I seem to suffer from a common problem which is feeling like I can't keep the clutter of thoughts in my mind from distracting my practice. Deadlines at work, schedules, anxieties, memories, responsibilities and random thoughts about anything and everything always bombard my mind when I begin to sit. At some point I learned to stop fighting..

In "Zen for Christians" Kim Boykin offers an analogy that has helped in my practice sessions.

"Here's a helpful image I learned from a meditation instructor. You're at a train station. Your train is leaving in two minutes. You're weaving through all the people and you run into a friend you haven't seen in a long time. You stop and smile and say a few words and maybe give your friend a hug. Maybe you encourage your friend to give you a call soon. And then you run off to get your train. You don't ignore your friend. But neither do you get into a long conversation and miss your train."

I finally realized that it isn't a battle or test of concentration powers and it isn't a game of trying to clear your mind. Noticing our thoughts is the whole point. We learn to notice thoughts and then let them pass without consuming our minds.