Today, many scientists say that we have thousands and thousands of thoughts every day. But have you ever found that those thoughts keep you awake at night or become too overwhelming? Then why not try something new to shift that cycle. Meditation is one option that can help you do this. But in order to recognise the effects and the benefits of meditation it is useful to understand what meditation is and what it is not.
So, What is Meditation?
The Cambridge dictionary defines meditation as:
‘The act of giving your attention to only one thing either as a religious activity or as a way of becoming calm and relaxed’.
Let’s break this down…
During meditation you are asked to focus on just one thing. This can be anything from the breath to an object or a sensation in the body. This is to help bring you back to the present moment. Both Box Breathing and Body Scans are examples where a single focus point is used in meditation. Throughout many meditations you are asked to acknowledge and observe your thoughts as they arise. You are gently encouraged to let those thoughts go without judgement particularly when your mind begins to wonder. Throughout this process we are dedicating a certain amount of time and effort into being as mindful as we can create a deep state of relaxation.
What it isn’t…
There are many misconceptions around meditation. For example, some say that meditation is difficult. Some of the reasons you may be finding it difficult is because sometimes we try too hard to concentrate, or we are overly attached to the results, and maybe we are not sure if we are doing it right. However, when we try any new activity or new exercise, we do not become an expert without practice and meditation is exactly the same.
Many people believe that meditation is all about emptying the mind of any thoughts. Well, this is not the case as meditation is not designed to empty your mind. This misconception can lure you into fighting against your thoughts in order to make them go away, rather than simply just observing your thoughts as they arise and letting them go.
Do you find that you get caught up on things in the past or focussing too much on the future. These thoughts can sometimes overload your mind. Another misconception of meditation is that it is not a way of zoning out, which might feel like a good thing especially when you feel overloaded. However, meditation is almost the opposite of this, as it is designed to help you improve your awareness and bring you back to the present moment.
When practising meditation some people may become disappointed when they don’t have transcending experiences. Sometimes you may have visions, see colours, or glimpse enlightenment and other times you won’t, if at all. There is no need to feel disappointed as this is not the purpose of meditation. The real work happens when we go about our daily lives feeling calm, relaxed and continue to carry some of the stillness and silence from our practice. This helps us to promote values such as compassion, creativity, empathy, love and feeling centred.
Another misconception of meditation is that it has to be some form of religious practice. However, in order to practice meditation, you do not have to or practice any form of spiritual beliefs. Those who are part of a religion and choose to practice meditation find that it does not conflict with their spirituality or religious beliefs. One can practice meditation to experience inner quiet and both the mental and physical benefits such as a reduction in stress or restful sleep. Rather than teaching us a spiritual path meditation just helps us to enjoy whatever we do in our lives more fully.
Now that we have demystified some of the key concepts of meditation why not take the next step and learn about what types of meditation are out there. This will help you to choose a practice that works for you so that you can experience the powers that meditation can bring.
Learn Your Flow 