Mindfulness and Meditation: Common Myths
Meditation and mindfulness have grown in popularity in mental healthcare as helpful tools for our well being. As with any popular topic, there will be some common myths and misinformation. Let's look at some of them closely.
Spirituality or religion is always involved
Meditation has a rich and diverse history in many cultures. There are many types of meditation and mindfulness practices, and not all of them involve spirituality or religion - many exercises are secular and do not involve spiritual beliefs at all.
Enlightenment is always the goal
Painting with a very broad brush, meditation and mindfulness use techniques to regulate focus, attention, and/or awareness with the overall goal of wellbeing and happiness. Most of them do not aim to achieve epiphanies or a state of nirvana! For example, loving kindness meditation aims to increase one's sense of self-compassion and empathy for others.
It involves "emptying" the mind of thoughts
It is not exactly possible to get rid of all thoughts, and most meditation and mindfulness work towards consciously observing them and being more accepting of them instead. For example, one mindfulness exercise involves repeatedly noticing when our thoughts stray to the past or the future, and gently guiding them back to the present without judgement.
There is no scientific proof of any benefits
Although meditation and mindfulness are new to the world of academic research (relatively speaking in terms of the lifespan of research topics), there have been reliable and objective studies that link them to both physical and mental health benefits. That said, more studies on benefits and risks are definitely welcome if the goal is to introduce meditation and mindfulness as official prescriptions in mainstream healthcare.
It always involves yoga
Due to the origin of yoga in ancient India and its ties to meditation as well as spirituality and religion, people often visualize yoga and meditation as one and the same. However, as mentioned, there is a huge variety of meditation and mindfulness practices today, many of which do not involve yoga or physical exercises. For example, some involve visualization or relaxation of the body.
It is clear that meditation and mindfulness are not one and the same, and come in all categories from secular to spiritual, physical to passive. Mindfulness exercises are especially useful in mental healthcare, and many continue to benefit from both in their daily lives. With this growing popularity, it is especially important to note that meditation or mindfulness should be guided by a trusted expert and done alongside the support of your usual healthcare professional. This is especially so if one is trying it for the first time or is struggling with mental health and wellness.
Do you practice meditation or mindfulness exercises and were you surprised by any of these common myths? If you are keen to learn more about how to use mindfulness exercises in your daily practice, we are here to help. Find out more by contacting us at info@restingtree.ca or book your free consultation today.