Use Distraction to Strengthen Your Meditation

How often have you sat down to meditate, only to find yourself distracted within minutes (or seconds?) by the “to do list” of things waiting for you when you’re done? 

If you’re like most people, once you become distracted, you sigh, “what’s the use?” and get on with your day. Or, if you’re really persistent, you double-down your effort and exert maximal concentration to get yourself through your session and beyond your distraction. 

But…what if distraction is a reason to celebrate? What if distraction is an invitation back to your practice? What if distraction is vital to your becoming a better meditation practitioner?

Rejoice in Returning!!

Most people, myself included, have become frustrated at one time or another with what seems like the never-ending stream of thoughts that permeate daily living. In fact, reactivity to thoughts is probably the biggest barrier to maintaining a meditation practice. 

But we needn’t despair if we find ourselves distracted. In fact, we can celebrate the fact that we notices that we’ve become distracted!

Awareness Training Through Distraction

In the most popular post that I’ve ever had on this site, I discussed the 3 important “pillars” of meditation, with the most important being awareness. 

When we’re driving down the road, daydreaming, and realize that we’ve missed our exit, what is it that brings us back to the moment? 

Or if we’re working on a project and find ourselves lost in thought about something completely off-topic, who is it what realizes that we’ve become distracted?

Or if we’re in a tense discussion (argument?) and we manage to get ourselves out of our emotions and into the present, what is it that rescues us?

ANSWER = AWARENESS

Here’s the amazing, cool, mind-blowing, extraordinary news!!! Your awareness is always with you…even when you’re distracted! And each time that you use your awareness to bring yourself back to the present moment, you’re strengthening your awareness. Which means…you’re strengthening your meditation practice!! Isn’t that cool?!?  I think so.

That’s why I’ve shared that awareness is the most important aspect of meditation. In fact, you could almost say that if you’re aware and undistracted, then you’re meditating, regardless of whether you’re sitting on a cushion, or doing the dishes, or shopping, or…..(your turn.)

So Next Time You Meditate…

When you find that you’ve become distracted in your meditation…or in life, simply bring yourself back to the moment, gently, easily, without giving yourself a hard time. Without beating yourself up. And then…celebrate! Because you’re back! And…

…notice the nature of your awareness. Because therein lies the secret to ongoing peace and happiness. Sound good? Want more? Should I tease out this aspect of meditation a little more? Let me know…

How To Meditate

Maybe you’ve already got a meditation practice. If that’s the case, great! Keep it up. And feel free to use all of the content from this site to support you in your efforts. If you haven’t started to meditate, begin now.

Many people don’t meditate because they believe that they need to do “something special” in order to meditate, maybe you’re one of them. “Doing something” special isn’t the case. All you need is your breath, and a few minutes of time set aside to begin your practice. Here are some tools to get you started:

• Meditation audio for using your breath as the anchor of your attention during meditation.
• Ebook and two chapters from the book, Minding the Bedside: Nursing from the Heart of the Awakened Mind, on how to meditate.
• Even though my book was written with nurses in mind, I continue to get feedback from those who have bought it who aren’t nurses that they find it useful in their lives. So, whether you’re a nurse, a nursing student, or someone who appreciates what I’m offering on this site, check out the book, Minding the Bedside: Nursing from the Heart of the Awakened Mind. It’s really written for anyone. You can even buy it in a Kindle version!

This site has tons of tools for learning how to meditate.

I encourage you to look through the HUNDREDS of articles that I’ve written and especially check out my weekly meditation tips and other useful meditation materials provided for your health and well being. And please let me know if you’d like to discuss anything with me, have any questions or need clarification regarding anything that I’ve written about.

Thanks for visiting and have a mindful day.