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Why Shouldn’t You Meditate?
Meditation is promoted for a lot of benefits, but is it ever a bad idea?
There are so many reasons to meditate. The benefits are practically endless and it’s one of the easiest things you can do to improve your mental health, increase happiness, and just generally live a better life.
But as a meditation teacher, I feel I also have an obligation to be clear about the times when meditation may not be right for you. And unfortunately, there are situations in which meditation is a bad idea.
To be totally transparent, the things I’ll list here aren’t always a clear sign that meditation isn’t right for you. Which is why I’ll give you some details about how to tell the difference between just a single less-than-great meditation experience and when it’s truly a problem. I’ll also let you know if there are circumstances where you may be able to continue meditating despite the problem.
So when is meditation an unhealthy habit?
If it prompts you to think negatively
As I explain to my meditation students, meditation is not about controlling or stopping your thoughts. It’s about letting them come and go as they wish, while merely observing them rather than clinging to or following them.
