How do I meditate when there are distractions in the house?
Children,
Neighbors,
Traffic or other noises.
The first thing I want you to know is this.
You don't need perfect silence to meditate.
In fact,
If you are waiting for life to become completely quiet before your practice,
You may end up waiting forever.
Many people believe that meditation means eliminating distractions.
But meditation isn't about controlling your environment.
It's about changing your relationship with what is happening around you.
Imagine you're sitting beside a river.
Thoughts are flowing.
Sounds are flowing.
Life is flowing.
You don't need to stop the reaver.
You simply learn to sit beside it.
So the next time sound appears during meditation,
Instead of thinking this is ruining my practice.
Try to say.
There's the sound.
And then gently return to your breath.
Or to return to the sensation of the body sitting in the chair.
Or the feeling of your feet touching the floor.
Nothing has gone wrong.
In fact.
Every time you note this,
Being distracted.
Come back.
That's strengthening the very skill that meditation develops.
Is not perfection.
Presence,
Without judgment.
Sometimes even you can invite the sounds to be part of your meditation.
The barking dog,
The washing machine,
The voices in the other rooms.
Instead of resisting them,
Allow them to exist.
You don't have to fight reality to find peace.
Peace.
Isn't always found in silence.
Sometimes it's found in me.
Learning to remain present.
In the middle of the life.
As it is.
So if your meditation isn't perfect today,
You're not failing,
That's okay.
You're practicing.
And that is enough.
Take care and I see you in the next session.
