If Meditation Hasn’t Worked for You — Try This

Alternative forms of meditation for when you can’t focus on your breath one moment longer

Image by Jason McBride

You’ve heard all about the benefits of meditation. You know the science behind the benefits of meditation is overwhelmingly positive. You even know that meditation has gone from an ancient sacred religious practice to a fringe hippie belief and then to a billion-dollar industry over the past sixty years.

But what do you do if you can’t meditate? What if you can’t stand focusing on your breath?

Despite the fact that there are countless apps, podcasts, YouTube channels, and articles designed to teach you how to meditate, many of us struggle to find any peace from the practice.

Not All Meditation is the Same

In the United States, meditation almost always refers to the practice of transcendental meditation. This is a particular type of meditation with ancient roots in India and is often associated with both Hinduism and Buddhism. When you imagine sitting still for long periods of time while focusing on your breath, you are thinking of transcendental meditation.

Many people feel like they are failing at meditation because they are never able to quiet their minds. If you find…