Adventures in Living a Healthy, Juicy Life
Benjamin joins us this week from peacefulprosperity.com with the Top 5 “most lame excuses” he hears from his practitioners or should-be practitioners about finding time to meditate. Take a look! You’ll probably find some of your own favorite excuses in this list. We all have good reasons for avoiding what we know is good for us. Plus, we use the same ones over and over again,no matter what the situation! – Cheryl Ragsdale
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Top Five Lame Excuses NOT to Meditate
Guest Post by Benjamin Langley
Despite it being one of the most profound tools that I have ever found for developing peace, power, and happiness… I constantly hear lame excuses why people can’t meditate.
These are just a few.
Lame Excuse 1 – “But I don’t know how…”
This used to be a legitimate excuse. Anyone who truly seeks will find…
but up until relatively recently… you might have to seek for quite a while 
Now, seeking can be as simple as a Google search.
Not all meditation teachers are the same, but there are a wide variety of powerful practices out there that you can access easily from the internet.
If you want it, you can find it quickly and easily.
There are relaxation meditations, guided meditations, energy meditations, and focus meditations. You can simply pick a style that resonates with you, and build from there
Would you like to know how easy it is to start meditating?
- Take a deep breath
- Let all out with a big relaxing sigh… “Aaahhhhhh!”
- Now simply pay a little bit more attention to whatever your doing… sitting there, reading this article, thinking whatever thought you are thinking… just pay a little more attention to one aspect
- Now gently pour even more awareness into it
Congratulations! You’re meditating!
Lame Excuse 2 – “I don’t have time” or ”I’m too busy”:
This brings up a few points.
I notice that people always make time for what they consider a priority. Is meditation a priority for you? Is anything you love a priority for you? (we’ll pick this line of thought back up in a moment)
The second point is meditation doesn’t require the half hour or hour that many people talk about. If you have that much time and dedication… then have fun! Most of us do not. What can we do?
Meditate for 15 minutes, if you can’t do that, meditate for 5 minutes, if you can’t squeeze in 5 minutes… take a single minute to meditate…
That’s right, meditate for 60 seconds!
We can all find 60 seconds to become a little more focused and relaxed (one of the most interesting things about this… when you really imagine it, you can begin to feel it happening).
Perhaps the most important point is that meditation doesn’t require you to sit down in a quiet space with no interruptions. That certainly helps, but it isn’t required.
Did you think of some priorities that you love? I only ask because any one of these well loved priorities can become a meditation. When you are really enjoying yourself, just relax a little bit more, and pay a little bit more attention to what you are doing and/or what you are feeling (reference the instructions in lame excuse 1).
Lame Excuse 3 – “It’s not cool”:
This of course is very subjective… but in my not-too-humble opinion…
It is very cool to be able to step into a more focused state, a more relaxed state, a state of deeper presence… a state where you are more aware of your aliveness…
In fact, being ‘cool’ can be the result of a meditative level of mind. When you are in a truly peaceful place… where you let go of judgment and feel beyond the events occurring… where you have a deep, appreciative acceptance, as if you can find beauty in anything… when you can pour your focus into something so completely that you become a piece of it and it becomes a piece of you… you are going to be the coolest person any of your friends has ever met.
Besides, how cool is it to be able to step a little further into enjoyment? You could use this while spending time with family or friends, while relaxing by yourself, while practicing your favorite hobby, while making love… which might be your favorite hobby 
Lame excuse 4 – “It’s Boring”:
Like a child in front of a piano, it may be hard to appreciate the magical gift that is being offered to you… the trick is to learn to really pay attention. Are you really noticing what is arising…
have you really given it a chance?
It is true that meditation isn’t quite as easy as zoning out in front of the TV.
In the beginning… it is a lot like first learning how to read… very rewarding, but challenging. As you get better and better, it’s as if you have to put in less and less work… and you get more and more reward.
There is another way of looking at this…
What you find interesting, is simply what you choose to find interest in…
Like many practices… once you really start, you probably won’t stop.
If you are going to find meditation interesting enough to play/practice… you will decide to do it for your own reasons. What makes something interesting to you? How will you begin to find meditation deeply fascinating? What benefits of focus and relaxation specifically resonate with you?
Lame excuse 5 – “It’s not good for anything”:
On the contrary… it’s good for everything.
The best metaphor for this, I learned from an incredible meditation instructor… Shinzen Young. Building your abilities of concentration and relaxation can be compared to building your muscles. Once you have developed muscular strength and endurance, it will be a benefit to you in a wide array of physical and athletic activities. You will be better at many different sports, lifting, carrying, playing with your children, etc.
Your ability to relax and concentrate works in a similar fashion… only it can serve you everywhere in life! Think of all the things in life that can benefit from increased focus and relaxation: learning, work, play, relationships, and spirituality, just to name a few.
Few people recognize that meditation can help you to get better at work and play… and have a great time while you do it. It is not always easy to accept the idea that a little work in one area can have almost universal benefit across your life.
But when you find a great teacher and really begin to play with meditation… you will be able to discover deeper meaning throughout your life.
If you’ve ever held one of these 5 lame excuses as your ‘reason not to meditate’… hopefully I’ve given you some food for thought.
I’ve been a little sneaky in this article. In addition to the obvious… I’ve also given you 5 meditations… I only specified it step-by-step once… but as you read this article, you can quite naturally begin to notice which excuses apply to your thinking, you can start to recognize all the reasons you would like to build more focus and relaxation, and you might even begin to realize a little bit of that increased focus and relaxation… right now!
Author Bio: Benjamin Langley has been practicing a wide variety of meditations over the last 15 years. He has written over 300 articles about using meditation and other tools for developing peace, power, and happiness in your life. Right now, he is offering 3 hours of meditation instruction as a free download at PeacefulProsperity.com/Master-Meditation-Master-Your-Life/ .
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photo credits purple jacket, meditation in green, meditation cartoon
Your comments are always appreciated! Let us know what you think.
What’s your favorite excuse?
The comment box is half-way down the page on the right-hand side of this post.
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Flaunt Your Flaws!
On Fridays, I’m joining Staci from justbloggled.com to provide a forum to discuss what we find to be “not quite right” about ourselves. The objective is to celebrate what supposedly “doesn’t work”. For instance, I have really big feet – haha! Staci complains about having a flat butt.
So, what’s your favorite excuse? Have you ever noticed we use the same excuses no matter what we’re talking about? Is that a flaw?
Only if you think so. If you don’t want to do something, say proudly, “I’ve changed my mind. I no longer wish to …” and leave it at that.
But, when you are ready to push through your edge – to break out of your comfort zone – to take a risk, notice what you say to yourself and others that holds you back from stepping forward to honor your word and do what you said you were going to do.
You never know, you might end up on the cover of a book, like me! (that’s me, second from the left – yes, it’s available for sale)
What’s most important to consider is that you never know where the steps you take today will lead you.
To repeat what Ben said above:
“Few people recognize that meditation can help you to get better at work and play… and have a great time while you do it. It is not always easy to accept the idea that a little work in one area can have almost universal benefit across your life.”
If meditation is not your thing, insert something else in the blank. The point is, do something that moves you forward towards health, happiness and enjoyment in life. It really does take just a few minutes – and yes, you are worth every precious minute you spend taking good care of yourself. Love your heart!
Until next time!
Cheryl Ragsdale aka ThatGirlisFunny
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More information about “50 Athletes over 50 Teach us to Live a Strong, Healthy Life” by Don McGrath, Ph.D.
“In 50 Athletes over 50, Don McGrath shines light on people who are great examples of the power of active living, and inspires us to tap our inner child’s passion for play.” – Dr. James Rouse, Founder of Optimum Wellness and Co-founder of Mix 1
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Cheryl Ragsdale practices martial arts for fun and physical fitness at Florian Martial Arts Center. She was recently promoted to Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Blue Belt by Keith Florian and Kenny Florian, both Black Belts. Stand up for yourself and stay young from the inside out. Check out some of my other posts strictly for UFC fans and fighters.
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Benjamin
This is a great article. it is very useful. Thanks for the information and idea. taking your advice now could really help me to relax from my job. i am really trying hard to practice meditation. it really needs a lot of practice with discipline. I do have some online business and websites and i wanted to have time to relax and have meditate. i also read some articles similar to this. those still are great articles similar to this one.
hoping to read more from you.
Best Regards,
Mark.
How about “because I’m dead tired by the time my daughter falls asleep at night so that all I can do is fall right into bed too?” Lol!
I was into yoga and other forms of exercise before I had my baby. She’s 2 years old now — a lot more independent — so I guess this is the perfect time to go back. Wish me luck!
Great post. I tried to meditate once, but then I stopped. I need to reconnect, because I do remember it helping to keep me calm and more centered in this crazy world we live in.
Faith@Fashion Jewelry´s Last Fabulous Post [type] ..Kat Von D is Engaged- But Even She Doesnt Care
Twitter: thatgirlisfunny
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Hi Faith,
Meditation is a practice. Like exercising, when we stop, we gain back the weight that we lost. It just isn’t fair that it works that way
I hope you get inspired to breathe deeply and practice meditation again. Thank you so much for visiting. Kat got a really nice engagement ring, didn’t she?
Cheryl´s Last Fabulous Post [type] ..Stay Young from the Inside Out- Be Happy When Things Are Less Than Perfect
I keep telling myself I’m going to meditate but I don’t. I don’t think it’s that I don’t have time, I think I use lame excuse number 4. I just always seem to be able to think of something more interesting to do.
Twitter: benjaminlangley
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I have had the same challenge, Emily.
Use guided meditations if that helps. Just do it for 1 minute if that helps.
If you are really interested in trying it though… find some way to try it and play with it consistently.
Keep in mind, though, formal meditation is not absolutely necessary (though it can be very helpful). There are plenty of other activities that you can use to build focus and relaxation…
keep smiling,
Benjamin
Benjamin@Meditation for Beginners´s Last Fabulous Post [type] ..Michelle Vandepas Interview on Master Meditation Master Your Life
meditation can make you laugh
http://www.comics-strips.com/2010/07/comics-strips-serious-meditation.html
Twitter: thatgirlisfunny
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That was a cute cartoon
Cheryl´s Last Fabulous Post [type] ..Stay Young from the Inside Out- Be Happy When Things Are Less Than Perfect
Ouch! It hurts. Yeah, the first two are my excuses, not only for meditating but for the things that I really do not want to do.
Twitter: thatgirlisfunny
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Hi Lisa,
Funny how that works, isn’t it? You’re only human, just like the rest of us
Cheryl´s Last Fabulous Post [type] ..UFC 118 – Which Fighters Did Cheryl Meet
Twitter: benjaminlangley
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Finding the fun in discipline might be the most rewarding game we can play in life.
.-= Benjamin´s Last Fabulous Post blog ..The Portable Prayer of St. Francis =-.
Twitter: thatgirlisfunny
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Most profound, Benjamin…sounds like an interesting idea for a blog post. I’d love to hear your thoughts on that particular subject.
.-= Cheryl´s Last Fabulous Post blog ..Canadian Olympic Skater Rochette, determined, discipined and courageous in face of unexpected tragedy =-.
Twitter: benjaminlangley
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Sounds like a great idea to me!
.-= Benjamin´s Last Fabulous Post blog ..5 Flavors of True Happiness! =-.
Twitter: MeganJoyGirl
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What a great article on meditation and the excuses people use NOT to do it. I’d add: “I can’t quiet my mind!”
I have so many friends who tell me that… And yes, I think it’s lame and tell them so off the bat. The whole point of meditation is to reach a comfort level with it where the mind does quiet down for a few moments at a time, and yes, that will change from sit to sit. Sometimes I can stay quiet for what feels like forever. Other times, my mind is so racy I can’t sit for five minutes! Practice makes near-perfect. Keep sitting!
.-= Megan “JoyGirl!” Bord´s Last Fabulous Post blog ..Moving Into Unconditional Love On All Levels =-.
Twitter: benjaminlangley
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Thank you for your comment, Megan!
I used to worry entirely too much about the ‘quiet mind’ factor, myself.
The more I accept, the less it matters
Now it seems like the actual silence is the medium from which all else arises… or the formlessness that gives birth to form.
Every now and again, it seems that I step into a place where I can experience this…
Of course, we never get the wonderful experiences without getting past the lame excuses!
And I completely agree… practice, practice, practice.
keep smiling,
Ben
.-= Benjamin´s Last Fabulous Post blog ..Focus & Flow =-.
Twitter: thatgirlisfunny
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Funny enough, practice requires discipline. People might not think meditation and discipline go together, but they do. Discipline is required to break through our excuses no matter what we’re doing. Nike really has the right idea, “just do it”. Ommmm…lol!