“I’m meditating to quiet my mind, so why is my mind still so busy?”

There is an often-overlooked access point to meditation that I find both ironic and useful. Especially for those of us with beginner’s minds!

Many of us make our way to a meditation cushion, chair, or app in search of peace of mind from our repetitive and sometimes racing thoughts. From Substack to the news, science and the media tell us that meditation can help regulate our thoughts and our nervous system with mindfulness. 

In my experience, both are absolutely true. However, as beginners, we often think that we aren’t doing it right when we continue to experience challenging thoughts and feelings both on and off our meditation cushion or chair. 

One reason is that in a fast-paced world, most of us expect quick results. Having taught hundreds of people how to meditate, I can assure you that while it won’t happen overnight, it also doesn’t have to take months or even years to become a proficient meditator. It does, however, take consistency. Many instructors and apps get it wrong by suggesting that one needs to invest hours of their life to reap the benefits of meditation. All you really need to do is set aside 10-15 minutes daily to sit and practice to effect change. 

Of course, at Mind Oasis, we also suggest a Community Meditation session a week for accountability, fun, and community. These three aspects of mindfulness exponentially increase your potential as a meditator!

The next time you experience ruminating or repetitive thoughts, see if you can appreciate the focus of your mind. Then take three intentional full cleansing breaths while shifting your attention to your exhale. Return to your regular autonomic breathing and for a few moments continue to place your attention on the exhale. It may not completely or permanently shift your mind from the repetitive thought, but every time you replace a rumination with an intentional shift, you are rewiring your brain and strengthening your meditation practice.