When Meditation Feels Boring

In this meditation, I speak about a very old and very familiar experience: the feeling that you would rather be somewhere else.In the monastic tradition, this restlessness has a name: acedia. It is not laziness, but a subtle boredom that arises just when practice begins to deepen. It offers us alternatives — other places to be, other chairs to sit on, other tasks to do. It may even suggest that we are not progressing and should stop.Rather than fighting distraction, we learn to notice it and smile. We gently return to the breath. We quietly reaffirm, “I choose this time of meditation.”This daily guided meditation offers a moment of calm, whether you are pausing during the day or winding down before sleep, helping you stay steady when restlessness appears and strengthening the simple habit of returning.Chapters 00:00 – Introduction 00:34 – What is acedia? 01:00 – The bell 02:40 – How do you feel about the meditation? 03:00 – The urge to be elsewhere 03:25 – “I choose this time of meditation” 04:40 – Observing distraction 05:10 – Subtle alternatives and novelty 05:50 – The urge to check the time 06:15 – “I’m not progressing” 08:20 – Persevering in practice 09:09 – Closing bell Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.