Losing Steam

AllbuddhaBound

Life tends to catch up with us and sometimes, we lose focus and energy for meditation and growth. My practice appears to have plateaued and it is difficult for me to get beyond a certain point. How do people here re-energize themselves and find the energy to push through?

Cloud

Why not take a break? Maybe your mind just needs a rest and will unravel a bit on its own, unwind and settle. A break to just watch life a bit, not force anything.

cranreuch

My practice appears to have plateaued and it is difficult for me to get beyond a certain point.

Could you say more? How long have you been doing this? And how is the plateau manifesting itself?

(I'm asking out of interest -- not trying to diagnose I'm afraid)

AllbuddhaBound

Cloud wrote:

"Why not take a break? Maybe your mind just needs a rest and will unravel a bit on its own, unwind and settle. A break to just watch life a bit, not force anything."

You may be right. I will take your advice and try to re-energize the batteries. I would likely come to miss it and that could help me.

And to Cranreuch:



I have practiced for about 5 years now. I would say that my plateau could best be described as a point where it becomes same old same old. There have been times when I have truly felt excited to wake up in the morning and practice. When I came to realize that I could feel meditation as a comforting haven, I looked forward to it. It had become the best part of my day. I lost that and it can become almost a chore to me. When it becomes a chore, I am not so sure it provides me with what I need.

fivebells

What does your practice look like? What makes it feel like it's a chore? What other problems are there in your life at the moment?

taiyaki

zidangus

I don't know how you meditate, but maybe you can change your type of meditation, for instance try repeating a mantra for your meditation. Meditation does not have to be all about the classical lotus position either, try walking meditation or other forms of mediation that can be practiced.

Metta to all sentient beings

AllbuddhaBound

Fivebells wrote:

"What does your practice look like? What makes it feel like it's a chore? What other problems are there in your life at the moment?"

I usually meditate first thing in the morning for around 20 to 30 minutes. I focus on the breath, where I feel a deep breath inside (usually in the lungs) and I also practice metta meditation at times.

The thing that makes it feel like a chore I believe, is because I don't see things changing. I guess I am grasping onto this need for change or to see improvement.

As far as my life at this moment, I am feeling overwhelmed in many ways. It has been some time since I have taken any time off of work and the demands are presently very high."

Your questions have helped Fivebells. I need to examine things more closely.

taiyaki, thank you for the imbedded clip. It is on point.

fivebells

Such a practice is good for developing concentration and is beneficial in a number of other ways, but it's hard to build on that concentration without a longer meditation session. It's generally good to spend at least the first ten minutes settling down and establishing stable attention, and at least the last ten minutes rebalancing. Out of 20-30 minutes of meditation, that doesn't leave much time for the actual practice. Could you extend your meditation period up to, say, 40 minutes?

taiyaki

whatever meditation you do make sure really look back at the person who is meditating. Intimately question who is meditating. don't do this always but only when you're open to it.

whether you're working on concentration, doing a mantra, being mindful, just chilling. once and a while turn your awareness around on itself. it's fun stuff.

meditation is what it is. do it when you want to.

Epicurus

The main motivator for any kind of "practice" ( i don't like that term), for me, is suffering.