I’ve tried building a meditation habit many times. It never works out in the long-term and although it’s good for clearing and controlling my mind in the moment, there’s something I’ve found that’s better…
Just doing the things that matter.
When I write, I get lost in the words. When I play sport or train, I get lost in the movement. When I talk, I get lost in the conversation.
Purposeful action is the best meditation. It’s oxygen. It’s the only way forward.
Only in the flow can I find the greatest stillness. Sure, it might be convenient to be able to sit down, whack on a timer and try to think nothing for a while, but isn’t the root cause of an active mind because you’ve got unfinished work? Points to prove?
Only when you’re doing the work or the point-proving is the mind quiet, because it pours itself into the meaningful task at hand, desperate to make the best job of it.
This works the same when you’re making decisions - you can only choose your way forward up to a point. After this, everything is pointless speculation.
Better to act, get the data from the feedback of this action, and then choose to act again after that, from your new, higher point of understanding.
Action is the only thing that gets you there. Rare is the decision that can’t be made just in time, or be iterated upon. You might find value in sitting and ruminating about them for a while, but even when it’s time for this, you’re advised to move. Go for a walk, look at a horizon, just don’t stay still and think.
Trust your action, not your thoughts. That’s what other people see and trust, you should as well.