Read the rest of Chapter 5 (audiobook chapter 9) about Asking The Right Questions and Why We Stop (5 mins)
The power of asking better questions
When it comes to habit forming, there are strong questions, and there are weak questions. A weak question is:
"Is skipping meditation this one time going to kill me? I need to check my social media accounts."
The stronger version of the same question is:
"Is scrolling through social media instead of meditating going to help me access my inner bliss?"
Same answer, different result.
Common Excuses
"I'm now practicing yoga."
"I'm waiting for things to get back on track."
"I keep falling asleep."
"I don't think I'm doing it right."
"It didn't work." (very common, but...)
Meditation is like the gym
There's no such thing as, "the gym didn't work." The only question is whether we used meditation properly (and long enough) in order to get the desired results.
Today's Challenge:
We're now at the halfway point in the challenge. This is usually the point when many participants begin to fall off because they ask "weak" questions that justify excuses and sloppy behavior.
But because you've recently put thought into your exchange, you're far more invested in yourself and your practice.
So today, in addition to meditating as previously instructed for 20 minutes, notice any weak questions that come up around meditation, working out, diet, quality time with your partner, etc—and reframe them with stronger questions.
The way we do anything is the way we do everything, and weak-question-asking can be frustratingly contagious. If it exists in one area of life, it can easily slip into our meditation commitment too.
Assessment
Snuffing out the lame excuses when it comes to meditation or anything else is not an overnight process. But it definitely helps when we bring some awareness to it. So go easy on yourself if you notice yourself asking weak questions. Just try to improve incrementally... even if it means recommitting to yourself one day at a time.
Accountability Exercise
Post an image representing your commitment to asking [yourself] stronger questions as it relates to meditation or any other habit you want to solidify, and take an extra minute to "like" some of the other posts under the #blissmorechallenge hashtag and "like" or encourage a few others. Make sure to tag #blissmore and #blissmorechallenge so we can find you.
Sample accountability post
Day eleven of my 21-day Bliss More meditation challenge involved asking myself stronger questions when it comes to solidifying habits, and in addition to meditating daily I'm committed to replacing processed sugar with natural sweets like fresh berries. #blissmore #blissmorechallenge
Wanna get a head start on tomorrow's reading?
Start reading the Chapter 6 (Chapter 10 in the audiobook) about integration, up to the section on Adding Breathwork (7 mins)
(Follow #blissmore to see everyone’s progress)