Myths about meditation

As part of my work as a counsellor, I deliver training about stress, particularly in schools to stressed out education staff. When I start to explain some practical, evidence-based approaches to reduce stress, I start with meditation (or, at its simplest - breathing!). Straight away, I sense the mood change in the room. 

There’s either an internal eye rolling or a bristle and resistance. And I completely understand why. For many reasons, meditation is often misunderstood. But it is a powerful antidote to stress and a robust way of protecting your mental health and reducing anxiety. So, I’m here to bust some meditation myths.

Meditation myths

Myth 1: Meditation is all about clearing your mind and not thinking

This is fundamentally untrue and I’m not completely certain how or where this has grown so widespread. My suspicion is that it is linked to the image of the Buddhist monk, sitting cross-legged somewhere very peaceful and zen striving to reach Nirvana. But meditation is not about clearing your mind or not thinking. Straight away, that goal is a stressful, unattainable one.

It is actually about noticing when thoughts arise, giving them space and allowing them to drift away like human weather. It is about accepting that the essence of being human is having thoughts but that you are not just your thoughts. Some of my favourite visualisations when meditating involve imagining my thoughts as bubbles that drift out of my head or clouds that drift across a blue sky.

Myth 2: You have to be calm and ready to meditate

I once learnt meditation at a Buddhist centre and the very first thing the teacher told us is that you will never feel like meditating. Waiting to be calm and zen to meditate defeats the purpose of it. Feeling angry? Stressed out? Tired? Those are all excellent places to start when you meditate. And just like everything else in your life, sometimes it won’t work or won’t feel great, but often it can transform your mood and emotional state if you stop striving for the ‘perfect time’ to meditate.

Myth 3: I don’t have time to meditate

I am terrible for saying this to myself. I want 20 extra minutes in bed, or I’d rather go out and have fun. But then I find myself watching four episodes back-to-back of my favourite sitcom and I know that I’m not being completely truthful.

The fact is, you can meditate for five or 10 minutes or you can do a sleep meditation as you drift off and they are just as valid as sitting for an hour. Again, I think the image of the Buddhist monk comes to mind when people think of this, but don’t forget, Buddhist monks may not have the same pressures we do - no children running around, routines and schedules to keep to, responsibilities and wages to earn. Never feel bad if all you can manage is five minutes.

Myth 4: There’s no point just sitting there breathing

I can thoroughly understand what a waste of time meditation seems. How unproductive and pointless. And how many of us find sitting still uncomfortable and irritating? I’d suggest, if that is what your gut reaction is, that you are the one that needs to sit still and quietly the most.

In our world, we are taught that time = productivity. That if we are not doing something, we are lazy or worthless. But breathing is a powerful activator of our sympathetic nervous system, the brakes to our anxiety and stress response. It slows our heartbeat, allows our body to digest and relax and helps us to feel our whole selves in the space of the present. It brings our thoughts out of the past and the future - both of which only exist in our mind - and into the reality of our present moment.

I know all these myths because I believed them too once. Sometimes, I still do. But with gentle curiosity and a recognition that I’m trying my imperfect, human best, I’ve reached a point where meditation soothes my soul and brings me emotional protection and self-compassion.

Give it a go with my favourite guided meditations or get in touch with a professional to find out more.