Myths About Mindfulness

Mindfulness allows us to become aware of our movements, feelings and reactions. All these facets are crucial in our life and in the experience of the present moment. That is why it is very useful to put it into practice, to disable the autopilot with which we have worked for most of the day.

On the other hand, awareness has become a kind of fashion or recipe for everything. However, its origins are not all that current. Along with this misconception, there  are others that prevent many people from enjoying the benefits of mindfulness.  Here are 8 myths about mindfulness.

This technique is commonly used to refer to the practice based on meditation and breathing exercises that aims at the

. Its goal, it is said, is to control unruly thoughts and keep the mind focused . However, this simplicity packs a not-so-simple background. If we dig deeper, we will find that mindfulness is so much more.

It comes from the Tibetan word “drenpa”, which translates as “remember”, “keep” or “collect”. Therefore it does not consist exclusively in observing the mind, but in learning to live in the present by improving the quality of thoughts.  And focusing on the “here and now” is just the way to do it. Don’t we try to improve our backhand with hours and hours of practice on the tennis court? Why not teach our conscience to be more efficient through training?

Neither meditation nor mindfulness are psychological therapies.  In no case do they replace psychological or pharmacological treatments.  If you have been diagnosed with a mental health problem or disorder, therefore, always consult a professional and follow the guidelines established in the intervention.

Relaxation and concentration exercises can serve as a complement to these therapies

but they cannot be alternatives. Likewise, it is wrong to think that they have “therapeutic effects”.  We could speak more of “regulatory effects”, because they do not reduce, but integrate other tools and support techniques.

One of the great myths about mindfulness is the idea of ​​having to make a mental sweep

Our brains are designed to think. The more we try to get rid of negative thoughts, the more intense they will become. 

is a verb that opposes the philosophy of those who practice mindfulness. On the contrary, the idea is that everything flows and to free all thoughts.

This is another of the great myths about mindfulness. This practice consists in learning to live the present in the best possible way.  But it is neither synonymous with joy nor positivism.  By doing these meditation exercises you will not constantly have a smile on your face nor will you learn to see everything pink. To achieve this state, it is

accept the moments as they come. And this is entirely up to you.

What is certain is that its practice makes you live the moments more intensely. Both the good ones and the bad ones.  It increases the way the present is perceived and helps channel and manage emotions.  It helps to not express value judgments and to be more objective.

Experts say I enter

anyone can change a habit or incorporate a new routine into their life. Unfortunately, this doesn’t happen with mindfulness. On the other hand,  it is not necessary to practice it every day or every week, because its benefits are immediate.

If you do it once a year you will notice the same results you would have if you had done it twice a day. You only need your will. Of course, you must know the technique to perform it fully, as it is not enough to retire to a secluded place and breathe.

Another of the great myths about mindfulness is easier to break down: lack of time.  It is clear that to practice it you need to have time, but we often make up many excuses.  It certainly takes you more time to think about why you can’t do it than to start practicing it.

It only takes 10 or 15 minutes and you will be able to focus your attention.  You can read, cook, walk… The only thing you have to do, however, is to stay focused on the present moment. If you do it continuously, you will see that little by little you will meditate almost without realizing it. The body requires it on its own.

Many believe that this meditation technique aims to isolate us from our life, to escape the stress of everyday life. It is absolutely wrong.  What mindfulness is all about is that we reflect and find the root cause of stress.  Through full concentration, you will be able to observe it and make it conscious.

It doesn’t try to get us into a bubble and get us away

the opposite: it aims to shed light on our problem, focusing all our attention on it.

Another of the myths about mindfulness.  There is no predetermined approach to this technique.  In fact, one of its great advantages is that it doesn’t generate any kind of expectation. Are you bored discovering yourself?

Maybe we should talk about fear rather than boredom.  Fear of discovering what we see only if we are able to look within ourselves. The unknown terrifies us. Even more so when it comes to what caused us pain at a certain point in our life. Allow yourself the pleasure of self-release by letting it go out.