A common reaction to the word "meditation" is that we don't have the time to meditate!

I used to feel that way. And I am sure many of you feel the same way too.

Our lives are so busy. We are consumed with everyday responsibilities and engagements. There are so many things to take care of. Who has the time to meditate?

But what if I told you that we have all the time in the world to meditate?

Don't believe me? I will go even further and say that we can meditate all of our waking hours.

No, I don't mean that you should give up everything, retire from your regular life, and go into some cave and meditate all the time. That wouldn't happen anyway.

Far from it. I am saying that you can go about your regular life, attend to everything that you need to, and still meditate during all waking hours.

We often equate meditation to be a standalone activity. Something that needs a dedicated time and a specific method of practice. While that view has some merits, it need not necessarily be the case.

The moment we view meditation in this way, it immediately creaes a very high bar, something that we wouldn't want to engage in. We over-complicate the simple things of life.

When I say meditation can be a 24-hour activity in a day, I mean that we can be in a meditative state all the time.

Let us understand what "meditative state" means.

It means being completely being in the present moment. It means being fully engaged in whatever activity we are doing, in a mindful and peaceful way.

It means that our mind is neither dwelling in the past or the future, but is only focused on the task at hand. 100% of you is engaged on the task at hand instead of being distributed in many different activities and thoughts and laces at the same time.

And when we move to the next task, we forget about the task we were just doing and focus on the new one, and flow with it. This is why it is called the state of flow.

This does not mean that we should not think of the future, not does it mean that we should not be concerned about the current issues we are facing, and the implications from the past.

Of course we need to think about the future and plan for it. In a dedicated way, during a planning time slot. That time is completely and fully dedicated towards planning, visioning and contemplating about the present challenges and the future. And to deduce what needs to be done in the present to address the challenges and to make that vision of the future a reality. And then to just focus on what needs to be done by being fully present in the moment.

Being in the past or in the future only fills us with anxiety and stress. So much so that we lose sight of the present. The present moment is called "present" because it is indeed a present. You know how as little children we always used to wait eagerly for presents from our parents and elders.

What about now? The universe is always presenting us with presents in the form of the present. Most of the time we waste this present by either dwelling and ruminating about the past or worrying about the future.

When we are in the present moment, we can be like little children, all excited when they open their presents. We can unwrap the present moment, savor it, and make it our very own.

Even simple and mundane tasks like washing the dishes or taking a shower or cooking become joyful activities. Because we are in complete awareness and fully engaged in the activity.

Even the tasks which we previously used to consider difficult can now be handled with ease and joy in the heart.

Here is a little challenge for you. Pick a small task that you do every day. It could be something like you eating breakfast, or taking a shower, or taking a walk.

During that activity, come into full awareness, and tell yourself that you will only focus on that activity and think of nothing else. At first your mind will react and rebel and complain that it is such a waste of time to just focus on that activity and that it is a waste of time.

The mind is very good at convincing you to take the easy way out, for immediate gratification. But with your awareness, you can bring the mind repeatedly to the present task. You can do this for everything that you do consciously and unconsciously during your waking hours.

In doing so, you can find joy, You can find peace. And you can be in a meditative state all the time.

Who said there is no time for meditation? We have all the time in the world for it!