7 Reasons You Don't Meditate (and what you can do about it) Part 6: "I Don't Know How&q

Well, that’s certainly a valid point. And there are so many different forms of meditation out there, it can be a bit overwhelming for the new practitioner. Yet, with all these forms, there is an equal number of enthusiasts willing to share what they know. Find a class, attend a workshop, go to a seminar/webinar. And if that particular form of meditation doesn’t float your boat, find another. That you have the desire, that is the first step in learning. Remember: when the student is ready, the teacher will appear.

One of the things I’ve recognized about meditation, and a point I make to my students, is that every form of meditation is like buying an outfit “off the rack”. It’s typically going to need some alteration for it to fit you. The waist might need to be taken in or let out, the sleeves might be too long or too short, etc. Take the basic instruction with the knowledge that what works for the teacher might not work for you just yet. Understand the principle being shared and play with it until you find what works for you.

Sometimes, a teacher forgets what it’s like for a beginner. If you can drive a car with a manual transmission, can you remember how easy it was for whoever taught you to shift gears? They showed you the basics, but then you had to find that left foot/right foot rhythm on your own. And, after a while, you had no problem shifting gears. It’s the same with meditation.

Find what works for you, yet know that it might have to evolve with you as you grow clearer. Yes, it’s possible to “outgrow” techniques, just like that off-the-rack suit of clothes!