Recently I’ve (re)started a meditation practice with a renewed sense of purpose. Committing not to “just 5 minutes a day” here and there, but to two twenty minutes (actually 22 minute) sits everyday. This extra time has been all the difference. Where do I find the extra 40 minutes a day?! Well, these essential 40 minutes clear my mind and calm my stress and soothe my ego and lighten my heart and release my soul and creates space so that God can speak directly to my heart. I am less angry on the days that I meditate. I am more productive, and energies, and joyful, and aware. I have more room for curiosity and wonderment because my mind is not consumed with thought and worry, and all those things. My children get more of me, my husband gets my smile and my silliness, the house is cleaner, the meals are more delicious and really there is not one area of my life that is not made better by my practice. Oh, and my yoga practice is stronger and more interesting. But, I don’t get the benefits in just 5 minutes. I need the extra time to settle in and surrender. Sure, yes, in 5, 10 minutes my mind with clear and my stress will dissipate, but if I stop there … I miss the good part.
“Meditation teacher Pema Chodron once said that the biggest problem I see with people’s meditation practice is that they quit just when things are starting to get interesting. Which is to say, they quit as soon as things aren’t easy anymore, as soon as it gets painful, or boing, or agitating. They quit as soon as they see something in their minds that scares them or hurts them. So they miss the good part - the part when you push past the difficulty and enter into saw raw new unexplored universe within yourself.
And maybe it’s like that with every important aspect of your life. Whatever it is you are pursing, whatever it is you are seeking, whatever it is you are creating, be careful not to quick too soon. “Don’t rush through the experiences and circumstances that have the most capacity to transform you.” Don’t let go of your courage the moment things stop being easy and rewarding.
Because that moment? That’s the most when interesting begins.”