Common Misconceptions

Meditation is an antidote for stress.

While in the West we tend to think of meditation as something we do to relieve stress, meditation is not meant to suppress or numb difficult emotions. In fact, stress is a healthy and natural response to our not getting our needs met. Meditation provides the insight and distance necessary to understand where stress is coming from and how to move beyond it.  We learn to respond rather than react to stressful encounters.

Meditation is hard.

Another misconception about meditation is difficult to practice or requires a major lifestyle change. Meditation is actually quite simple to integrate into your daily routine. It is easily learned, and in practice is a comfortable, effortless state of being.

I’m not able to meditate because I can’t stop my thoughts or quiet my mind.

Meditation isn’t about stopping your thoughts or ceasing your mental activity. Meditation teaches you how to transcend your thoughts and shift into a different state of consciousness.

I can’t meditate because I can’t sit still for very long.

Many people find it difficult to sit still when sitting down to meditate.  Society teaches us to always be busy doing, working hard, acquiring, accomplishing and succeeding.  Many of us feel guilty when we take time to just ‘be’ or we simply don’t know how to do this.  Our bodies and minds are not accustomed to being in such a relaxed state while awake, so we often feel more restless when first beginning to meditate.  This will subside with time and practice.

Meditation is religious.

Meditation is not a religion, nor does it require you embrace any set of dogmatic beliefs. If anything, meditation will enhance your current sense of faith or spirituality. Meditation establishes a firm foundation from which we become more aware of ourselves and our place in the world.

Meditation is about achieving enlightenment.

When students first come to meditation, they often ask, “Will meditation lead me to enlightenment?” It’s the wrong question. The truth is, you were born enlightened.  You have been pure and perfect from birth, and it is only through years of social conditioning that you have come to believe you are anything less. Meditation will reconnect you to the truest aspect of your Self, and in that space you will recognize that you are perfect just as your are.

Contact Trista Thorp Today!

To schedule your private or group coaching sessions, please fill out the contact form.  For long distance clients, Trista can travel directly to your home or business, and she even teaches classes through Skype sessions.