7 Common Meditation Mistakes

Here is a list of 7 common meditation mistakes...

1. You think you aren’t doing it right and get frustrated

Don’t get frustrated at the beginning if you can’t keep your mind still for long periods of time. Always try to improve from your last meditation. Meditation takes time and requires you to work on it on a regular basis. What often happens at the start is we realize how active our minds actually are because this is the first time that we are actually observing our thoughts instead of being our thoughts.

2. Trying too hard or not hard enough

When you meditate you need to balance being lazy and trying too hard. It’s that happy medium you need to discover. You will know when you find this happy medium. If you try too hard meditation can become stressful when it’s suppose to be relaxing. If you become too lazy when you meditate you aren’t meditating anymore. Put out the intention to find that happy medium in your mind.

3. Not developing a routine

Routine is key. Try to meditate at the same time and place if that works you. Once the routine is established it becomes easier. Make sure you leave time in the day for you to meditate. You can implement meditation while your doing everyday stuff like going to the grocery store or driving your car.

4. Not following your own intuition

Advice from others is great but try to listen to yourself for your own guidance in meditation. Maybe you would rather meditate at night when your meditation instructor wants you to meditate first thing in the morning or your instructor wants you to meditate for 30 minutes straight when you feel you can only do 15 minutes. Follow your own guidance.

5. Not breathing properly

According to Wade Lightheart, oxygen is the most important nutrient for our body. In his book Vital Power he lists some of the benefits of deep breathing...

"Oxygen rejuvenates the cells
Deep breathing cleans out mucus and toxins
You will have more energy and automatically eat less
You will enjoy a sharper mental state"

When you start meditating, breathe in your nose and out your mouth and take deep breaths, then relax your breathing. Make sure you have good posture. Proper breathing is essential for meditation. You can also work on improving your breathing technique when your not meditating. Breathing has many benefits both spiritually and physically.

6. Rushing

Meditation should not be a rushed exercise. You deserve it for yourself to not rush when you meditate. You may feel a pull in yourself to rush when you meditate.

7. Expecting big results overnight

You most likely won’t have total inner peace overnight. It takes time for your mind to adapt. However in the long run you will see great improvements if you stay consistent.

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