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Meditation has been lauded by scientists and spiritualists alike as a practice with countless benefits for body and mind - to improved immunity, reduced stress, more harmonious relationships and better work performance to name a few. Unfortunately though, there are quite a few myths and misconception around meditation that can be off-putting and downright confusing to new and wannabe meditators. In this article I'm going to bust these myths for you one by one..
Misconception 1: "I Tried It Once And It Didn't Work"
Maybe you have tried meditation once or twice before and felt disappointed with the results. It's not uncommon for newbies to embark on a new practice expecting immediate peace and bliss only to discover that their minds seem crazier than a bunch of monkeyson speed. This is a completely normal experience - the problem lies in making the assuming after this one experience that meditation simply doesn't work for you. Meditation is a practiceit's something that needs to be done consistently and it can take a while before you begin to experience some of the deeper states of meditation, so patience is crucial.
Misconception 2: "I Just Can't Stop My Thoughts"
A lot of novice meditators mistakenly believe that if they were meditating "successfully", they would be able to switch their thoughts off like a switch in order to experience peace and calm. When they can't seem to be able to stop their thoughts, they often get into an internal struggle trying to resist them or worse, giving up completely. Meditation is about developing enough focus and awareness to simply notice when the mind is wandering, and to keep bringing the mind back to the object of concentration - again and again. There is no need to try to stop thinking altogether!
Misconception 3: "I Don't Have The Time To Meditate
We are all busier than ever these days and it can be hard adding one more thing to our "to-do" list. Meditation doesn't require long periods of time to be beneficial, it simply requires consistency - even 5 to 10 minutes a day can work wonders. By making your own happiness and wellbeing a true priority, you will feel motivated to make time for your practice in your schedule.
Misconception 4: "I Don't Have The Space To Meditate"
I know it would be wonderful to be able to meditate in an exotic monastery, on a mountain-top or on a serene beach. But it's not essential - all you need is somewhere fairly quiet where you can sit up straight comfortably for a few minutes without being disturbed. You can meditate sitting up in bed, on a chair or a couch or even on a bus or a train - don't let wanting a perfectly peaceful spot stop you from just doing it.
Misconception 5: "But I'm Not A Buddhist!"
While many meditation techniques stem from Buddhist practices, meditation is a secular practice. All humans suffer from restless minds and times of stress or agitation, and meditation can benefit anyone - no matter what religion they belong to or even if they are not religious at all. There are, however, many excellent meditation classes and retreats held at Buddhist monasteries all over the world, and they are open to people from all denominations and walks of life.
Hopefully this article has busted some myths that may have been preventing you from starting your own meditation practice. Meditation is truly for everyone and with practice and consistency can change your life in many profound and unexpected ways.
Misconception 1: "I Tried It Once And It Didn't Work"
Maybe you have tried meditation once or twice before and felt disappointed with the results. It's not uncommon for newbies to embark on a new practice expecting immediate peace and bliss only to discover that their minds seem crazier than a bunch of monkeyson speed. This is a completely normal experience - the problem lies in making the assuming after this one experience that meditation simply doesn't work for you. Meditation is a practiceit's something that needs to be done consistently and it can take a while before you begin to experience some of the deeper states of meditation, so patience is crucial.
Misconception 2: "I Just Can't Stop My Thoughts"
A lot of novice meditators mistakenly believe that if they were meditating "successfully", they would be able to switch their thoughts off like a switch in order to experience peace and calm. When they can't seem to be able to stop their thoughts, they often get into an internal struggle trying to resist them or worse, giving up completely. Meditation is about developing enough focus and awareness to simply notice when the mind is wandering, and to keep bringing the mind back to the object of concentration - again and again. There is no need to try to stop thinking altogether!
Misconception 3: "I Don't Have The Time To Meditate
We are all busier than ever these days and it can be hard adding one more thing to our "to-do" list. Meditation doesn't require long periods of time to be beneficial, it simply requires consistency - even 5 to 10 minutes a day can work wonders. By making your own happiness and wellbeing a true priority, you will feel motivated to make time for your practice in your schedule.
Misconception 4: "I Don't Have The Space To Meditate"
I know it would be wonderful to be able to meditate in an exotic monastery, on a mountain-top or on a serene beach. But it's not essential - all you need is somewhere fairly quiet where you can sit up straight comfortably for a few minutes without being disturbed. You can meditate sitting up in bed, on a chair or a couch or even on a bus or a train - don't let wanting a perfectly peaceful spot stop you from just doing it.
Misconception 5: "But I'm Not A Buddhist!"
While many meditation techniques stem from Buddhist practices, meditation is a secular practice. All humans suffer from restless minds and times of stress or agitation, and meditation can benefit anyone - no matter what religion they belong to or even if they are not religious at all. There are, however, many excellent meditation classes and retreats held at Buddhist monasteries all over the world, and they are open to people from all denominations and walks of life.
Hopefully this article has busted some myths that may have been preventing you from starting your own meditation practice. Meditation is truly for everyone and with practice and consistency can change your life in many profound and unexpected ways.
About the Author:
Sharee James is a naturopath and a yoga and meditation teacher with a special interest in stress, anxiety and depression. For more meditation resources check out her Youtube video How To Meditate or visit her site at http://www.ashimaliving.com/
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