What even is meditation?

So what even is meditation? What counts? Do you have to sit a certain way? Do you need to set a time and designate a special place for it? Do you have to be a certain type of person?

In today’s blog post, I’ll explore these questions and hopefully help you see meditation from a different perspective.

Let’s start by clearing up a few common misconceptions by considering what meditation isn’t.

Meditation is not a state of having no thoughts. It is not forceful and should not incite self-judgement. Neither is it restricted to those with religious or spiritual beliefs. Meditation needn’t be prescriptive (e.g. with a rigid technique, posture, schedule or length of time to be followed). Finally, it is not just a “one-hit wonder” or a “quick fix”.

Let’s look at these one by one.

Meditation is not a state of having no thoughts.

You can, and probably will, have thoughts and distractions during meditation — and that doesn’t mean you’re doing it wrong!

Wait, what? Isn’t meditation supposed to mean a completely clear mind with zero distractions? Absolutely not. This is one of the biggest myths about meditation. Having thoughts is completely natural — what matters is how you relate to them.

It’s like watching clouds drift across the sky rather than getting carried away by them.

It is not forceful and should not incite self-judgement.

Meditation is a time to practice gentleness and non-judgement. Forcing the mind to be silent is impossible and counterproductive, as it creates resistance. Instead, when you notice a distraction, gently bring your attention back to the breath. No judgement, no striving, no pressure — just acceptance. Every time you do this, you strengthen your meditation muscle.

Neither is it restricted to those with religious or spiritual beliefs.

There are so many proven roots to meditation; it can be traced back through religious and non-religious communities alike. This means that you do not have to align with a particular religious or spiritual belief in order to practice meditation.

Meditation needn’t be prescriptive

There are no rules with meditation beyond showing up and noticing what the mind is doing. There is no rigid technique, posture, schedule or length of time to be followed. Make it work for you. You can sit, lie down, or walk; meditate in the morning, before bed, or for just a few minutes in between. Consistency matters far more than duration.

Finally, it is not just a “one-hit wonder” or a “quick fix”.

Although some techniques can bring clarity and calm in the moment, the long-term benefits come from regular practice. It’s exactly like going to the gym to get fitter or build muscle. One trip to the gym is a good start, but consistency is where transformation happens. Meditation is your time for brain gym!

Here are some other definitions and perspectives that resonated with me:

Buddhist view: Meditation practices can lead to a new understanding of life and can bring deep peacefulness and energy to the mind. It allows us to see the true nature of the world with clarity. By learning the patterns of the mind, we can develop more positive habits.

Headspace: Meditation is about training awareness and developing a healthy sense of perspective - observing without judgement.

Dr Joan Borysenko: Meditation keeps the attention pleasantly anchored in the present moment. We can experience a reduction in chronic stress as the calmness of the mind distances us from reacting and worrying about the past and future.   

And here’s a definition I wrote during my training with the British School of Meditation:

“Meditation is a lifelong skill in which you learn to be gentle and accepting of yourself and your surroundings in a relaxed yet alert way. It is a tool to observe your mind and body in the present moment, allowing you to be on a journey of finding stillness and awareness.”

What do you think?!

To wrap up, meditation is a practice of training the brain to be gentle, to be accepting, to be grounded and to tune in to the present moment. Meditation can bring inner focus and awareness, for example allowing us to notice patterns in the brain and therefore impact emotional regulation. It allows us to create space.

All in all, meditation is a skill and it can be an amazing tool for life. If this has sparked your curiosity, why not give it a go for yourself? I offer guided meditation sessions that make it easy to begin - no experience needed, just an open mind. I’d love to help you get started - you can head to my Contact page to enquire about booking.