Why You’re Not Meditating Consistently (and What to Do About It)

Buddhism Beyond Belief with Susan Piver

In this episode, Susan reflects on one of the most common meditation struggles: staying consistent. If you’ve ever wondered, “Why can’t I just do the thing I know is good for me?”—this episode is for you.

The surprising truth? It’s not a discipline problem. It’s a misunderstanding of what meditation really is.

Main Topics Covered:

The Real Reason Consistency is Hard

• It’s not about willpower.
  
  
• Most people approach meditation as self-improvement—but it’s actually a spiritual practice.
  
  
• Self-help says: “Something is wrong with me.”
  Spiritual practice says: “I am already whole.”
  
  

Three Spiritual Anchors for a Deeper Practice

• Make Offerings
  Small rituals (light a candle, burn incense) open your heart to mystery and devotion. They move the practice from “What can I get?” to “What can I discover?”
  
  
• Request Blessings
  Call in your lineage: spiritual teachers, ancestors, artists, activists—anyone who’s shaped your path. You’re not sitting alone.
  
  
• Dedicate the Merit
  Offer the benefits of your practice to all beings (including yourself!). Whatever happens during your session—delight, frustration, sleepiness—it can be of benefit, even though we may not be able to imagine how.

Three Practical Supports for Consistency (aka The Three Jewels)

These are the classic Buddhist “refuges,” and they’re also the structure we need to stay steady:

• Buddha – Your own awakened nature. Sitting down to meditate is a reconnection with this.
  
  
• Dharma – Study, reflect, journal—contemplate the deeper why behind your practice.
  
  
• Sangha – Practice with others, even virtually. Community is often the missing key.
  
  

Final Takeaway:

Consistency doesn’t come from willpower—it comes from aligning with meaning.

When meditation is treated as a way to open your heart rather than a way to “fix” yourself, a deeper magic is glimpsed.

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Produced by Citizens of Sound

Music by: Derek O'Brien
©Open Heart Project