5 ms·

Part of me is resisting because people like you push others to do it. I’m somewhat allergic to that kind of evangelism. Imagine I told you to go to the gym 3x

by baxtr 2y ago

Part of me is resisting because people like you push others to do it. I’m somewhat allergic to that kind of evangelism. Imagine I told you to go to the gym 3x a week or wake up daily at 4:30am. How would you react? It’s a shame since I might even enjoy mediating. Maybe I try it one day.

partitioned 2y ago
How do you go through life knowing youre making choices that don't make sense merely because someone told you to do something you had previously wanted to do?
matrisking 2y ago
That’s a very different suggestion than “try paying attention to your breath for 5-10 mins whenever it’s convenient for you”
ketzo 2y ago
I totally get it, I have that same contrarian instinct. I have to reframe someone telling me "you should do X healthy thing" as "you should look into X healthy thing and see if it interests you/if there's really a good reason to do it", and then if I do my own research/reasoning, sometimes I can get my brain on board. Basically, I have to trick myself into thinking it's my own idea. Very silly, but hey, it's how I started eating more vegetables and drinking more water, at least.
guntars 2y ago
Under no circumstances should you try meditation! DO NO DO IT! That's an order.
betenoire 2y ago
> somewhat allergic to that kind of evangelism Meditation, or some sort of reflection, may reveal to you that wrapped up in "allergic to evangelism" is an illusion that you received the intended message in the intended way. Or rather, that your reaction isn't necessarily in line with the reality of the intent of what was said. And that your reactions may be limiting you in your growth. You may even figure out ways to gamify your own improvement. That said, realization is the easy part!! lol, who am I to talk, let alone preach
- newzisforsukas 2y ago
  IMHO, some people who meditate seem to put on an air of superiority about what they experience, as if they assume others don't have these experiences. Then they go on to blanket it with Oops! I forgot I don't do this! I am so mindful of myself! I am free of judgement!
  - anon-3988 2y ago
    You can say the same thing about a person that exercises and take care of their physical body. They always inject a sense of superiority when they talk about how much more energy they have etc. Well...what if they are indeed superior?
    - arghnoname 2y ago
      I've been sedentary and am now pretty active. Without a shadow of a doubt, my quality of life, mental clarity, energy, etc, are all improved relative to my past. Physical fitness is only one axis, and compared to actual athletes I'm a total turd. I only compete against myself and we all have our limitations, but yes, if you improve your fitness along one pretty significant axis, you are superior (all else being equal). It's important to remember that all else is _not_ equal though. The totality of a human being can't be measured by any one form of aptitude, but most people would be better versions of themselves if they read more, exercised more, had better diet, were more introspective, engaged in some 'spiritual' practice that reinforced humility and charity, etc. Someone who meditates is probably better than me on that particular axes. I don't seem to have an aptitude or patience for it, at least not yet. Maybe that means I need it all the more. Maybe some day...
baw-bag 2y ago
I feel like you need to sign up to pretend it has meaning kind of like religion. "Have an open mind baxtr". My best friend has been going to Yoga and then Meditating for 9 years and the bile, misery and garbage that comes out him like a waterfall after a few ales is incredible.
Tao3300 2y ago
> Imagine I told you to go to the gym 3x a week I'd say "screw that, I'm not cutting back!"
- butlike 2y ago
  What about in the cases where less is actually more?
robxorb 2y ago
Surely some random HN commenter is not going to become aware of whether you do or do not follow their suggestion on meditation? Why let them - or rather, allow your imagination of them - have power over your future choices?
arghnoname 2y ago
I know what you mean. I have a bit of a contrary streak I have to be mindful of that sometimes makes me be less receptive to certain things than I should be. Meditation and yoga are two practices that I've never managed to make myself try earnestly because of the aesthetics, evangelism, and just a hesitance towards anything that has an air of 'spirituality' that a lot of western practitioners tend to employ. I don't have a problem doing 'mobility work' and stretching and various exercises to make myself less injury prone, but yoga somehow is just beyond the pale. Our preconceptions are almost even weirder when we're consciously aware that they're probably silly, but abide by them anyway.
- actionfromafar 2y ago
  I think yoga will always have the spiritual tinge for some people because it among physical exercises disproportionately alters the state of mind.
dvfjsdhgfv 2y ago
Yeah I feel you. I meditate but I'm so allergic to anybody telling me anything. Like, I know you have good intentions, but why this call to action? Just state the benefits you get and let me make up my mind whether I want to do it or not. In my case, I was advised by my cardiologist because of high blood pressure. He said in my case he sees significant correlation with stress so anything that helps me to lower my stress levels will also help me to lower the dose of medication. It works very well for me, but I have no idea if it worked for anyone else. Moreover, I also do it while walking outside, with even better results (like 15-20mm Hg difference before/after).

by baxtr 2y ago

partitioned 2y ago

How do you go through life knowing youre making choices that don't make sense merely because someone told you to do something you had previously wanted to do?

matrisking 2y ago

That’s a very different suggestion than “try paying attention to your breath for 5-10 mins whenever it’s convenient for you”

ketzo 2y ago

I totally get it, I have that same contrarian instinct. I have to reframe someone telling me "you should do X healthy thing" as "you should look into X healthy thing and see if it interests you/if there's really a good reason to do it", and then if I do my own research/reasoning, sometimes I can get my brain on board. Basically, I have to trick myself into thinking it's my own idea. Very silly, but hey, it's how I started eating more vegetables and drinking more water, at least.

guntars 2y ago

Under no circumstances should you try meditation! DO NO DO IT! That's an order.

betenoire 2y ago

> somewhat allergic to that kind of evangelism Meditation, or some sort of reflection, may reveal to you that wrapped up in "allergic to evangelism" is an illusion that you received the intended message in the intended way. Or rather, that your reaction isn't necessarily in line with the reality of the intent of what was said. And that your reactions may be limiting you in your growth. You may even figure out ways to gamify your own improvement. That said, realization is the easy part!! lol, who am I to talk, let alone preach

newzisforsukas 2y ago
IMHO, some people who meditate seem to put on an air of superiority about what they experience, as if they assume others don't have these experiences. Then they go on to blanket it with Oops! I forgot I don't do this! I am so mindful of myself! I am free of judgement!
- anon-3988 2y ago
  You can say the same thing about a person that exercises and take care of their physical body. They always inject a sense of superiority when they talk about how much more energy they have etc. Well...what if they are indeed superior?
  - arghnoname 2y ago
    I've been sedentary and am now pretty active. Without a shadow of a doubt, my quality of life, mental clarity, energy, etc, are all improved relative to my past. Physical fitness is only one axis, and compared to actual athletes I'm a total turd. I only compete against myself and we all have our limitations, but yes, if you improve your fitness along one pretty significant axis, you are superior (all else being equal). It's important to remember that all else is _not_ equal though. The totality of a human being can't be measured by any one form of aptitude, but most people would be better versions of themselves if they read more, exercised more, had better diet, were more introspective, engaged in some 'spiritual' practice that reinforced humility and charity, etc. Someone who meditates is probably better than me on that particular axes. I don't seem to have an aptitude or patience for it, at least not yet. Maybe that means I need it all the more. Maybe some day...

baw-bag 2y ago

I feel like you need to sign up to pretend it has meaning kind of like religion. "Have an open mind baxtr". My best friend has been going to Yoga and then Meditating for 9 years and the bile, misery and garbage that comes out him like a waterfall after a few ales is incredible.

Tao3300 2y ago

> Imagine I told you to go to the gym 3x a week I'd say "screw that, I'm not cutting back!"

butlike 2y ago
What about in the cases where less is actually more?

robxorb 2y ago

Surely some random HN commenter is not going to become aware of whether you do or do not follow their suggestion on meditation? Why let them - or rather, allow your imagination of them - have power over your future choices?

arghnoname 2y ago

I know what you mean. I have a bit of a contrary streak I have to be mindful of that sometimes makes me be less receptive to certain things than I should be. Meditation and yoga are two practices that I've never managed to make myself try earnestly because of the aesthetics, evangelism, and just a hesitance towards anything that has an air of 'spirituality' that a lot of western practitioners tend to employ. I don't have a problem doing 'mobility work' and stretching and various exercises to make myself less injury prone, but yoga somehow is just beyond the pale. Our preconceptions are almost even weirder when we're consciously aware that they're probably silly, but abide by them anyway.

actionfromafar 2y ago
I think yoga will always have the spiritual tinge for some people because it among physical exercises disproportionately alters the state of mind.

dvfjsdhgfv 2y ago

Yeah I feel you. I meditate but I'm so allergic to anybody telling me anything. Like, I know you have good intentions, but why this call to action? Just state the benefits you get and let me make up my mind whether I want to do it or not. In my case, I was advised by my cardiologist because of high blood pressure. He said in my case he sees significant correlation with stress so anything that helps me to lower my stress levels will also help me to lower the dose of medication. It works very well for me, but I have no idea if it worked for anyone else. Moreover, I also do it while walking outside, with even better results (like 15-20mm Hg difference before/after).