Comments on: Overcoming problems of motivation to meditate

By: Champa

Champa — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 12:34:37 +0000

Hi Steven –
Love the website!
I believe I’m highly qualified to comment on this question of self-motivation as I have spent my whole life trying to be my ideal of who I’d like to be, making resolutions to do this or that (training, diet, education, reading, studying, meditation techniques, working out, etc.), believing that if I practiced those things long enough and with enough dedication, I would surely become this ideal person I wanted to be. Of course, you’ve guessed it, eventually I ran out of enthusiasm or inspiration and gave up. Each time I gave up, I renewed my fervent intention to ‘get back to it’, and some of those things I did but many I did not. Can you imagine how I beat myself up? Yes. I believe you can.
I can truly say to you that the turning point for me was when I tried out your instant recognition techniques. At the same time I discovered Byron Katie and ‘Loving what is’. Since that time I’ve given up all ‘trying’ and simply remain with what is, accepting myself the way I am right now, sometimes loving it, sometimes not, but simply noticing whatever is ’showing up’. This morning, instead of a meditation technique I felt to read Walt Whitman’s ‘Song of Myselt’. He says it all. So, my heartfelt thanks to you for your precious gift, Steven and love to all.

By: Mark

Mark — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 19:03:12 +0000

I too have seen myself at times as something I need to fix..you name it I’ve done it from therapy to reiki and everything in between and its a heavy burden to carry.
So now my motivation is to let that burden go.

By: Linda

Linda — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 23:59:09 +0000

Hi Stephen,

I believe that “lack of motivation” is an indication of another issue, but people can and do “fake things” or pretend to do something. I have been lead to believe that there is no right or wrong when it come to meditation and people do it without even realizing it. Kind of like self hypnosis. Great article.
Linda

By: Michele

Michele — Sun, 20 Dec 2009 03:52:38 +0000

Hi Stephen,

Great analysis of meditation “lack of motivation”. I agree, it’s pointing to something rather than being the issue itself. I think you’ve hit the nail on the head with your three possibilities, I can relate to each of them! Knowing I can benefit by doing shorter, in the flow of the day techniques, feels much lighter and more possible. I just hope these techniques prove fruitful. I see that I’m a little bit “all of nothing” and feel that if I can’t “do it right” I shouldn’t do it at all. Maybe this will redefine “doing it right”, and allow me to take a new approach.

Namaste,
Michele

By: definition of motivation

definition of motivation — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 11:14:25 +0000

Stephen
This is a very thought provoking article. I not totaly convinced by the “can’t fake it” idea. I think the sub-concious is very easily persuaded to believe “a lie” and we can spend a life time doing things out of habit. I like the point you make about lack of motivation being a pointer to another issue, especially the one about there being something wrong with us.
Andy
ps. I really like the colours and textures of you site.