MYTH #1 | To effectively meditate it is necessary to stop the flow of thoughts.
FALSE: Meditation is about fostering a relationship with God. Think about it—when was the last time you formed a meaningful connection with someone without thinking about them? Understanding, loving, and deepening that bond requires thoughtful engagement. Similarly, in meditation, we focus our awareness on God’s presence. It begins with contemplation and moves into silence—a receptive state where we listen for divine guidance, whether as a deep knowing, revelation, or heightened consciousness. That is meditation. Through trust we surrender our will to God’s will, we experience God’s transformative grace enriching our lives and the lives of those around us in miraculous and unexpected ways.
The words of the Master Jesus provided us with direction and guidance the path to union with God when he said, “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength. (Matthew 22:37–39).
MYTH #2 | Successful meditation requires controlled breathing.
FALSE: One of my students struggled with meditation because she thought she wasn’t breathing correctly. Many spiritual books and guided meditation tapes emphasize techniques like observing your breath, adjusting its rhythm, and even counting inhales and exhales for specific effects. While these methods can be helpful, they’re not essential. I encouraged her to let go of focusing too much on breath control if it distracted her.
Counting breaths can be useful to quiet the mind and has benefits for both body and mind making one more susceptible to the flow of energy and enhancing the conditions necessary for receptivity of higher consciousness thoughts. But, what matters most is recognizing breath as vital life energy. It sustains us naturally, much like the substance of Love. Understanding this can lead to a more effortless meditation practice, where eventually, you gain a natural sense of control simply by being aware of it. Learn to follow the breath and you will eventually be able to control it if and when necessity dictates. It deserves our reverence and gratitude as it fills our cells with the substance of Life.
When I first began meditating, I too had difficulty with the concept of breath and awareness of it. So, I set it aside. Before I meditate, I listen to sounds through my headphones. Sound has always had a profound effect on my meditations. One day as the music and vibrational sounds ended, I heard my breath. Clearly and distinctly. I wasn’t just feeling the breath, I was experiencing the sound of breath. It was effortless, awesome, requiring only my acceptance of it. The sound carried me to a place of peace, and I asked myself. Who is breathing?
MYTH #3 | You need retreats and lessons from celebrity teachers to experience profound spirituality.
FALSE: In the past, men would retreat to monasteries to focus on spirituality without the distractions of the outside world. Not being subject to the pressures outside the monasteries allowed them the opportunity to focus on reaching a level of spirituality without material distractions. But it did not make them more eligible to enter the kingdom of heaven then those who sought God every day while facing the challenges of the world in which they lived. The secret to mastering the material world, as promised in Genesis, lies in remembering who we truly are. This can be accomplished by anyone willing to devote their time, attention and devotion to loving God.
Regardless of our economic situation, our inner struggles, or the belief that we are powerless, the truth is that we are divine beings of light. We can free ourselves from the illusion of separateness through meditation and connecting with our I AM Presence. Spiritual tools and truths have been available for centuries through ancient texts, despite attempts to suppress them. These timeless truths are accessible to everyone. Seek, and you shall find.
