What We Resist We Persist - on Meditation

LET THE TV'S STAY ON! This too shall pass...excellent adviee by Rev. Ed Kosac of Charleston Unity (This is some of the most practical advice I've seen in a while regarding this issue. Fighting with the thoughts and telling them go away just creates more noise - and it definitely does take practice.   Nate Willams)
 

What we resist, persists. People often ask me: "When I meditate Ed, the thoughts in my head are like a constant battle. It's like I have 9 tv's on in my head. They're incessant. How am I supposed to stop them?" I say DON'T!!! Let the tv's keep going, don't try to turn them off. Put them in the background of your mind, leave them on like white noise, and focus on the breath. It's ok to do this. Our minds were meant to be active and thinking all the time. Eventually the mind will slow down and we can get to a place of "emptiness" but that's only after a loooong time of meditating, perhaps years. Don't be so hard on yourself.

Another thing to consider is that sometimes our minds race because we have stressors that are pervasive. Consider slowing your life down if you can.

But don't analyze too much! If you're not aware of what the stressor or issue is, forget it for now and just focus on the breath. And let the tv's stay turned on for now. Things will work out in their own time and the mind will slow down as well.