By Maude Hirst
There are many misconceptions around meditation that can often stop people trying it. I want to dispel these for you in the hope that meditation becomes a practice that excites you.
Myth 1 - You have to clear your mind completely to meditate
This is an impossible ask and isn't what meditation is about. The mind is a thinking machine and is designed to analyse the world around you. You cannot clear your mind but you CAN redirect your awareness elsewhere, so you don't get caught in the over-thinking mind.
TRY THIS: Imagine yourself sitting for meditation and as you close your eyes suddenly your 'To Do' list pops into your mind. You're suddenly thinking "I didn't respond to that email" or "I forgot to take the washing out". Your job in meditation is to redirect your focus away from that list and back into your practice. Focus on your breathing for example rather than the thoughts. Quickly your thoughts will disappear, and you will become present again. That redirecting and refocusing is meditation.
Myth 2 - You are bad at meditation because you cannot sit still
For many people, sitting in stillness is uncomfortable. Don't let this put you off. Total stillness is not required for meditation. Firstly, remember there is no BAD meditation. You are not trying to get to a certain goal through your practice, you are trying to get to know yourself better. This is an individual journey, not a prescribed practice with a certain outcome in mind. There is a reason meditation is called a practice, every time you meditate, it will feel different. Allow for some messiness.
If you need to move, move. But always redirect your awareness back to where you want it to be. There are also movement meditation practices that are brilliant to try. Any practice that redirects your focus inwards and connects you back to yourself and the present moment, is meditation. You can also try different seated positions until you find something that is comfortable for you.
Myth 3 - Meditation takes too much time
Meditation does not have to be a long practice to have profound effects. Recent studies have shown that as little as 10 minutes of meditating a day can deeply transform your life. And we can all find those 10 minutes if we want to.
I also believe that those who don't feel they have enough time are often the people who need to meditate the most. Don't stress about finding long periods of time to meditate, although after feeling the benefits of this practice, I guarantee you will want to. Bust just start with what you have. Make a regular short meditation a priority and the rest will fall into place.
Myth 4 - You need a quiet space to meditate
It would be dreamy if we all lived on an idyllic sunny beach without any distracting noises around us to meditate, but the truth is for many of us, that's not a reality. Life is busy and it is loud and instead of needing it to be quiet externally to meditate, your practice can bring a feeling of quiet internally. I have meditated on the train, with lots of people around me and with distracting noises and I always feel that if I can redirect my focus amongst the noise, I am setting myself up for success in our busy world.
I often teach that when you are in meditation and you hear a noise, instead of getting annoyed by it, notice it and allow for the noise to make you more present before redirecting your awareness back to the meditation. Noise can actually be helpful rather than a hindrance to your practice.
Myth 5 - You'll feel results immediately
We live in a society so fixated on fast results and forget that in doing this we are undermining the importance of sustained wellbeing. Meditation is like exercise, the benefits grow over time. Some people notice changes quickly, but for most, it's a gradual shift in awareness and mindset. The more you practice, the more noticeable the benefits become. Stick with it for weeks, even if it feels subtle. The transformation happens in your daily life, not just on the cushion.
Maude Hirst is an actor-turned-meditation facilitator and founder of Energy Rise on a mission to make meditation accessible to everyone. You can join her meditation members club here, or book 1-2-1 mentorship with her here.
