Meditation: not just bliss
Written by: Roberta Vommaro
Unpopular opinion: meditation is not the equivalent of bliss. Meditation is the process of cleansing the mind, so that you can start relating to your Self, your true Self. Not your thoughts, neurosis, or fears. Therefore, meditation is not always “palo santo stick, beautiful crystals, and candle light when the mood strikes”. It can be early morning waking up grumpy, or late night “I’m too tired but I’ll do it”, or “my family is at home but I’ll excuse myself for 3 mins in another room”. It can be what needs to be, so that you do it. And do it regularly.
You won’t always be in the mood, specially these days, when distraction is the order of the day. Whether it is because things seem to be getting better in your life and you feel you “don’t need it anymore”, or you’re incredibly busy at work and “simply don’t have the time”, or you’re new to it and feel you don’t know how to do it... Whatever name you give to your resistance, there will always be something or some things meant to prevent you from taking time for yourself to meditate.
But here is the thing: meditation is actually more effective when you’re not in the mood. Yep, this is when major shifts occur and where the gifts can be found. When you don’t want to meditate, but you overcome the excuses (no matter how justifiable they may seem), you are already victorious, you are already shifting, growing. Because the moment you choose to do it, you are choosing to relate to yourself differently, finally choosing YOURSELF. And this is far from being egotistical, as paradoxical as it may seem.
Count yourself first
When you choose to prioritize your well-being and meditate, in a very practical way you are creating new brain connections and literally rewiring the brain. In the midst of a busy work day, a stressful situation, or while taking care of loved ones, you are choosing to respond differently - less distractedly - to situations that would normally pull you away from yourself. The reward is that you will also ACT differently - these new brain connections, glandular balance, and parasympathetic activation that meditation promotes will actually give you clarity and equipoise. You will see, quite literally, that you have a choice. You have time. You have energy. You have stamina. You don’t need to freak out. You can choose to “freak in”. And then, because you are finally choosing to relate to yourself, care for yourself, make time for yourself, you will notice you will have more energy to deal with whatever it is that you need to, and more willingness and vitality to help others too.
So the point is, when you don’t want to meditate, that’s when meditation will work for you.
Watch my TEDx talk