meditate daily

This is the most difficult goal to “give up” on. But I really want to work on some more basic things first, then come back to this. I know meditating would be helpful. But I just can’t do everything that would improve my life. I’m working hard to get my list down to the essential things I want to work on next year and a few fun things.

Well, I’ve finally started. Don’t know why I resisted so much, but hopefully it will be easier to keep going than doing it the first time. The suggestion to just do 5 minutes was great advice because it made it seem possible. I’m sitting cross-legged on the living room floor (on carpet). The dogs want to kiss me, but stop when I push them away so I’m just adding an extra minute to my timer to account for that.

The most challenging part seems to be breathing. After a couple of slow deep breaths, I have the urge to take a quick breath and then exhale quickly and forcefully. I’ve never breathed well; once had a surgery cancelled outside the operating room door because of “prolonged exhalation”. I believe it’s related to my asthma and poor habits. I will read some more about breathing and keep trying to do better.

I like the idea of pushing away thoughts. I’ve been envisioning them coming at my face like real physical things and mentally I just reach out and push them away.

Thanks for getting me going. I’m sure I’ll continue to need coaching.

Thank you so much to everyone who replied with suggestions, especially sitio and lefthand who wrote such long and detailed instructions. While I haven’t actually started yet, your ideas do make it sound doable. I’ve been trying to actually get some things done and I’ve used that as an excuse to put off starting meditation. But taking care of myself should come first and that would make everything else easier.

So, I think I have to do this in the morning. It should help get my day off to a good start and I’m always home then so it should be easier to stick to a routine. Besides the time, I’m trying to figure out what to do with the dogs. They think they have to be with me every moment and the girl will whine if I go into another room and shut the door. Maybe I can do it in the living room and they will just lay on the sofa. Anyone have experience with a similar distraction? OK, I really want to do this. I’m going out of town this weekend and want to start when I get back. I just sent myself a 43T reminder.

I’m sorry it took me so long to acknowledge the wonderful support that several of you have give me on this, but I really do appreciate all your comments. Thank you. I will report back soon.

I haven’t attempted to meditate for many years and I’ve never done it successfully. I can name a dozen reasons why I can’t do it, but I really want to get started. I need to pick a time of day, place, strategy, set a time limit, etc. Can someone give me a push in the right direction? I’m going to make excuses :-) Please don’t accept them.

I’ve always thought that meditation was “good”, but recently I’ve read some really compelling reasons to do it. Brain images of people who meditate regularly and those who don’t look different. It actually creates physical changes! Also, I’ve just finished reading a wonderful book, The Happiness Hypothesis. The author says that if you weren’t lucky enough to win the “cortical lottery”, there are three things that you can do to make up for it – Prozac, cognitive therapy, or meditation.