10 Meditation Myths & Misconceptions
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Meditation is an amazing tool for peace of mind, clarity, spiritual connection, lowering stress and anxiety, intuition development, reducing depression, and transcending limiting beliefs. But there are many meditation myths out there that may be preventing you from trying it and developing a regular meditation practice.
If you feel like you are holding yourself back because you are trying to do it perfectly or you don’t think you are doing it right, then this article is for you!
There is no right or wrong way to meditate and different people have different techniques. You just have to find what is right for you.
10 Meditation Myths & Misconceptions
#1 Meditation Myth – It Is Hard
Often beginners think that meditation is hard because they don’t know exactly what they are supposed to be doing.
You can meditate any way you want; it is completely up to you.
You can sit in silence, with music, or listen to a guided meditation as a way to relax. It is about calming your mind and clearing out the clutter.
If you do have a bunch of thoughts, that’s ok! You aren’t doing anything wrong. Please don’t make it harder on yourself than you have to.
#2 Meditation Myth – You Have to Sit Up in Lotus Pose
You can meditate in absolutely any position you want! There are NO rules that you have to sit up or be in a lotus pose.
I used to think I was doing it wrong because I enjoyed laying down to meditate. That is perfectly fine!
The only reason why they say it isn’t good to lie down is that you have a higher chance of falling asleep.
You know yourself and what works best for you. So, pick the position that you enjoy the most and that you get the most out of. Try a few options and see what you like.
If you do fall asleep, that is ok too. That is what your body needs the most at that time. Just be sure to set an alarm if you need to be awake or be somewhere later. If it’s nighttime and it’s your bedtime, then your body can easily go to sleep (which by the way is what a LOT of people use meditation for – falling asleep.) It’s a great tool if you do have trouble sleeping.
#3 Meditation Myth – You Have to Focus Really Hard & It’s Too Hard to Stop Your Thoughts
I’ve heard so many times that it’s difficult to meditate for some people because they just can’t focus and stop their thoughts. Did you know that there are many different types of meditations and some of them are about letting go of your focus?
Some meditations require that you don’t focus on anything. You allow your thoughts to be there and drift past you, without judging what is happening. You don’t try to do anything; you allow whatever is happening to happen.
There are also guided meditations that require you to focus on someone talking. But even if you can’t 100% focus on their voice and your thoughts carry you away, that is ok! You are still receiving the benefit of rest. It is a process and it takes some people longer than others to let go of their thoughts and their day.
If your thoughts do carry you away, know that it is normal and once you get through that part, you will begin to focus. It just may take you a little longer in the beginning. Also, as you do it, you will get quicker at getting to the part where you can focus on their words.
If you don’t get there though, understand that you are still receiving the relaxation benefits. You haven’t just wasted a bunch of time. You did get something out of it.
#4 Meditation Myth – You Have to Do It Everyday
Daily meditation is great, but if you can’t do it every day it will still benefit you. Any meditation is better than none. So, if you are doing it randomly (which I used to be guilty of until I buckled down), that is ok.
You will probably find that you won’t do it every day, to begin with. But as you get into the routine and begin to enjoy it, your body will crave it every day. It will become part of your day (like brushing your teeth).
#5 Meditation Myth – You Aren’t Spiritual If You Don’t Meditate
If you do consider yourself a spiritual person and you don’t meditate; it doesn’t make you a bad person! You aren’t doing anything wrong.
Spirituality is really the connection to your soul. Maybe you prefer a different method of relaxation besides meditation. That is perfectly ok!
I consider myself spiritual and it took me a while to really get on board with meditation. I did eventually find my way there. But I felt almost like a fraud that I didn’t do it more. I bought into these meditation myths for a short period of time and thought that because I wasn’t doing it every day there was something wrong with me.
Trust me, being spiritual doesn’t come with a list. If you are spiritual and you want to meditate, great! If you are spiritual and don’t want to mediate, great! Everyone is unique and what works for you is different than what works for someone else.
#6 Meditation Myth – Only Spiritual People Meditate
This is opposite to #5 above. Absolutely anyone can meditate! You don’t have to be ‘spiritual’ to meditate.
Some spiritual people meditate, and some non-spiritual people meditate. The whole point of meditation is so that you can receive the benefits of relaxation and stopping your busy mind. It brings you back to your center and gives you a sense of peace.
#7 Meditation Myth – It Takes Too Long
Some people think that meditation requires a lot of prep work and then an hour of meditation. You don’t need to set aside hours for your meditation practice.
10 minutes is all you need and that is enough to benefit you.
Take a couple of minutes to prep your space. Whether you want to put on a guided meditation, find some relaxing music, or sit in silence. You can light a candle if you want, dim the lights and close the blinds.
Then spend the next 5-7 minutes in meditation. That’s it!
You can build up your meditation time (you’ll probably want to as you begin to enjoy it) but you don’t have to. That’s the beauty of it. It’s not one size fits all.
5-10 minutes of relaxation a day is going to benefit you greatly; much more than zero minutes.
#8 Meditation Myth – You Can’t Meditate Because You Can’t Sit Still
There’s no rule that says you have to sit still. In fact, our bodies are made to move! If you move around during meditation it is ok.
You will probably become more relaxed as you get into it and the moving may eventually stop but you aren’t doing anything wrong if you have a habit of moving.
#9 Meditation Myth – You Can’t Meditate Because You Don’t Know If You Are Doing It Right
There is no wrong way to meditate! However, you choose to do it is right. Don’t let anyone tell you that you need to be doing it a certain way.
You can meditate by clearing your mind and getting yourself into a state of relaxation.
You can also do meditations where you visualize. In this type of meditation, you are focused on a certain visualization in order to have a particular experience and to receive certain information.
You can even meditate while going for a walk in nature.
There are so many different ways to meditate and nothing is right or wrong. Basically, meditation is whatever you want it to be. So, make it easy on yourself and know that you can’t get it wrong.
Meditation is about getting into a state of relaxation – period. How you choose to get there is up to you. There is no right or wrong way to do it.
#10 Meditation Myth – You Only Need to Meditate When You Are Stressed
There is no right or wrong time to meditate. It is super helpful to meditate when you are stressed. But it is also super helpful to meditate when you are relaxed in order to stay relaxed and stress-free.
Meditation can be used as a cure or as a preventative measure.
It’s great to meditate when you feel good because it keeps you feeling good and keeps the positive momentum going. Once momentum gets really strong, it is more difficult to stop it. So, why not keep moving in the direction that is of benefit to you?
It is also great to meditate when you are stressed because it will really help to relax you and ease your anxiety.
Whether you choose to meditate when you are stressed or happy, both times are perfect for reaping all the amazing benefits that meditation offers you.
Bottom Line – Meditation Myths & Misconceptions
There are many meditation myths out there but there is no right or wrong way to meditate. Meditation is all about relaxing your mind and body, however, you do that is up to you. You can’t get it wrong!
Everyone is unique and what works for one person may not work for another. Try different things and find a way that works best for you.
Don’t let these meditation myths stop you from trying it out. However, you choose to meditate is right for you!
~Meghan
P.S. If you’re looking for more of an in-depth meditation program that is easy to stick with, then I’ve got something just for you.
It is my favorite meditation program called iAwake Meditations.
iAwake Meditations has helped thousands of people, including myself!
They have so many unique kinds of tracks for people who are passionate about waking up, healing, and making a difference.
I really think you’ll benefit from it and I highly recommend it.
