Verywell / Nez Riaz
Meditating is a beneficial and healthful activity.
It aids inhelping people deal with stress,difficult periods of time, medical conditions, andemotional wellness.
Let’s break down 10 facts behind common misconceptions that may have given you the wrong idea about meditation.
Verywell / Nez Riaz
When we’re awake, our minds are active.
In meditation, your goal doesn’t need to be to not think.
The goal isn’t tonotthink, it’s to not be so attached to your thoughts.
That said, it isn’t always the case.
If meditation leads you to have a sense of inner peace, that’s wonderful.
If it doesn’t, that’s fine too.
This isn’t true.
you’re free to reap the benefits of meditation in a matter of minutes.
If you’re short on time, try ameditation appthat can guide you into a meditative zone quickly.
Even just a few moments spent breathing in a slow and intentional way can be meditative.
It happens, and it’s OK!
That’s no reason to not have another go.
Anyone can meditate, and even regular meditators don’t get in the zone every time.
It’s Not Always Blissful
It’d be lovely if you felt blissful every time you meditated.
Meditating may lead to feelings ofhappinessand bliss.
Or, it may not.
Whatever state of mind it leads to is perfectly all right.
Benefits like stress reduction aren’t necessarily palpable, either.
Beyond being a silly idea, this is untrue.
Meditation can be a relaxing experience.
If you get so relaxed that you fall asleep, consider it a job well done!
Bedtime meditations exist for precisely this reason.
When you combine meditation with bedtime, you’re more likely to relax deeply enough tofall asleep.
This is helpful for anyone who experiences racing thoughts when they go to bed at night.
Should you find you’re prone to that, simply set an alarm.
While meditation is a fabulous tool for introspection, it isn’t anything like therapy.
Meditation can make a person more emotionally healthy, but it isn’t a substitute for therapy.
It can’t substitute for it, though, and it shouldn’t be considered an equivalent practice.
The two are not the same.