Welcome to Episode 3 of the Inner Peace Seeker Series.
I am your host,
Nicole Batiste.
I just decided to go with this because I just started doing it in the last video and we're just going to go with it.
In Episode 2,
We talked about what to do with all the thoughts since you decided to start meditating.
In this episode,
We'll talk about why is it so hard and whether to get started or even just stay consistent in the practice.
And we'll talk about How do you know if it's actually working?
Why is it hard?
You'll recall from the last episode I always say it's hard until it's not.
So there are actually a couple of reasons that come to mind right off the bat that pretty common to someone just getting started in meditation.
The first one is one that I experienced before I learned Transcendental Meditation and that's just not really knowing what I want to get from the meditation.
So you're just you're meditating without intention You're just sitting there staring at something or with your eyes closed and you're like,
I don't know what I'm doing anymore So if you check out episode one of the series,
You'll see that we talked about that the three categories,
The three main categories based on brainwave patterns and the types of meditation that fall within those categories and we talk about the benefits of each category.
It is not an exhaustive list but it gives you an idea and it gives you a good place to start.
Another thing that could be making it a little bit harder is the time of day or the location.
You haven't carved out a place in somewhere,
Your home or your office or whatever,
In the time of day.
So there could be distractions.
Consider that if you have young kids,
If you have pets that are unruly like mine was.
Now she eventually got it when I just didn't interact with her.
But that can be something if you find yourself falling asleep,
Consider the time of day that you're doing it.
But those are some things that can tend to make the practice a little bit hard to either start or maintain.
If you're finding it hard because your mind just won't be quiet,
Then check out episode number two.
We talk all about what to do with all those thoughts that are floating all over the place and just like bombarding you.
So yeah,
You should get some good nuggets from that one.
This last one is finding time to meditate.
And under that category,
I listed a couple things that can be common for people.
Have you made meditation a priority or is it just something on your to-do list?
If it's on your to-do list,
You're disconnected from it.
It's not something that you're recognizing as part of a self-care practice.
For so many different things.
Longevity,
Clearer mind,
Less stress,
All of that.
Just dawned on me,
I hadn't even mentioned stress.
I was just mentioning other things,
But yeah,
Meditation helps with stress,
Anxiety as well.
Even editing.
Studies have been shown on how Transcendental Meditation has helped people with ADD.
I digress.
I can do a whole nother talk on that later.
Another one is,
When you think about maintaining a practice,
What comes up for you?
Does it,
Do you think about.
.
.
This is a waste of time.
Do you think about.
.
.
Are you dreading it?
Just like,
What is your mindset around the practice altogether?
Because that in and of itself can make it difficult to either start or maintain the practice.
Another one is,
Does it cost too much,
For lack of a better word?
Does it seem like it takes more effort than the benefit you would get from it?
And that kind of helped.
It's like a laziness or lethargy when you're just like.
.
.
I think that's just going to carve out all this time during my day and I don't even see why I'm doing it anyway.
So if any of those are some of the things that you find yourself running into,
Revisit.
Revisit.
Get really clear with yourself and decide if this is something you want to do.
Understand why you're doing it.
Wow,
This is a short list again.
These are things that are common to people getting started.
It's hard until it's not.
It's hard until you choose to commit no matter what,
Which is what I did when I learned.
That's when I learned Transcendental Meditation.
What happened is I learned it.
I was really good at it.
TM is twice a day.
I was really good at once a day,
But I was not good at twice a day.
That was very sporadic.
However,
I noticed a difference when I did twice a day versus just once a day.
And so since November 23rd,
2024,
I said,
No matter what,
I am going to practice twice a day.
Since that time.
I have had a major surgery.
I've had a dislocated shoulder from a motorcycle accident.
I've broken my toe.
And no matter what,
Before anesthesia set in,
I did my second meditation when I was in the hospital.
I came online.
To do the meditation,
Because at the hospital,
My community is like,
What in the world?
I'm like,
As long as I can pick up a phone and I can meditate,
Y'all are going to see me show up.
It's for me just as much as it is for them.
It's also hard until you understand why you are doing it for you.
So if you need some support around being consistent,
You are welcome to join me in the community,
Monday through Friday here on Insight Timer,
5.
30 a.
M.
For any form of meditation you practice.
I will be practicing TM.
There are some people who are TMers there.
There are people who,
One of our IT teachers does crochet there sometimes.
Some people turn on something guided while we're sitting there.
It's whatever works for you.
That is what you're invited to do to help you stay consistent.
That is really why we're there.
And so once you stay committed and you're like,
How do I know it's working?
I would say if you've been on a wellness journey for a while,
You know how,
You know,
There are like subtle signs that show that things have been working over,
Over this time.
Same thing with meditation.
You may notice that you don't react the same to something that you would have done,
That your reaction to something now is different from a reaction you would have had a year or so ago.
I noticed that for me,
Like if I drop something or spill something,
I just look at it and pick it up.
In the past,
Have been a piece of and I would have all kinds of stuff with myself.
So just noticing that for me also with Transcendental Meditation,
What I've noticed is an improved immune system,
A higher pain tolerance,
Although I don't know if that's great,
But I'm actually I'm glad it happened because my broken toe,
My dislocated shoulder,
That would have,
I don't know.
I've also noticed I can think more creatively,
More clearly,
More quickly.
My steps feel more guided.
I'm not,
I don't feel so,
I wonder if this will work or should I be doing this?
I kind of mentioned that on,
On a previous episode,
But it's just,
It's just a whole different experience that I've,
I've noticed little things.
And so that's what you will also,
Um,
And theory.
There's no blanket,
Right?
In theory,
You will notice little things start to shift.
Oh,
I sleep better too.
But you'll notice little things,
Reactionary things,
Thought things,
Emotional things will start to shift.
Look different and be experienced differently for you.
So I hope that helps.
My inbox is open.
I have a group here on Insight Timer,
World Peace Through Inner Peace,
Anterra Mastery,
Or Anterra Mastery,
World Peace Through Inner Peace.
I can't remember which way it goes.
But anyway,
You're welcome to join.
If you have any questions,
Throw it in a group.
It could help other people who may have had the same question.
I'm very responsive in a group.
Yeah,
That's all I got for this particular episode.
So with that said,
Until then,
This to your inner mastery,
Creating inner peace.
Success and world peace.
Thank you for helping me bring ripples of peace into the world.
May you create the most amazing now moments.
Until I see you next time,
Ciao for now.
