9 Common Questions About Meditation That Will Lead You Astray

Below, we’ll take a look at each common question, why it’s misleading, and look at better way to find the information that will lead you to a sustainable meditation practice.

Find the people who enjoy the style of meditation you’re considering. If they are all wearing robes and shaved heads, and you’re the type who lines up to buy the newest, trendiest sneakers, then that style is probably not going to be the right fit for you.

With meditation, cost is closely aligned with the level of instruction and ongoing support you receive. Because different styles have varied levels of instruction, support, and resources, they are all priced according to their value. Here are a few questions to ask when further investigating a technique's actual value:

Meditation teachers want to help you. So base your choice on finding the most complete learning experience, not the cheapest method of learning.

Meditation teachers specialize in teaching you fundamentals so that you can meditate successfully on your own, but they don't usually do guided meditations. So if you want to be guided, you need a meditation guide, and if you want instruction, you should seek out a meditation teacher.

Really, 10 minutes would be my recommended cut-off in terms of minimal time investment per day. Instead of settling for a meditation style that you can get by on, keep searching for one that you enjoy enough to sit for a solid 15 or 20 minutes.

The word meditation is generic, like the word sports. Just as there are many different sports, each with its own rules, there are different styles of meditation. Therefore, evaluate each technique and teacher separately until you find one that inspires you to learn.

Regardless, controlling the mind into submission has the opposite effect because Don’t think is a thought, and Why am I still thinking? is another thought. The better question is “What is the best way to meditate in concert with my thinking mind?”

People will begin meditating when they are good and ready. There’s not much you can say to coerce people to start. If people see you carving out the time to meditate each day, and you’re not making a big deal out of it, they will likely see positive changes within you, and therefore be more inspired to start meditating themselves.

Generally speaking, apps are of the "guided" variety, and while they may be great at tracking your meditations, they are not always good for learning how to meditate and may not leave you feeling self-sufficient. If possible, try to find a teacher. If a teacher is not available, look for a video course. If that’s not possible, try a book. As a last resort, use an app.

You lose many of your unsubstantiated fears (fear of failing, fear of being alone, fear of growing old), you lose anxiety, you lose insomnia. These may not be the sexiest benefits, but, with time, they will help your mind become calmer.