Meditation Struggles and Insights

Have you ever thought or said to yourself, "I can't meditate," "I don't have time to meditate," or "My mind never turns off?" If you answer yes to any of these statements, you really ought to practice meditation. I often hear these expressions, prompting me to write this article about meditation struggles and insights.

At events and Q&As, people often ask me, "How do I begin this journey?" "How do I start to connect?" or "How do I start to work with energy?" Meditation is usually the answer. Meditation, over time, has taken on many forms and meanings, confusing a lot of people. The problem stems from not teaching or altering it to match our fast-paced society.

The surprising impact of social media! 

Consider social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok. They are constantly evolving, which modifies the way we think and approach things in society. Reels were formerly limited to one minute. TikTok videos were also generated with a short viewing period. YouTube, following suit, introduced YouTube Shorts. This demonstrates that our concentration span and ability to focus have drastically decreased. Unfortunately, by engaging in these social media activities, we confirm to our subconscious that we only want to do things for a short time.

Those with a short attention span from social media who are urged to meditate might respond with, "No, that doesn't sound fun." "That doesn't sound interesting." "That takes too long." "That's boring." And subsequently, return to comments such as "I can't; I don't have time." "My mind never switches off. So, what's the point?" Or something like, "Every time I do, I just fall asleep." In this article, I will walk you through some of the difficulties I've identified that you may relate to. I will clarify the insights and provide a cheat sheet. It will help you adapt and maximise useful meditation techniques for today's world.

Energetic work and meditation

Meditation is quite beneficial if you want to undertake energetic work. I'm not saying you should do it all the time. That's not the case. And I will put up my hand. I don't always do it all the time, but I am aware of when I should. Many of us feel overwhelmed as our minds race with constant distractions. We're consumed by life's demands, internal and external, simultaneously. That is why achieving that level of awareness is more difficult.

I was fortunate; I started meditating almost by accident at 14 when I discovered a technique on the internet that led me to begin channelling. That was my motivating force. It was the thing that helped me keep going. It pushed me to do it. In other words, my goal was to connect. I knew there was something more than this world out there. And, as a 14-year-old, how does one communicate that? Who do you talk to about it? The good old internet!

So, if you're from my generation (mid to late 1990s), you'll be familiar with the Alta Vista search engine, which runs on Netscape Navigator 5.0. Now, when I discovered this exercise, it was an automatic writing exercise. For those unfamiliar with my journey, automatic writing is this: You enter a deep, trance-like meditative state. Then, spirit takes over your hand and channels through it. And that's what I wanted for myself or for that to happen.

My first experience with meditation

I needed to learn to meditate. And the best part was that the previous exercise briefly and simply explained what was required. It was merely about relaxing your body and mind. It was that simple. So, I didn't consider meditation to be meditation. Not in the way that we hear and speak about it in today's society, where we talk about mindfulness and such. That wasn't important to me at the time; it had none of those labels or meanings associated with it. I merely saw meditation as a step towards my goal.

It is no different from cooking instructions when you want to bake a cake; it is simply a method for getting started. And that was useful to me. It didn't seem like a chore, nor did it feel weighty. It felt like a means to an end to get where I wanted to go. Fortunately for me, it happened quickly. I managed to meditate on my first try. I calmed my body enough, then connected and began channelling on the very first night. Now, I'm not suggesting everyone will do that. I would attribute it primarily to my age, as there is less stress at 14. I didn't have numerous worries or concerns. So, my age was a huge part of that.

I felt the benefits of meditation when I was 14. I slept better, felt more focused, and developed a desire to meditate often. I saw it as a means to help me connect with the other side. So that's an overview of my journey. Meditation was a little different and uncomplicated for me, and that is why I strive to make this process as simple as possible for people, as it is not difficult to begin. It doesn't take much to tap into that energy; it only requires a willingness to try.

Guided vs. unguided meditation

One of the first things that many people ask when they want to meditate is whether they should do a guided meditation or an unguided meditation.

For those who are new to meditation, guided meditation is having someone lead you through a meditation or visualisation. So, if it's a recording, either you're listening on YouTube or in my meditation library, you'll hear my voice guiding you through certain things, such as relaxation or sleep. It could be about connecting with your guides, connecting with your loved ones, or reconnecting with yourself. Whatever it is, there is a voice there to facilitate and guide you as to where to go or what the objective of that meditation should be. 

Unguided is self-explanatory, which means you're meditating all by yourself. That means you can still listen to music, but there is no voice to guide you to your objective. 

The big question is, which one should you do?

Now, I would estimate that 85 to 90% of individuals who are attempting meditation for the first time will prefer guided meditation simply because it allows them to stay focused. It helps them stay out of their heads and prevents their thoughts from getting in the way.

Many people struggle with unguided since it demands significantly more effort and dedication to feel and comprehend the effects. That being stated, I always remind every single client or student that they should begin with guided meditations and then explore unguided meditations. When you reach an unguided meditative state on your own, you will discover that the results are significantly better because you are being one with yourself, and that's the ultimate premise of meditation. It's about being in the moment; even with background music, it is magical.

Visualisation & expectations in meditation

Doesn't visualisation in these guided meditations keep you in your head?

Yes, technically speaking, they will keep you in your head. However, they will keep your mind focused and prevent you from having random thoughts and ideas, something many individuals struggle with. If you identify with the statement "My mind never switches off," then guided meditation is beneficial. It gives your head a focal point. So, while it keeps you in your head, it will assist you in reaching the desired outcome of gaining some level of insight or feeling from a meditation.

Isn't visualisation through guided meditation the same as expecting an outcome?

This is an excellent question. It will become an expectation, especially if you are informed that the guided meditation has a certain outcome. For example, you may be told that you will heal something traumatic from a previous life. This immediately sets your brain and psyche in the mindset of achieving this. We're going to have this result that sets up a different premise, which may pose problems during the facilitation. 

Another example would be going to the Akashic Records, which is where all of our knowledge is stored in the soul world. You may look through your energetic journals, for lack of a better term, and research your previous lifetimes as well as what you have planned for this life. If you were told during the guided meditation that you would be visiting the Akashic Records to learn about your life's purpose, it becomes highly specific and results-oriented. So, it all depends on how it is set up. Expectations will arise when it is highly result-focused or oriented. 

As I previously stated, expectations choke the energy and limit the ability of your mind, subconscious, and soul to guide you to where you want to go. Many people may leave feeling dissatisfied or deflated, believing they did not obtain what they were hoping for. That's always a risky way to approach any type of meditation. Please keep this in mind if you're looking for something new to try. You'd be better off saying, "We're going to join this meditation and look at the Akashic Records."

Now that's beautiful because you've got an idea of where you want to go, but there's no outcome specifically that you're looking for. That means it's allowing space for the energy, your soul, and your subconscious to show you what you need at that moment, not what you want. So that's something very important to look for and be mindful of. 

Off-script within guided meditation

What happens during a guided meditation if your thoughts wander?

This is another issue that arises during guided meditation, and it frequently happens to me. So, you're not alone!

Imagine you're comfortable and listening to a voice direct you, saying, "Let's walk up the stairs." And when you're ready to walk up the steps, for some inexplicable reason, your mind, your soul, and your subconscious say, "No, we're going down." Part of you hesitated, but that's not what they said; they said to go up the stairs, but we're heading somewhere else entirely. I'm off-script. Oh no, this is not going to work.

I'm not sure how many times I've gone off-script. But here's the best part: if you find yourself going off script with the facilitator or meditation guide, you are in flow. Never question it. Just keep going. And the beautiful thing is that you always get what you need, even if you don't follow it exactly. So, if you've experienced this and are concerned, please don't worry. If nothing else, you're being far more honest and connected to yourself because you're allowing it to flow.

8 quick tips to help you with meditation

So, I'll keep things quick and easy, but if you want to go deeper or need a little additional support, please check out the 5 for 5 Meditation Challenge I have on the Start Your Journey page; it only requires a $1 donation. 

Below are the 8 quick tips to starting on your own:

Number 1: Start small. What I mean is that many people want to overcorrect, delve too deeply, and overcommit to their meditation practice. They believe that they must sit or lie down for at least 30 minutes to claim to themselves, "I meditated." When you first start, doing shorter meditations will help you far more. For example, in the 5 for 5 Meditation Challenge, you will begin with the "five for five." This translates to meditating for five minutes per day for five days. And it's surprising how powerful a five-minute meditation can be, as well as how much you can receive in that time frame. So, start small. Don't overcommit. Don't overwhelm yourself. So, so important!

Number 2: Set yourself up for success. This is really important. Many people feel that they can just meditate on a whim. Of course, you can if you believe you can, but preparing mentally is necessary for success. Your mind is a powerful tool, and the more you set yourself up and prepare yourself to even have those five minutes, will help because you are telling your mind to block everything out for five minutes. 

Number 3: Preparation and routine equals readiness. Finding that time of day will allow you to prepare your mind to enter the meditative state much more quickly. You'll have to experiment with yourself here to figure out where and when this is. Setting oneself up can include locating the best location, preparing the room, choosing your music or guided meditation, and so on. Routine refers to when you are going to meditate. So it may be after you've taken a shower and are feeling relaxed. Some people prefer to start their day with meditation, but you must determine what works best for you. Routine equals readiness; therefore, your mind will be able to settle into that condition much faster. So, less effort, maximum results.

Number 4: Leave expectations at the door. Expectations choke the energy and what's going to come through when you're too focused on the outcome. Remember, meditation is about being in the moment, not about expectations and not about the outcome. If you need to, you can do a quick visualisation before you start. Close your eyes and picture a duffel bag, a suitcase, or a backpack. Once you've placed all your expectations in this bag, zip it up and visualise yourself going to your front door or your back door and leaving them outside the house, and then visualise yourself walking back to where you are and then starting your process. 

Number 5: Know what you want from the meditation. This is the most common mistake that leads to most individuals giving up. If you don't know what you want out of meditation, how will you feel when you finish? In more general terms, what do you hope to achieve with your meditation? Do you just want to turn your mind off? Would you like to calm your body? Would you like to connect? Would you like to try some self-healing? Notice how many different objectives there are when you're setting yourself up to meditate. This helps guide your energy, so know what you want to get out of it before you begin.

Number 6: Give yourself permission. Don't feel guilty about having time for yourself. This is a big one. I find that this is more oriented towards parents, who feel bad for taking five or ten minutes away from their children. I can assure you that if you practice giving yourself permission and the time for this, you will be a lot more present with them later in the day. So don't make yourself feel guilty because you're setting yourself up for failure with the process. It is an important aspect of preparing oneself. This is beneficial for you; this is going to be a benefit for your family as well. So please be mindful of that.

Number 7: Allow. This is massive! Allow things to come up. Allow things to flow through you. When you're in a beautiful meditative state, even for a short amount of time, like five minutes, things will pop up as we say, or thoughts will flow through to you. What's important is to let them flow and allow them to keep going. Don't hold onto them. Don't try to analyse them straight away because you'll choke the energy and pull yourself out of that beautiful vibration in the meditation. If you struggle with a random thought, allow that thought to pop up and then allow that thought to go. 

Number 8: Journal and reflect. Many people don't spend enough time doing this. When you're finished, take another five minutes to journal and reflect on how you felt, how you're dealing with it, and what came to mind. It's not necessarily always about what you see in the visualisation. What is crucial is to acknowledge what you are feeling and what you are experiencing in your body. Do you feel more relaxed? What popped up for you? When you journal and reflect afterwards, you will learn so much more. This also allows you to process your thoughts, emotions, and energy, preparing you for a more effective meditation session the next time. It is a vital follow-up process of allowing and processing it for yourself.

So, these are the eight tips that I wanted to share with you, and maybe understanding these will help you with your meditation. But, as I previously mentioned, you can take a look and try the 5 for 5 Meditation Challenge, which is completed via email and includes a video link each day. I walk you through it step by step, and you can schedule it all in your own time.

Hopefully, this has helped you with meditation, some of the struggles, and some of the insights, no matter where you are on the journey. Finally, I want to leave you this message. Meditation is always about raising your level of awareness in your body, mind, and soul. It's about being one with yourself in that moment. So, you may accomplish that by raising awareness. And the more you do this, the more conscious you become of yourself, how you're feeling, and how you're connecting with the people around you, including those you love, as well as the world around you. The more you practice this, the more you will experience flow in your life.

So hopefully this helps; if it has, let us know. I'd love to know how it's helped you.

Listen here for the podcast episode on this same topic: