Meditation Doesn’t Work
Happiness Isn’t a Destination; It’s Our Default State
A Meditation Didn’t Help Them Or Me
“When no one understands, that’s usually a good sign that you’re wrong.”
― Victoria Schwab
Here’s one thing I know about meditation:
It doesn’t work.
I’ve dated meditation teachers, I work with girls who meditate, and they all struggle with anxiety and depression.
I know owners of a meditation center, and they tell me most of their clients are traumatized and have a lot of emotional problems.
Two years ago, I used to meditate and do yoga every day, and yet, I still struggled with a binge eating disorder and the shame, depression, and low confidence that accompanied it.
Happiness Is Not A Destination
“The final portrait is often furthest from the truth.”
― Dave Cullen
Marketers and practitioners will tell you that meditation will heal you, will end your pain and suffering, will make you happy; how else are they going to convince you to sit in one spot and focus on your breath for twenty minutes?
I fell for the hype. I got rid of my gym membership, bought a yoga mat, and started meditating and doing yoga every day, hoping it would make me feel better.
And it did — during and after, but the high never lasted. Hours — even minutes later — I was caught in the same loop of destructive thoughts, feelings, and obsessions.
Why & How To Meditate
“Feelings come and go like clouds in a windy sky. Conscious breathing is my anchor.”
― Thich Nhat Hanh
Currently, I meditate at least five-ten minutes a day. I continue to do yoga after my workouts, to give my keyboard a break from the pain I inflict upon it, and when I’ve been sitting on the couch watching TV for too long.
Today, I use meditation as a practice to help me become aware and let go of what’s pulling me away from happiness.
When I’m not meditating, I regularly check-in with myself to see how I’m feeling and let go of what’s making me sad, depressed, or distracted from the present moment.
I used to meditate, do yoga, take herbs, and eat healthy as a means to an end — as an escape.
I believed happiness was a destination, and these activities were my vehicle.
What I’ve learned over the years is joy and peace are our standard, default states of being.
Not to be insensitive, but there is no reason why you can’t be happy right now.
And if you do have a reason, make happiness a choice anyway because…why not?
Meditation — appropriately used — can be beneficial, but you don’t need to do it to be happy.
And meditation can make you feel good. There’s nothing wrong about doing things for pleasure. The intention behind the activity is more important than the activity itself.
In Conclusion
“You will never be happy if you continue to search for what happiness consists of.” — Albert Camus
Happiness is our default state. Meditation — used as a practice — can help you connect to this state.
But you don’t need to do it to be happy. You don’t need to do anything to be happy.
Do things because you want to, because you enjoy them, not because you believe you have to.
“Have love for your inner Self and everything else is done for you.”
― Amit Ray
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