Common Misconceptions About Meditation

Key Takeaways

• Meditation has become a mainstream leadership practice with demonstrated health benefits.
• In spite of meditation being thousands of years old, several common misconceptions about meditation continue.
• You may wish to explore a greater variety of approaches to meditation to find what works for you.

In the past five years, meditation has become palpably mainstream and leaders are being encouraged to take up a practice from influences such as Forbes and Harvard Business Review. According to a National Health Interview Survey, meditation increased threefold from 2012 to 2017¹. Benefits may include reduction in blood pressure as well as easing the symptoms of anxiety and depression². If you have not dedicated yourself to a practice, it is possible you may be caught up with one of the common myths surrounding meditation and/or have not yet found a practice that works for you. Let us explore some of these misconceptions.

1. Mediation needs to be quiet.

Thank goodness this is false. Often, meditation has a prayer or mantra which accompanies it. Sometimes, a group can meditate together with a mantra or prayer, even incorporating instruments and singing. This is one way to have a clear focal point without getting bored or having the mind wander off.

2. Meditation needs to be seated (on the floor).

Sometimes, people are seated in a chair, standing, or even walking/dancing during meditation. Movement can help center and ground you in your body. As someone who teaches meditation, I encourage walks in nature paired with mantra for people who are very active.

3. Meditation is connected with a particular religion.

Many religious customs include meditative practices that are not linked with one tradition exclusively. If you are religious or non-religious, please know that adopting meditation does not mean you have adopted a religion.

4. Meditation needs to be a certain length.

While some people meditate for several hours each day, you can get many benefits from a short practice (such as three minutes per day). For people new to meditation, consistency is important. I would suggest starting with no greater than 10 minutes. As a teacher, I emphasize that beginners should practice each day of the week and, ideally, at the same time per day.

Please remember: Meditation is a vast practice that goes back thousands of years and is beyond a single tradition. As a leader who is curious to access the benefits, be open to conducting your own research and application of techniques. Consider keeping a journal to observe which practices you enjoy and the benefits you experience.

References

1. NIH: National Survey Reveals Increased Use of Yoga, Meditation, and Chiropractic Care Among U.S. Adult
2. NIH: Meditation and Mindfulness: What You Need To Know