4 Meditation Myths You Should Stop Believing

Myth 1: You have to focus and stop thinking

When we meditate, we progressively slow down our thinking process. But that doesn’t mean we have to stop thinking. It’s normal that during meditation, you’ll experience thoughts, memories, and distractions. It’s just part of the process. These thoughts are just ‘passing through’, so don’t judge or feel frustrated. Just acknowledge them and let them pass as if you were watching passing clouds. Then go back to focusing on your breathing.

Myth 2: You won’t see any benefits for years It doesn’t have to take years for you to experience the benefits of meditation. Many people start to see benefits in a matter of weeks. A study showed that meditation can start to change your brain (for the better) in as little as 11 hours of practice. But to see these benefits, you have to meditate every day. Start by keeping things simple. Take small steps and build up gradually. Start by meditating for 5 minutes and build up slowly from there.

Myth 3: You have to sit cross-legged on the floor.

There are no right or wrong positions for meditation. We often have images of people sitting cross-legged on the floor as they meditate. But you can sit or lay down in any comfortable relaxed position. You can meditate sitting in a chair, on a comfy sofa, on a meditation cushion, or even on a yoga block. Try them out, experiment, and see what works best for you. Whatever position you choose, just make sure that feels comfortable and you have good spinal support.

Myth 4: It’s only working when you feel a dream-like state of bliss and relaxation

You’ll have good days and bad days when you meditate. Sometimes you might feel a total state of bliss and relaxation. On other days, your head might be full of distractions. You can’t suppress your thoughts during meditation. Your mind likes to go into ‘autopilot thinking’ mode all the time. If you resist your thoughts during meditation, you’ll create tension and it will be harder for you to relax. So just acknowledge your thoughts and let them pass. But most importantly, keep showing up and meditating every day.

Here is today’s quote:

Meditation connects you with your soul, and this connection gives you access to your intuition, your heartfelt desires, your integrity, and the inspiration to create a life you love. – Sarah McLean

And my one question for you is…

Have you practiced meditation today?

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