Serenity, Tranquillity, Placidity are not just fancy words but a state that we are seeking at all times. No matter who you are or what you do, you need this quality of being composed that links to your success in a myriad of ways.
Meditation is the new secret pill to success, happiness, peace & calm, and yet many perceive it wrongly that it eventually becomes a block for people wanting to practice it.
Today let’s debunk some top myths of Meditation and get you informed on all that you need to know about getting the maximum of your meditation time.
1. I Must Sit in The Lotus Position to Meditate
Sitting in Lotus position is excellent & is the most comfortable position for anyone who already meditates. It aligns and straightens the spinal cord allowing the chakras to cleanse & balance, and it also allows for good attention & the ability to sit longer. However, it’s not the ONLY way to meditate.
You are the best person to choose what position works best for you. You could choose to lie down & still be in awareness, or you could decide to sit on a chair with the feet on the floor, or you could choose even to stand and meditate.
As a beginner, it is all about aligning to your purpose, which is gaining the benefit of the Meditation. Begin with aligning to the purpose, If you are new, start with any sitting position, even using a backrest & then slowly advance to sitting without a backrest & staying present with the Meditation of choice.
2. In a Meditation I Have to Keep a Blank Mind
to Meditate
Initially, when we sit to Meditate the mind begins to “throw” into our awareness all topics & people we have incomplete work with or actions that are yet pending. Our subconscious mind tries to communicate with us throughout the day, and we often neglect the signs or pay no attention to it.
So the next time you close your eyes to meditate, keep a notepad beside you to note down what your mind is bringing to your attention.
That’s part of the process, allow it, and soon you will begin to notice that you are having less of these thoughts flog you. Having control & calm of mind is the effect & gift of Meditation.
3. Meditation is Done Only for Stress Release
Yes, Meditation is a clear answer for any stress, but it doesn’t stop there. Meditation has a million, yes a million benefits. It helps us keep calm- as a personality & not just in that moment. It helps removes negativity and helps us sleep better. Meditation keeps us aligned & aware of anomalies in our physical health, fastening our recovery from any ailment, be it a small cut, a major surgery, or mental dysfunction.
Meditation heightens our instincts & intuition and leads to better decision making ability. It helps in identifying opportunities and also increases our productivity.
All of this and so much more. I hope the above reasons encourage you to begin meditating today.
4. We Must be Vegan to Meditate
Once again, it’s a choice most people make. When you meditate your alignment & communication with your body will guide you as to what you must eat.
Many sages still consume fish & meat & many others that survive on Prana or Breath majorly. So allow your body to guide you & listen to that inner voice as you begin to meditate.
Eating light & eating to live & sustain is more of the rule one can adopt. Observe yourself when you have had a late heavy dinner. You will usually not sleep well and wake up sluggish & tired. This is because of the pressure placed on the digestion process & time taken away from the body to rejuvenate.
Similarly, when we eat too heavy and then get into Meditation, the body automatically is sending all attention & blood flow to digest the food & thus reduces the ability to be aware.
Meditation heightens our instincts & intuition and leads to better decision making ability
5. We Have to Give up on Having Fun & ‘Enjoying Life’ When We Decide to Imbibe Meditation in Our Lives
This myth, once again comes from a perceived notion that people who meditate as a lifestyle don’t enjoy life.
Meditation is a tool for Happiness, and Happiness is a very open & free-flowing concept. Some of us find it amid the noise, some of us find it in the silence of our own company, and for each choice made there is no right or wrong.
The idea is to find what makes YOU feel your most authentic self. So yes, if you choose to meditate, you can most certainly alongside enjoy the fun elements the way you like.
6. We Must Use Candles & Incense Sticks Every Time We Meditate
Using candles, incense & sage is another element altogether. You may choose to use it, but you don’t necessarily have to.
Just like entering a restaurant makes us hungry; entering a Church, Temple or Mosque, makes us choose silence; likewise lighting a candle, incense stick or sage cleanses the air of impurities, the stagnant energy & creates a vibe.
Meditation teaches us to FEEL with all our senses, & each one of us can choose what associations we like to have during our practice.
7. One Can’t Swear or Get Angry When One Begins to Meditate
There are no rules as such, yet when we begin to meditate, we reach a state of understanding of self and others. Even when we don’t understand, we get into a natural space of allowance of them.
Anger is a release of emotions to things we cannot accept. When we meditate as a life practise, we learn to harness this energy very differently. You may then be your authentic self & decide whether anger & swearing is a release that needs more thinking or just something that remains a personal choice.
If you have been thinking to add Meditation to your life but held back gripped by any or all of the above misconceptions, then I hope those blocks have been cleared or at least opened today to allow & welcome you to find your strength within you. Wishing you a delightful meditational practice.
