BellaOnline Forums Religion and Spirituality Meditation What Happens when you Try to Meditate?

I was reading Eat, Pray and Love and the second part of the book is her going to an Ashram in India. She has been doing yoga for several years, but even so she has ALL sorts of trouble meditating.

She says that it is barley moments into meditation before she starts having random thoughts in her mind - about her ex husband, about her ex lover, and then depressing thoughts about what a failure she is.

This made me wonder - what are the "distractions" you all have when you meditate? I start to make to-do lists without realizing it, thinking of things I have to do (other than meditate).

Ha, ha - yes, I think the mind will forever come up with distractions, for me, planning ahead for the next day, usually.

I like to think peace, peace, peace to get back to my mantra.

I can't clear my mind to meditate, i'm always thinking, yesterday when my psychologist came to my house for our session, all the time she was talking to me i didn't hear a word she was saying because i was to busy thinking, she is so aware that this happens to me.
And she never gives up on me. of course my thoughts are all negative,
To much going on in my head!

yes, my mind wanders into "to-do" list territory also.

That's where it pretty much always goes.

For the to-do list people, how about you give yourself a 15 minute to do session first, to get a lot of it out of your system. If something comes up during your meditation, let it go away, remind yourself that your to-do list is already set

Rosie - we need to write you a new soundtrack! You need to be your own mommy and nurture yourself. Any time you think of anything negative, remind yourself "I am an ever-learning person!" No matter what has happened in the past, you are learning to be healthier and happier in the future

OKay, after a bit of reading found this to try - I have found that if I say to myself, "thinking" as a thought bubbles up, i can move on. That is, until the next thought bubbles up.

But with each thought i attempt to just lovingly and amusedly notice it, pat it on the head and go back to sinking into the ocean.

Sometimes I feel so amused at myself i feel like giggling out loud. Which is a weird sensation because nothing actually *funny* is happening. I will treat this as a good thing. I think I am making progress. Small steps.

Jilly, I think you have an effective technique for relaxing; sounds like really floating in water, which I love.