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Motivation to Meditate

BodhivakaBodhivaka Veteran
edited June 2012 in Meditation
I don't know if anyone else had this problem when they were just beginning to meditate, but I have a hard time getting the motivation to just take 15 minutes out of my day and meditate. Even though I know it makes me feel much happier and peaceful, sometimes I just feel too depressed and down to actually do it. Has anyone else had or have this problem, and is there anything you did to stay committed to the practice?

Comments

  • DairyLamaDairyLama Veteran Veteran
    It's like trying to get physically fit with a regular exercise programme - some days you really don't feel like it but you know it's doing you good. So you can look at your motivation and you can apply a bit of self-discipline, ie just do it anyway.
  • federicafederica Seeker of the clear blue sky... Its better to remain silent and be thought a fool, than to speak out and remove all doubt Moderator
    edited June 2012
    There are many way to meditate, and relatively few of them actually involve sitting still and "doing nothing".
    Try reading TNH's "Present Moment Wonderful Moment" or "Peace is Every Step".
    in them, he teaches ways to Meditate - and being Mindful - even for 30 seconds at a time, even while doing different things.
    Small steps, in different ways.
    Meditation is not always time-related, nor does it mean immobility.

    Experiment.
  • TBRulhTBRulh New
    I have this problem quite frequently. I try to remember something I read. It's easy to meditate when you're getting something out of it and when you're eager to do it. However, when you don't feel good or like meditating and you do it anyway, and sit with those negative feelings and have them, that is when serious progress can be made.

    Keep it up,

    and experiment
  • SabreSabre Veteran
    Well, actually there is not much more to say than: Just do it. The practice will be much more fruitful if you do it daily. If you skip days quite often, it is not really going to take off as well.

    It is helpful to have a certain time of day to meditate. Also it can help to have a specific corner of a room dedicated to meditation. That way the mind will be triggered to meditate once it sees that spot.

    Over time it gets easier because meditation will be drawing you in; you will want to meditate. And you will want to do it longer. But in the beginning, some determination is needed.

    Metta!
  • BodhivakaBodhivaka Veteran
    Thanks, everyone! Your comments were very helpful and have given me that friendly supportive push to meditate. I'm going to go do it right now :)
  • BodhivakaBodhivaka Veteran
    Update: Just got done meditating and feel significantly better! Thanks again, everyone :D
  • ToshTosh Veteran
    edited June 2012
    I struggle at times too, Lowell, I'm great for a month; I'll do it every day, and then for some reason I'll miss a day and it turns into two weeks.

    And if I'm really feeling restless, irritable, and discontented it's really hard to get my bottom on the mat; and to stay there for any meaningful length of time.

    But I do keep pluggin' away. I have faith that meditation works, though secretly I sometimes think it works for other people and not me; I'm a special case, obviously.
  • BonsaiDougBonsaiDoug Simply, on the path. Veteran
    Well, actually there is not much more to say than: Just do it.
    Agree. If you have to find "motivation," then you're probably forcing it.

    "You say that you are too busy to meditate. Do you have time to breathe? Meditation is your breath. Why do you have time to breathe but not to meditate? Breathing is something vital to peoples lives. If you see that Dhamma practice is vital to your life, then you will feel that breathing and practicing the Dhamma are equally important."
    ~ Ajahn Chah
  • ToshTosh Veteran

    "You say that you are too busy to meditate. Do you have time to breathe? Meditation is your breath. Why do you have time to breathe but not to meditate? Breathing is something vital to peoples lives. If you see that Dhamma practice is vital to your life, then you will feel that breathing and practicing the Dhamma are equally important."
    ~ Ajahn Chah
    Like!

    One of Joh-Kabbat Zinn's lines is, "If you think meditating on the breath is boring, try not breathing for a while. Very soon the breath becomes amazingly interesting." (Paraphrased).

  • zenmystezenmyste Veteran
    and is there anything you did to stay committed to the practice?
    Unless it becomes a Life or death situation then im afraid there is nothing specific that keeps someone committed.

    People cant even commit to the GYM to stay healthy.
    They cant even commit to each other in relationships..

    So how is one to even commit to meditation??

    You either do it, Or dont..

    ''Do, or Do Not.
    There is no TRY..''

    ~Zen Master, Yoga~
  • federicafederica Seeker of the clear blue sky... Its better to remain silent and be thought a fool, than to speak out and remove all doubt Moderator
    ''Do, or Do Not.
    There is no TRY..''
    That's "Yoda" from Star Wars.....
  • zenmystezenmyste Veteran
    ''Do, or Do Not.
    There is no TRY..''
    That's "Yoda" from Star Wars.....
    I wrote 'g' instead of 'd'

    Yoga instead of yoda . hahaha! Sorry guys!!
  • driedleafdriedleaf Veteran
    edited June 2012
    Its one of those things we like to put off and easily procrastinate on. People who want to be more serious about meditation make it more difficult than it has to be. The reason why people need to be motivated is because it gets put off, and that's how it is at first, but as long as we are able to squeeze in a few minutes a day that should be fine. It's like having an extra room in the house, it's easy to just forget that it's there. But once in a while, as long as we do find the time to keep that room tidy, it will make us worry less about it, and less work for us down the road if we ever need to use it. Having a nice clean room (and mind too) is great for living.
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