5 Common Misconceptions about Meditation

#1 I have to clear my thoughts to meditate. There's no way I can do that!

This is definitely what I hear most from people when I tell them I'm a meditation teacher. "OMG! I could never meditate. I can't possibly stop my mind from thinking. I wish I could be calmer but there's no way!"

If this sounds familiar then, guess what? You are right!... partially, but it doesn't mean you can't meditate. It's nearly impossible for anyone, even the most experienced meditator, to completely stop their mind from thinking. Thinking thoughts is one of your mind's primary functions. It's what your mind is designed to do!

So, let me dispel this myth immediately. Meditation is not about clearing the mind of all thoughts. Meditation is a journey from activity to silence. It's about settling down the mind from a very active state to quieter and quieter levels. Sometimes, during meditation, we experience the bliss of dipping into the silence, that already exists within us, where lies our true essence. Here we can just be, and are no longer attached to doing.

Many people worry that they won't be good at meditation or that they are doing it wrong because they can't stop their mind from churning out thoughts, to-do lists and judgements during meditation. In fact, it's the awareness (of our monkey mind) we experience during meditation that is the key. And many thoughts merely means we are releasing a lot of stress. As we practice consistently, and our stress levels decrease, the volume of our many thoughts gets turned down to lower and lower decibels.

The good news is: there is no such thing as a bad meditation. As long as you have some awareness in a restful state, any and all meditation is beneficial. If you are breathing and you are aware of your breath, you are receiving benefits. If you are sitting comfortably with your eyes closed and you are aware of all the thoughts that are racing through your mind, you are releasing stress, and guess what? You are meditating.

#2 It takes years of practice to get good at meditation and receive any benefits.

While it might be tempting to convince yourself that, in order to be a respectable meditator, you have to commit to monk-hood or go live in a forest for years with Henry David Thoreau, that simply isn’t true. Meditation is an innocent and effortless process that anyone can do at any time! All one needs to meditate is to be able to sit comfortably, close the eyes safely (in other words, not while driving or watching your child at the park!), and breathe. Aside from that, there’s nothing to it and anyone, any age, can do it.

And the best news is most people report feeling benefits of meditation right away. I’ve had students say they feel their body relax deeply within the first few minutes of meditation and an overall sense of calm when they come out of meditation. (All this, despite experiencing a million thoughts a minute.) Several students claim they had the best night of sleep in years after the first day of my course, while others begin to feel an immediate expansion of awareness of their physical or emotional state after just a few days of regular practice.

Harvard University has done a lot of research on mindfulness and meditation. One milestone study indicates that eight weeks is the magic number for practitioners to notice “cognitive and psychological benefits” such as increased self-awareness, compassion and introspection. Participants also reported a notable decrease in stress and anxiety. All that in just eight weeks is reassuring, not to mention there are countless other studies which come to similar conclusions.

I’ve been practicing silent mantra meditation consistently since 2019 and can attest to many life changing benefits, notably a shift of perception. First came an astounding amount of awareness - awareness of self, of others, of my reactions to others, of all things in nature and the world at large around me. Quickly on the heels of awareness came an abundance of clarity - clarity about who I am, what I want and why I am here in this life. Then came confidence - confidence about who I am, how I can contribute, and what is my purpose. Finally, the most impactful (and surprising) benefit of meditation for me has been a feeling of connectedness - connection to others, to nature, to all living things and the universe. Ok, maybe I’m beginning to sound like a monk, but I promise, I’m just a regular girl living in a middle aged body!

You too can easily learn meditation or mindfulness practices to free yourself from stress and enrich your life.

#3 Meditation requires too much time. I don't have enough time in the day!

I’ll admit this is a tricky one. There is no question, meditation does require you to set aside some time for silence, once or twice a day, depending on the type of meditation you choose to practice. But "too much time?" Hmmm, that's a relative term. What is "too much time" for you? Is binge watching two entire seasons of White Lotus in one sitting "too much time?" Is endless scrolling through your dating app feed "too much time?" What about the 30 minutes of lost time spent in a trance over dancing babies and kittens on Instagram reels? (That was actually me the other night!) I get it. You need a break from the grind, a little entertainment, a little laughter. The thing is, what you really need is mindfulness, not mindlessness.

The debate with this myth is really about the second statement: “I don’t have enough time in the day!” This is a limiting belief that many people tell themselves, a belief that I challenge. Is it really true that you don’t have enough time in the day? I’d invite you to take an honest look at your day and ask yourself: Am I allowing for down time? What would it take to give myself 20 minutes each morning and evening to step away from my busy-ness and sit quietly with just myself? Can I get up 30 minutes earlier each day to make time for meditation? Can I go to bed 30 minutes earlier each night so that I can wake up earlier? And for the much needed stress release and management that I am seeking, is it worth it to give it a try for just three weeks?

Establishing a new habit or discipline can be difficult at first but with thoughtful preparation, some support, a little flexibility, and determination it can be done. Where there is a will, there is a way, right? I bet there is another area in your life where you’ve applied these principles and were successful in reaching your goal. Try asking yourself, “What do I want, what do I really want?” If you truly want to reduce stress and anxiety in your life and experience more calm, balance, and joy then you will achieve it. I can also assure you that some of the busiest people in the world are consistent twice a day meditators, many of whom credit their meditation practice for their abundant success and fulfillment.

#4 You have to sit in an uncomfortable cross legged position to meditate.

If you are like me, when you picture someone meditating you have an image of a lithe, flexible yogi sitting in lotus position for hours on end, with hands resting peacefully on his/her knees, palms up with fingers in a mudra. This misconception alone kept me away from learning to meditate for quite some time. I don’t know about you, but I am physically incapable of sitting cross-legged for more than five minutes, much less in lotus position ever! My hips, knees, ankles and lower back are simply not designed like that. Don’t get me wrong, I’m an athlete. I run, swim, play tennis, golf and ski. I’m strong and fairly flexible but sitting cross legged is very uncomfortable for me. And while I take yoga classes from time to time, I don’t have a strict or regular yoga practice and so, for years, I told myself meditation was only for yogis.

The fact is, meditation can be done in any seated position that is comfortable for you. If you are comfortable you will feel encouraged to continue with the practice. For me, that’s sitting in an armchair, my feet resting on the ground and my hands resting softly in my lap. If available, I like to lean my spine against a small lumbar pillow. Sometimes I cloak myself with my favorite blanket to keep warm and cozy as my body temperature naturally declines during meditation. The point is, there is no set posture to meditate correctly. The only requisites are comfort and safety. Ideally, we want to be somewhere we can safely close the eyes and sit comfortably with the head floating atop the spine, not lying down where we are prone to fall asleep. You can meditate anywhere - on an airplane, in an office, waiting room, hotel room or lobby, at home on your favorite sofa or chair, or even cross-legged on a mat!

#5 Meditation is a religious practice or only for spiritual people.

Nope. Meditation has nothing to do with religion or spiritual identity. Meditation is a method of quieting down the mind; it is both physiological and psychological and unrelated to your belief system. It is simply a human experience irrespective of age, gender, status, education or belief. Many have reported a deeper connection to their spirit as a result of regular meditation, which simply means that meditation can be a spiritual experience. Having a spiritual experience is a human experience. We are all capable of this.

As humans, we are made up of three integral parts: the body, the mind and the spirit. These parts can also be described as three layers of existence: physical, psychological and spiritual. Although we tend to think of these levels of being as separate, they are all one consciousness in different disguises. The physical body includes our actual personal body, our physical environment (an extension of ourselves) and our energy (or vital force) that comes from within us and we give off to others and the world. The psychological body is the more subtle part of us which includes our mind, intellect and ego. In this layer lives our thoughts, emotions, desires, ideas, beliefs and discriminations. The spiritual body of our existence holds our personal soul, the collective soul and our universal spirit. According to the yogic sage, Adi Shankara, this third layer is, in fact, the largest part of us. It carries all the seeds of our memory and desire, the myths, archetypes, gods and goddesses to whom we are drawn and by whom we are inspired. It also is the origin of our pure and infinite potential, our true nature and spirit.

Meditation helps open our awareness and bridge the separation between body, mind and spirit. It allows us to freely access all parts of our existence, granting us the ability to achieve balance and integration. In essence, we are all embodiments of spiritual beings. Whether you believe that or not is irrelevant to your ability to meditate and receive the many benefits of this ancient practice.

About me and my practice

I have been a regular, consistent meditator since 2019 and have developed an advanced practice to which I attribute a greater sense of calm, clarity, confidence and connection with others. Throughout my life, I have struggled with feelings of isolation, self-doubt and a lack of purposeful direction. My meditation practice has put me on a fast track to stress release and expanded awareness of the present moment, virtually dissolving my suffering and illuminating my strengths. I believe so strongly in the practice, I became a certified teacher. I teach Mantra Meditation (aka: Primordial Sound Meditation) derived from ancient Vedic traditions. In my 3-day course you learn the basics of mantra meditation, it’s benefits, how to incorporate your practice into your life, and the higher states of consciousness. I provide and teach you your own personal mantra and offer follow up group sessions, discussions and one-on-one meditation and mindfulness coaching.