Ten Common Mistakes People Make When Learning to Meditate

  1. Trying to meditate for too long at first, which can lead to frustration and discouragement.

  2. Having unrealistic expectations, such as expecting to experience profound insights or deep relaxation right away.

  3. Trying to force the mind to be quiet, which can create more mental agitation.

  4. Sitting in an uncomfortable position, which can cause physical discomfort and distract from the meditation.

  5. Getting too caught up in the content of thoughts, rather than simply observing them without judgment.

  6. Skipping meditation sessions or not establishing a regular practice, which can hinder progress and make it harder to build the habit.

  7. Focusing too much on technique and not enough on the experience of meditation itself.

  8. Believing that there is a "right" way to meditate, rather than exploring different approaches and finding what works best for them.

  9. Getting too attached to a particular experience or outcome, which can create resistance and block progress.

  10. Comparing their meditation practice to others, rather than focusing on their own progress and experience.