Q:
Is meditation just about being calm?
A: Absolutely not, if it was just about being calm, it wouldn't be as widely popular as it is.
While a feeling of calm or peace is often something that comes up with meditation, the benefits are far more diverse in direct application to our lives:
greater emotional regulation, clearer self awareness, and health benefits like improved sleep, decreased anxiety and depression, and improved overall mood.
Myth:
I have a very busy mind. There's no way I can meditate.
If you've noticed you have a very busy mind, you've already had a moment of mindfulness!
When we realize we don't have to believe every thought and can pick and choose which are worth holding onto, incredible things happen in all corners of our lives.
Myth:
I am Christian/ Hindu / Muslim / Atheist / etc. Meditation conflicts with my religion.
The practices we teach are the equivalent of strength training for the mind and heart and are completely secular.
For example, we examine common thought patterns to determine where we are being especially hard on ourselves, and learn to bring more kindness to ourselves so we can grow and blossom.
When was the last time you really enjoyed the calming warmth of a shower?
The goal of meditation is not to meditate! The goal is to more fully live and enjoy our lives!
When we are able to be more aware in real time of the experience we're having in a given moment, we not only live the richness of life but are more skillful during the inevitable hard moments of life.
Myth:
I don't have time to meditate.