Why should I meditate?

We can look at this from a few different angles. Suppose that we were to take a bucket and scoop up some water, including a bit of muddy sediment, from a lake. The water is a bit murky because the sediment has been mixed with the water and is in motion. If someone was to ask what is inside of the water, would we be able to tell them? We might be able to make some good guesses. Maybe there's a piece of a tire, maybe a shoe, or a license plate, or maybe a fish. In reality we would have to wait for the sediment to settle for us to really be able to see and then know.

Because our minds are always active and moving while also being pulled and pushed here and there, trying to get things done and organize it all at the same time, we don't always see the deeper and more subtle parts of what is going on inside of "us". Perhaps this is a little disturbing when we first think about it, but it is because of all this mental movement that we have stress, anxiety, pressure, loss of memory, confusion, fear, distractions, inability to concentrate for long periods of time, non-productivity, loss of self esteem or position, irritation, misunderstandings, etc. The list goes on and on.