No, not at all! Meditating is nothing more than focusing the attention on a particular point of focus for a concentrated amount of time and refocusing on that point when the attention wanders. We do this in our every day lives in certain ways, such as when we are deeply concentrating on a task, a creative project, a song…these often feel like “meditative” experiences. Formal meditation is simply an opportunity to harness the attention in a particular way.

In the Eastern traditions of mindfulness meditation, the sangha, or community of meditators is considered a refuge that provides support and enhances the meditative experience. Similarly, Western science has shown that meditating in a community amplifies the meaning and joy one gets from the experience. Social connection to others is strengthened and the meditative experience may be deepened. Finally, meditating in a community exposes us to diverse perspectives and experiences that we might not otherwise encounter. So while it’s completely fine to meditate on one’s own, meditating as part of a community can be an enriching expereince!

Meditation, like any skill we are working to hone or sharpen, requires practice. Similar to learning to play the a musical instrument, get stronger in the gym, or learn a new sport, we need to practice regularly to get improve and to see the benefits. What research consistently shows is that the frequency and consistency of practice matters more than the time of each sit. For example, you’ll see the impact of practicing mindfulness meditation if you sit daily for 10-15 minutes than if you sit 1-2 time/week for 45 minutes at a time.xt goes here

Attitude is everything! The number one reason people stop meditating is because they are judging or evaluating themselves or the outcomes. Remember, mindfulness means to observe and allow whatever is real in the present moment without judgment. Please don’t let meditation become another should in your life that you either succeed or fail in. Rather, each time you practice, remember what brought you here and try to bring attitude of curiosity and kindness to your experience so you can simply open to what is happening right here, right now.