Last time we explored the 3 most common hurdles people experience when they are practicing meditation & mindfulness. Here are some of the other obstacles it’s not uncommon to crop up against as your practice continues.
Things feel like they are getting worse before they get better.
When we get still & silent our minds often seem very loud & busy, this is completely normal, we just weren’t aware how busy our mind was until we stop & turn inwards. And sometimes in the stillness & quiet it amplifies things inside of us that we maybe don’t like that much. Meditation may show you things you don’t want to see, work that you need to do on yourself. And this work is never done, there is always something to work on – we’re a bit like the Forth Bridge: when they get to the end of painting it, they need to start all over again. So it is with spiritual healing.
Often if we have been pushing away thoughts, feelings, behaviours we don’t like, which is a habitual human habit, it can feel harder to deal with what comes up than to just push it away. Here’s the thing: we have all ‘chosen’ to incarnate on this planet to learn the lessons we need to learn to grow, heal & transform. If we keep pushing these lessons away, the universe will keep giving us the same one until we learn it & can make things really uncomfortable to guide towards that lesson. Healing & growth isn’t always love & light, sometimes it’s hard work but that’s a good thing, it’s always worth it because you are evolving & transforming.
How will I know I’m doing it right?
There’s no right or wrong to meditating. Every experience is different & unique for that time. Just remember: there’s no such thing as a bad meditation! Even a ‘tough’ meditation is transformative. The best thing to to try to not come to the practice with any expectations, just appreciate whatever your experience is. You’ll know it’s working when you you start to miss the practice if you skip a session.
It’s not what I expected
Nothing in life generally is! Be mindful (pardon the pun) of your expectations – they can trip you up. I mentioned before to watch your intentions & the energy you bring to your practice. It’s the same with expectations. Not every meditation will be relaxing, peaceful & calm so if this is what you are expecting you could be disappointed.
During the first lockdown I had done several days of hip opening yoga practices. We hold a lot of emotional energy in our hips. I was meditating one evening & felt this huge black mass of energy moving through & out of my body. It felt like stuff that had been buried decades ago was finally being released. It was immensely emotional & quite a visceral experience. Thankfully I am well aware that sometimes things like this can happen in a meditation & although it was emotional, it felt very cathartic & cleansing & so I appreciated the experience as such. I have been meditating for almost a decade & never experienced anything like this before or since & it is highly unlikely you will experience something so moving especially in the early days but meditation can often lead to insights & revelations you weren’t expecting, it’s all part of the healing process. It’s helpful to be mindful of this.
I can’t get comfortable.
We rarely sit still & silent for long so it can feel uncomfortable. Try lying down, sitting in a chair rather than cross-legged on the floor. Or try befriending the discomfort, using it to anchor yourself – discomfort can be a little like the distractions around you, try using them as an anchor rather than a distraction.
But if you are uncomfortable, simply shift your position, there’s no rule that says you must sit in a certain position & stay there – don’t sacrifice comfort for perfection. You are more likely to gain insights if you are comfortable.
Meditation & mindfulness have been a huge part of my life, helping me to navigate many of life’s challenges from international relocations, divorce, mental health wobbles, parenting issues, the menopause & I have found them to be extremely useful during the recent lockdowns. The journey hasn’t always been plain sailing but the practices have literally changed my life which is why I am so passionate about them. Next time we’ll explore informal meditation practices, which helps us to integrate mindfulness into our lives.
This week’s FREE meditation is the something very different to what I’ve shared so far: an energy clearing meditation. To get your own copy, simply email Alex to the email address below quoting Frost ECM.
Alex is based on the edge of the stunning Cotswolds & has been sharing her love for all things yoga & mindfulness for the last 8 years, not just in the UK but also around the world. Her mission is to help everyone discover a sense of peace & calm within & to encourage them to embrace regular self-care practices.
If you would like more information on how to practice mindfulness, meditation & yoga message her at alex@alexbannard.com
For free resources check out her Facebook group: Mindfulness & Yoga for Self-Care, here is the link: https://www.facebook.com/groups/MindfulnessYoga4Relationships
Alternatively please check out her website: www.alexbannard.com