Time to break some myths surrounding mindfulness meditation.
Myth #1: Mindfulness is stopping all thought.
Fact: Not quite. A general perception about practicing mindfulness is that it requires the mind to be a ‘blank slate’. However, as a heart doesn’t stop beating, you can’t stop your brain from thinking. Thus, mindfulness is not about thought suppression, instead it is about acknowledging the thoughts and suppressing the judgement about their existence.
Myth #2: Mindfulness is only about concentration
Fact: There is a lot more to it!
Mindfulness as a practice increases your ability to concentrate and focus but in addition to it, the primary emphasis is on cultivating awareness. The awareness is not only about the body’s natural breathing pattern but also about the mind constantly wandering off. Increased awareness of this gives us a choice to gently bring back the attention on our task at hand. The purpose of breathing is to anchor our body to the present moment and allowing our attention to rest where we feel our breathing the most, rather than indulging in effortful breathing.
Myth #3: Mindfulness has a temporary effect
Fact: Mindfulness Meditation is a regular practice which provides cumulative benefit. Initially, mindfulness can provide you relief from anxiety, stress and intrusive thoughts for a few seconds or minutes. However, an effort towards mindfulness on a daily basis will strengthen your brain’s synaptic connections. Thus, a long-lasting impact requires practicing consistently.
Authorship: Trisha Daruwala, Clinical Psychologist at Synapsium