave the meditation practice due to not seeing any significant benefits.
Having selfish expectations or temptations to get something in return will merely increase your mental stress.
This could be the most potent reason which makes your meditation practice difficult.
So firstly, I insist you learn how to meditate, become good at it, and develop faith in Meditation with which you can progress easily.
Although it’s a sacred gift for human beings from our holy predecessors, we can expand ourselves by using this. Having faith in practice and practitioner nature opens a new door of possibilities for you.
Learn Meditation like a kid learns to walk. Ignore external or internal influences. Meditation is a training of mind which is the most powerful machine in the world. It would be best if you made your practice simple and playful.
With the Meditation, you are exposed to your own self and your own nature. So explore yourself with the help of Meditation by being like a curious kid with an unselfish heart.
#3 Not having a routine for Meditation
Some people start Meditation with high motivation, but without having a proper routine, they can’t survive long.
You may have seen that health-conscious people develop their routine from early morning workout to till night. If they don’t have a guide plan, they may not progress well.
So you should do this same for Meditation, allot a specific time for practice. It would be best if you practice Meditation first time in the morning, anywhere between 5-8 AM, and second time in evening between 6-7 PM or before going bed.
I emphasize more on consistency rather than quantity of time spent on Meditation. Even a few (10-15) minutes of regular Meditation could bring significant life change.
Consider as you are building a muscle on which you haven’t worked yet. When you start lifting weights, it’s tough in the beginning, but once you put in enough effort, it becomes easy and fun.
The same basics apply here. Once you begin, it’s challenging to keep momentum, but over time it becomes effortless practice.
When you meditate daily, the related parts in your brain get developed, and associated neural patterns become strong each day. This will aid you to progress further in Meditation, and then you start noticing changes.
If you have a proper routine and you follow it deliberately, you are bound to be successful.
Related Article: 11 Tips To Build A Daily Habit Of Meditation
#4 Practicing wrong technique
The different meditation techniques have been developed by considering the diversity of peoples’ nature. They may seem completely different or opposite from each other. The reason behind doing this was to provide a proper technique to practitioners according to his or her ability and strength.
I am not firmly saying this, but this could be a reason that you are practicing a technique that is not in accordance with your ability, or your body and mind couldn’t digest it.
To overcome this, you should try all different meditation techniques one by one. Then chose one with which you can resonate most or with which you are more comfortable.
For example, you can practice guided mediation for one or two weeks, then next week try mantra meditation, try object-focused Meditation, then try mindfulness meditation.
Likewise, you will become familiar with many meditation techniques and have the choices to select anyone. Then practice it regularly without any excuses.
After choosing one Meditation, don’t jump to another after a few days or months. Try to practice in-depth and generate momentum that will help you to progress.
If you are struggling in the beginning, then try guided Meditation. It’s relatively easy. However, there is nothing such thing as easy or hard Meditation technique. It depends on dedication and mindset.
#5 Practicing the wrong way
If you have selected your favorite technique, then next is to follow it as it is. If you are mixing two or more methods and practicing the wrong way, then you may create trouble for yourself.
You should properly follow one meditation technique and leave everything else away. The important here is to practice one thing regularly. If you are distracted by influences, then bring yourself back and try to concentrate in practice.
To progress in Meditation, you must be consistent and determined. You may meditate for your well-being, then why can’t you obey those virtues.
I have seen many people who are not serious about Meditation often break the practice and then try to gather motivation from here and there.
This mentality may not progress you in the path of well-being. That’s why I told you to develop faith in Meditation by clarifying your unselfish purpose in alliance with others. Your purpose can also be self-development or self-improvement.
#6 Yearning to repeat the previous experience
In life, when any good experience happens, we want to live it again and again. It’s human nature to crave for pleasant experiences and averse for unpleasant experiences.
This same happens in Meditation. When we feel something favorable during Meditation or due to Meditation, we run behind this and want to experience it again and again.
Due to our craving behind those feelings, we start meditating on these feelings rather than the object of Meditation. This becomes a hindrance in our progress, and we find Meditation a hard practice.
So, you should be neutral for any feelings and experiences which happen during Meditation, neither generate craving nor aversion for them. That’s the essential practice of the Buddhist meditation technique “vipassana.”
If any good happens, accept it, or if any bad happens, accept it too. Take what is given, and concern not which is not found. This practice will lower your burden, and thus, you will progress in the path of Meditation.
#7 Doing procrastination and making excuses
Many people procrastinate while developing a good habit. The same happens in Meditation. If you are lacking in willpower (which most of us are) and not having a strong purpose for Meditation, then you may hit by procrastination.
The worst case is that people don’t even know that they become a victim of procrastination. They often blame others or on the situations but don’t find their own mistakes.
This often ended with the long list of excuses, which clearly defines the lack of motivation or lack of purpose to elevate life with the help of Meditation.
So to avoid this, make yourself clear with the profound purpose for Meditation and alleviate all external and internal influences.
Develop faith for Meditation by reading books or other literature. This will help you in the longer run.
Those were major reasons which hinder your practice of Meditation. However, many other possible causes could also make your Meditation difficult than it has to be. If you know them, then let me know in the comment section. I will be happy to mention them as well.
I think you have now realized that Meditation isn’t difficult, but our misbeliefs and others’ influences make Meditation harder.
In the end, I want to mention a few guidances which may help to progress in Meditation
- Treat Meditation as a simple practice without mixing any influences and myths.
- Practice Meditation regularly without making any excuses
- Don’t expect too much at the beginning.
- Join a local or social media community of Meditators that will expose you to like-minded people.
I hope this article has helped you find causes that make your Meditation difficult and clear your other doubts as well.
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