Why I Gave Meditation Another Shot
Look, I’m gonna be honest here. I’ve always been skeptical about meditation. Back in 2015, my friend Lisa dragged me to one of those trendy studios in Brooklyn. I sat there for 30 minutes, trying to clear my mind, and all I could think about was the avocado toast I’d had for breakfast. I left feeling like a failure.
But then, about three months ago, I met this guy—let’s call him Marcus—at a conference in Austin. He was a former Wall Street trader, all calm and collected, and he told me meditation was the only thing that saved him from burnout. I was intrigued. So, I decided to give it another shot.
The Good, The Bad, and The Boring
First, I tried the meditasyon başlangıç rehberi günlük. It was okay, I guess. The guided sessions were helpful, but sometimes the instructor’s voice was so soothing I’d fall asleep. Which, honestly, maybe that’s the point?
Then I downloaded this other app. You know the one—it’s got the little orange logo. I set my alarm for 6:30 AM, determined to make this a habit. But by day three, I was hitting snooze and scrolling through Instagram instead. Classic me.
I talked to my colleague named Dave about it. He’s been meditating for years, all zen and stuff. He told me, “It’s not about being perfect, it’s about showing up.” Which… yeah. Fair enough.
A Breakthrough (Sort Of)
So, I kept at it. Some days were great—I’d finish a session feeling like I could take on the world. Other days? Total disaster. My mind would wander to my to-do list, my grocery list, that weird dream I had last night. It was frustrating, but I noticed something. Even on the bad days, I felt… different. Less anxious, maybe? I don’t know, it’s hard to explain.
I started reading alot about the science behind it. Turns out, there’s actual evidence that meditation can reduce stress and improve focus. Who knew? Not me, back in 2015, that’s for sure.
Then Came the Plateaus
But here’s the thing—I hit a wall. I was meditating every day, but I wasn’t seeing any big changes. I felt stuck. I talked to Marcus again, and he said, “It’s like going to the gym. You’re not gonna see results after one workout.” Okay, fair point. But still, it was discouraging.
I started experimenting with different techniques. Sometimes I’d focus on my breath, other times I’d try visualization. I even tried that thing where you count backwards from 100. It was kinda fun, honestly.
What I Learned (And What I Still Don’t Know)
So, where does that leave me? I’m not sure. I’m still not the meditation guru I imagined I’d become. But I’m not the same person who walked out of that Brooklyn studio in 2015, either.
I think the biggest lesson here is that it’s okay to suck at something at first. It’s okay to have off days. It’s okay to not be perfect. (Which is good, because I’m definitely not.)
And who knows? Maybe one day I’ll wake up and feel completely zen. Or maybe I’ll just be grateful that I didn’t check my email at 6:30 AM. Baby steps, right?
About the Author
Sarah Miller is a senior editor with over 20 years of experience in the health and wellness industry. She’s written for major publications, interviewed countless experts, and still can’t figure out how to make a proper green smoothie. When she’s not writing, you can find her running (slowly), reading (voraciously), and meditating (imperfectly).
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