Two of the Six Common Meditation Mistakes

For those of you who already have a solid meditation practice – my hats off to you. Yea, yippee! Meditation is one of my favorite things to do. But if you do not have meditation in your life do not worry, it is never too late to begin.

Let’s take a step back here and look at the six most common meditation mistakes. If you have tried meditation and have become frustrated either with maintaining your practice or with a lack of results, do not feel alone. At times, even the most ardent practitioner can be derailed by these snafus.  

Many faults are rooted in typical, fundamental, misunderstandings about what the purpose of meditation is. These can derail any human being despite the best of intentions. The good news is, the meditations taught by Meditation from the Heart and the way they are presented side-step the common errors entirely, giving you a far more reliable and enduring experience.

Even better, the supportive nature of Meditation from the Heart provided in these classes offer in-depth insights on each of the mistakes below, and builds a foundation that will uplift your practice into a realm far beyond these diversions.

As we reveal the following meditation mistakes see if you recognize your own meditation ‘block’.

Meditation Mistake #1 – “I’m trying to quiet my mind.” Many people have been taught that meditation is about having a still mind. This may be the most common assumption about meditation. Untold numbers have conceded “failure” or “not being good at meditation” because they were not able to quiet their mind.

We may have moments of complete stillness within a meditation, but it is not the ultimate goal. Through stillness comes movement. From movement comes stillness.

Your mind is an integral part of your being. You need your mind to help you interpret what is going on in your heart. The trick with meditation is to learn how to simply notice when your mind is drawing you away from your center, acknowledge it, let it go and bring yourself back to your meditation. Sort of like letting the mental music drift in one ear and out the other. 

Mental Music

Meditation Mistake #2 – “I’m just trying to feel peaceful and open during my meditations.” Peace and relaxation are often promoted mistakenly as the primary purpose of meditation. Of course, meditation can produce positive, relaxed sensations, as well as many other related benefits. It won’t always, however, do that. Nothing ever always can do that. Yet many people end up believing they have ‘failed’ at meditation if they don’t feel calm, peaceful and good every time they sit to meditate.

Actually, the first stage of meditation is contemplation. So the first mistake mentioned above has to come into play. One cannot have contemplation without the mind engaged. And one cannot come to peace with the self without out spending time with the self. Sometimes that time will feel really pleasant and at times it will be difficult. The trick is to stick with it until you find the peace you are seeking in that part of you and know that then another aspect will come to the forefront.  Another layer revealed.

Fortunately along your meditation path there will always be another “ah ha!” moment or another feeling of pure joy. Through cultivation you will discover the strengths you naturally possess and a greater confidence to use them as you go about your daily life facing your challenges in a positive, productive way.

Stay tuned next week when we will discover more of the common meditation mistakes.