We all sit down to meditate with the hope that our minds will grow calm and silent. But very often, the opposite happens. The moment the eyes close, the thoughts begin to multiply. The body feels restless — the knees ache, the back tenses up, the breathing becomes uneven. The more we try to be still, the more fidgety we feel.  Why does this happen? Why does something as simple as “just sitting quietly” feel so difficult?  The truth is, when the body and nervous system are in a state of tension, meditation doesn’t come easily. When we are in that “fight or flight” mode — what science calls the sympathetic nervous state — the body is alert and ready for action, not rest. Even if we close our eyes, the inner system is on guard. The heart beats faster, the mind scans for problems, and the muscles stay slightly contracted. In such a condition, stillness feels almost unnatural.