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How do I get motivated to meditate?
Every day I plan to meditate when I get off work, but when I get home all I want to do is sit on the couch and watch TV. For example yesterday I came home watched TV and then said to myself, "I need to meditate." So I turned off the television and closed my eyes, but my mind felt extremely overwhelmed with thoughts that even my eyes wouldn't stay closed. So I stopped literally within 2 minutes. How do I get motivated, stay motivated and keep my eyes closed?
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Practise, practise, practise, practise, practise.
Nothing good ever comes easy.
Patience and perseverance pay.
Oh, and , PS:
Cut the plug off the tv.
So
It might be easier to slip into a regular practise if you find a time in the day when your thoughts are not so energized. First thing in the morning when you wake up may be an easier entry to scheduled meditation. Try sitting in meditation whether you do it for 3 minutes or 30. If that works try adding another period just before you go to sleep.
The past day and today I have just meditated from 11 am when I wake until 8 pm when I go to sleep. I'm planning on meditating every day all day for the rest of my life because the voices are so painful and meditaton stabilizes me and makes me think more clearly.
So get tired of suffering!
Easier said than done though.
Having small breaks during the day - even on the sofa - going back to the breath even for a few minutes, can be such a step.
Perhaps some Sutta/Sutra readings? Here's a start: http://www.accesstoinsight.org/search_results.html?cx=015061908441090246348:al1bklhbjbi&cof=FORID:9;NB:1&ie=UTF-8&q=meditation
Also, two minutes is way to short to give it a serious go. Sometimes the mind is like a train at full speed. You can't stop that suddenly. It takes time. This is of course especially the case when you just got home from work. The mind is still in an active mindset.
There are days my alarm goes off and I still struggle to wake myself up to meditate. It's the same thing with my workouts, I struggle to start, but once I've started I never, ever regret it. So I just have to remind myself of that, how I feel when I do it versus how I feel when I skip it. Both (meditation and my workouts) make enough of a difference in my life on a daily and long-term basis that I force myself to start because I know once I do, I won't stop.
Stay motivated = remember step 1 above - if everytime you stepped close to me I slapped your face, how many slaps would it take before you put 2 and 2 together and stopped stepping close? take your slaps - remember.
You managed it for 2 minutes - excellent result, a perfect 2 minute meditation - now try 2m1second meditation - much tougher than a 2 minuter but you did that alright so worse case, you will fail and be back at 2 minutes... nothing to lose - give it a go - keep trying until you can - move to 2 minute2second meditation when mastered... rinse + repeat
Eyes dont have to be closed for meditation - try different ways - variety is the spice of life.
Promise ... deliver. Promise ... deliver. Promise ... deliver.
Once this habit gains some traction, then consider meditation. Not, is it something all the 'good Buddhists' do; not is it something you feel you should do; not whether you will attain some god-knows-what reward if you do do it. Just consider it honestly.
Then, when you get an honest bead on how you honestly feel about it, consider tomorrow. When might there be five or ten or twenty minutes free? Then decide if you want to make a promise regarding that time. We're talking honesty here ... there is no right or wrong answer. There is only your answer.
Promise ... deliver. Promise ... deliver. Promise ... deliver.
And if you promise to meditate, then do it. No more excuses or explanations or hopeful dilly-dallying. Just do it because you promised and because keeping a promise is part of what makes things easier. Do it without regard to whether you may do it again or not. One promise at a time, with honesty in between ... just do it ... and things will be easier.
Turning the TV off and going to bed? Well great, turn it off - but before getting up and heading to the bedroom, settle back, take a few deep cleansing breaths -- do this not to meditate, but to just relax.... relax and focus on your slow, gentle breathing.... in and out.... in and out.... good way to prepare for sleep, (this routine), even if it doesn't end up becoming formal "meditation".
Not every Buddhist meditates. Not everyone can for a number of reasons, and "just not motivated" can be one of them. But there are other ways to be mindful and develop an inner quiet and sense of reflection. This can be done anywhere at any time; while walking the dog, while doing the dishes or laundry, while showering in the morning; any time, really.
That's my two cents.