Debunking the 5 Most Common Meditation Myths | Light Watkins | TEDxVeniceBeach

[@MegGray1]

I have been meditating since 1987, and it has helped me to let go of things I cannot change. When I am in a bad situation I no longer yell and scream. I stop. Take many deep breaths, and my stress level goes down. The problem may still be there but I see it for what it is, try to accept it, and then figure out a way to fix it, always keeping in mind that I simply have to accept the consequences without losing my sanity.

[@yagradio8655]

Beautiful thanks for sharing

[@maggiesworld6379]

@@yagradio8655 測試過

[@maggiesworld6379]

@@yagradio8655 測試過

[@RedEyedJedi]

My grandmother used to really be into meditation. She had an entire bookcase of books just on this subject. She meditated every single day and I never understood it. I disturbed her on more than one occasion. Although my grandmother is no longer with us, she was the loveliest person your would ever meet. She was very creative and made and sold stained glass pictures and sculptures, oil paintings, hand made cards and may other things at crafts shows around the country. She then gave £1000 every year to a charity in the I would like to say, I'm sorry for disturbing you when you were meditating, nan, I understand it better now. I only thought of a polar bear the first time and never thought of one the second time. This is an excellent video and I felt an inner peace just doing the part he says at the end. Thank you for posting all of these brilliant, mind enhancing videos TEDx.

[@yagradio8655]

Beautiful comment...

[@davidhunt1350]

to Steven Barnes, I think that if you had disturbed your Grandmother, while She was meditating, that She would have been grateful for the disturbance, because She would understand the innocents of a child, & so She may have been prepaired for it sometimes, "because somebody that was so zen like" with her continued practices would, I think mean that you would be in a state of mind that would allow you to be prepaired for little interuptions every now & then, put it this way, if your Grandmother was ever meditating when you were around there, & She was aware that you were there, but never got disturbed by you I am sure she would have found it hard to concerntrate, because if She wasn't disturbed by you when She knew that you were around, that it may be hard to focus when you are expecting to hear little voices, but it's all quiet, some times hearing people even while meditating can help put your mind into a good place, because you know they're safe most of the time if you can hear them. for a small portion of my life I lived near train lines, & as funny as it sounds after you get use to them, even while sleeping if they didn't come for one reason or another you would be missing them because of being conditioned to your environment.

[@MantraAndMindfulness]

Really great talk. Basically well and simply explained that we should not go against the flow and accept everything as it is to be able to relax and meditate

[@carpenterfamily6198]

I once heard it said “ If you don’t have 10 minutes to meditate then meditate for 20. “

[@GameDesignWithChris]

LOL, true! It's hard at first, but it gets easier the more you try it :)

[@Theprofishional]

I've heard something similar, "If you have time to breathe, you have time to meditate."

[@niharikasingh7681]

@@Theprofishional ❤️

[@langolier9]

My version that I heard is if you don’t have time to meditate once a day you should meditate twice a day and I knew that as a fact for five years and I only started my true commitment to daily meditation last week but better late than never

[@fragmaddy1588]

Wow super b

[@IMdAbdulquadirKhan]

At the first 2-3 minutes of the video i thought i ain't gonna listen him to 17 minutes but the quality of his words were so good that i made it till the end of the it

[@tzimmerhakl]

I decided not to listen when I saw his name was Light. I paused at the 2 second mark to read the comments instead.

[@KeithTheKing67]

@@tzimmerhakl wow

[@elitepremium2981]

i absolutely agree with you about how articulate he is, and how easy it was for him to dispense a lecture on such a topic. He was brilliant.

[@Krisspbacon]

did t even notice 17 min flew by it felt more like 5 min much like meditation

[@IMdAbdulquadirKhan]

@@Krisspbacon flew like sanitizer

[@AlwaysManifesting]

Meditation is just life changing. I meditate daily, if I miss a day or so I really notice a difference. I feel so much better and have more energy after meditating....life is more effortless. The ability to REWIRE YOUR THINKING through meditation is such a GIFT.

[@stevengo1202]

The 5 myths are: 1. Meditation is not about quieting the mind. 2:43 2. There is no correct way to meditate. 5:15 3. I don't have time to meditate. 8:30 4. Meditation will solve all my problems. 10:41 5. Success in meditation is based on stillness in the mind. 13:21

[@dannydang4738]

Steve Ngo bless u Steve

[@faithfulsoldier04]

Thank goodness for you, cause I did not have time to watch this video.... wait.

[@arifali6762]

Steve Ngo Highly appreciate

[@vasanthvaave9941]

God bless you

[@ResultsDontLieMathew]

@@faithfulsoldier04 sound like you need to meditate

[@peregrinussolutionsllc6010]

I've been meditating regularly for almost 20 years and this my new favorite video on meditation! Excellent tips for the greatest gift you can give yourself :-)

[@paulocunha3799]

Good compliment but I think those who practice Vipassana come to know these things within the first 10 days retreat.

[@peterquibell9773]

@@paulocunha3799 I am sure they meant tips for people starting out. Anyone at any retreat would know these things.

[@yagradio8655]

Congrats on 20 years great accomplishment

[@ladislavvarga8504]

This is the best talk about meditation I have ever seen. Still, the experience of meditation is highly unique for every individual. No two meditators could register the same experiences.

[@PK-zz1jr]

Your exact experience may vary but there can be similar experiences which people can relate to. Else how can it be scientific.

[@leododgewiper]

except for samadhi

[@CC-bg9qq]

Ladislav Varga i agree✌

[@zesvo]

@@leododgewiper Beautiful, negates his whole sentence.

[@andrewruegsegger7754]

the kind of meditation he is describing is anapanasatti meditation, which is the mindfulness of breathing in Buddhist tradition.

[@45138449]

I tried meditation (I think mindfullness is more acurate), 2 months ago and it has really improove my mind my memory and my happiness. Now I meditate everyday for 7-10 minutes. Very useful video. Bravo!

[@Allanwify]

After meditation my mind always quiet down, under meditation it is often racing. So good point.

[@matthiascerebri3315]

And before?

[@codinginflow]

Its true I meditated for 10 year and now my biological age is 13

[@vincentdomingo3484]

I almost choked lol.

[@codinginflow]

@@vincentdomingo3484 I can't remember writing this

[@duartemorais9063]

@@codinginflow lmao

[@chasejohnson8326]

hmmmmm

[@redditaskthem]

@@codinginflow It just proves you didn't meditate Lol

[@wkffelix1]

"Keep quiet when you feel good. Keep smile when you feel bad."

[@bronsonmcdonald5473]

Thank you for your TED talk. I had been meditating with some success, and I feel confident that after listening to your talk, I will have better meditation experiences and results. You have 'relaxed' my expectations, and I feel now I can be more accepting of different meditation experiences and enjoy and embrace them. It's all good.

[@skylerhoffman4662]

I always thought meditating was to clear the mind. This makes so much more sense

[@winstonmiller9649]

That was the finest meditation seminar ever. Thank you!! I've no doubt it will reach many people who otherwise wouldn't bother with meditation. One of the main problems I've found with meditation is sharing the idea of it. For whatever reason, many people seem to think of it in esoteric terms, instead of a simple technique. They take it that when their mind wonders in practice, it's proof that they can't do it. Little do beginners especially appreciate that a wondering mind is a good meditation teacher, because having to bring the mind back continually to the point of focus is a rooting l practice. And that's partly what improves their practice.

[@19111959]

Well said..in fact I once heard that "the practice of gently and calmly re-focusing the thoughts back to the focal point...THAT IS meditation!"

[@hatemkhrouf8955]

He is one of the best public speakers I ever listened to .

[@starbusra]

Try listening more public speakers.

[@esquizofreniadev]

That's because he meditates, and not only that; is because he know how to meditate.

[@JoeSnodgrassworks]

I came here to say that same thing. First time I've ever been able to fully listen and comprehend a video at twice the speed without having to go back and relisten.

[@hasanal-hussein7079]

I thought it was just me

[@zesvo]

You should get out more.

[@isobelgardnerlmft4939]

What a great talk on Meditation, Light! Somehow I've not see this before but you mentioned it when I came to your refresher in London on Sunday. For everyone else: Light was my first meditation teacher back in Venice in April of 2011. I am now a Meditation teacher myself and incorporate meditation into my psychotherapy practice.Practicing Meditation has definitely transformed my life and given me inner peache and happiness...AND focus. Light is a phenomenal teacher and I highly recommend him to anyone who is interested in learning how to Meditate.

[@roiferreach100]

Your mind will be bombarded by the noisy thoughts, but when peace and calmness enters these noise will stay there but they will no longer distracts you, the noise will add to your calmness. That is what I am experiencing in meditation.

[@robwills668]

Thanks very much and well done on a wonderfully presented talk Light. Over time I have read, viewed and listened to many and varied techniques on meditation. I wanted to be able to put the little pieces of information and advice into practice. I like many struggled to do this as I experimented and found the myths you speak of impeding my practice. However your talk enabled me to see how to overcome the myths/impediments in a little over 15 minutes. I'm far more confident now to practice meditation keeping it simple without striving for some "results". Well done again, you are helping people and that's so generous.

[@Belinda99]

so true ! i practice meditation in classes and also when i wake up and other times even driving !

[@Yolo942]

Reminds me to get back to mediation.

[@MarkVanOuse]

Well done and all of it so very true! I've been practicing meditation for the last three weeks with the aid of the Muse headband device and the effects have been noticeable already. I think the biggest difference that I notice is that I can mentally release and step away a bit from a situation that may be intense. Not to escape the situation but rather to better emotionally and mentally engage with the situation appropriately. I feel like meditation is giving me extra breathing room in life. And for me that's huge!

[@travistrapp8022]

Giving one’s self permission to create space and take time to allow yourself to daydream is priceless. Thanks for the disambiguating. The stereotype of anything is like comparing the movie to the book. It’s just never as good.

[@jenniferholst-smith8859]

Thank you so much for clarification on meditation. It makes so much sense. I have tried on and off to do it without actually understanding what I was doing. 10 minutes a day is worth it and I am definitely worth taking that time.

[@AlexnaderSupertramp]

Personally meditation for me was working on developing better focus. In the beginning I focused on my breathing like most meditation instructors says to do. And within 30 seconds instead of focusing on my breathing my mind would wander. So I challenge myself to spend just 15 minutes every evening before bed to just focus on my breathing. I would sit comfortably and the best Lotus position I could do. I would slightly tilt my head upwards to bring Focus between my eyebrows. And every time I had a Wandering thought I would acknowledge it and focus back on my breathing. By the end of 35 days I was spending 30 minutes I'm just focusing on my breathing. The best part was every other aspect of my life I was more engaged and focused. At day 60 almost nothing could distract me. I would get intimate with whatever I needed to focus on whether it was a conversation or a task. I think that's what meditation truly is for once you can start controlling your focus your attention span all other possibilities start opening up.

[@mountainwilliam2979]

Unsuccessful a lot of years, got a book called Breath, the science of a lost art. Found the wim Hof method, downloaded the app. 4 days in I listened to Allen Watts guided meditation, and it finally is working. I have listened to it 100s of times before What felt like a 30 minute meditation was less than 13 minutes.

[@pablo123orange]

Simply excellent, this is exactly it and unfortunately nobody communicates it this clearly so you're left to find out on your own. Great talk!

[@carlosalicea78]

I've listened to others speak on meditation ..this gentleman made it comprehensible. ..thankyou ....

[@aaronbottom1206]

In 5 or so years of trying to find the simplest most basic starting point/ explanation for how and why to do it ,this is it. Right on Light! You got the right stuff. I think if we go seeking for a master Guru or teacher and try to emulate that were pretty much failing from the get go. 🙏🏻

[@antslord5014]

try listening to Eckhart tole, befriending the ego and being in the now trust me it'll open you up to yourself

[@aaronbottom1206]

@@antslord5014 Will do 🙏🏻

[@MindfulNEWS]

Light, you killed it! great breath of fresh air and extremely entertaining way of describing Mindfulness. Will look out for more of your stuff.

[@zeehuss7275]

Best ted talk ever, unlike other ted talks which take hours to understand. He's an amazing teacher. He can make you learn anything.

[@dhrubabarua2443]

He is a really good speaker.......very talented man

[@mella8902]

Thank you this helps time to time when I get side tracked in being negative.

[@roloduarte3100]

This is the best talk on meditation I have ever seen.

[@wadisanaa]

this video is great for those on the fence whether to give meditation a try. Awesome

[@halimamjahed6281]

Amazing talk! Very helpful for me

[@garyp1432]

Thank you so much. I found it helpful to concentrate on breathing and one other thing like a single word mantra like ohm, ram, on the out breath.

[@mannukaur6675]

Very good explaination thank you from uk

[@randallpaul6559]

Make it what is good for you. Definitely learn the foundation of meditation. But you will refine it to your needs. Meditation is important daily I definitely recommend it. Good talk

[@rabukan5842]

I have been meditating for over 50 years, began as a young martial artist, something I still do. Meditation does not change your life. It doesn't settle your brain waves. You do. Meditation is an attitude and discipline. That is all. There is no one technique, but there are lots of them. Besides the many things I've become in 6 decades of which all of them involved getting to the level of instructor (I am also a professor,) I attribute the achievements not to talent, or genius, but to discipline. And all of that began with my training in martial arts at 10 years old - which carried me through to today. And all that training, and all the training I've ever done, was about meditation. Meditation is training. Everything is about meditation. It is not about sitting in a lotus position thinking of clouds or nothing - but sitting quietly discovering new ways to enjoy the quiet time while you discover something more about yourself. And anyone can do that.

[@eveoff]

Meditation is the same as going to the gym but youre not going there with your body but your mind. I started meditation an hour a day when i was younger and the noise in my head almost completly disappeared. Now im older and i stopped meditation and my mind is noiser. So really mind is a muscle you need to train.

[@KeithanthonyTaylor]

When I meditate I shut my mouth not my eyes then breath through my nose which triggers my vagus nerve and in turn my parasympathetic nervous system which means I am always in rest, relax and recovery mode. By doing this I meditate with each and every breath while instilling my mind with the word calm and all its counterparts. I need no set time for meditation because I breathe all day.

[@avoidantbehavior]

This is the push back into a practice that I was looking for.

[@MrTimhudson]

this talk deserves a million views.

[@sacred406]

Excellent points brought up... because we often judge ourself too harshly. Love the very positive conclusion.

[@southpacificexplorer]

I am a meditation teacher too and I have to say this is a very good talk.

[@thewizard4200]

No, you are not.

[@zesvo]

@@thewizard4200 fluffy talk, doubt he's ever experienced no-thing-ness.

[@HOLYGRAILSTONE]

I just realised meditation is the reason I like commuting so much I was noticeing places to go and clear thinking love it...

[@StillnessManifesto]

Probably the most encouraging video on youtube for people to start meditating 🙌 spot on. Thanks for ”lighting” up some things for us 🙂

[@TechTiger1007]

I began the practice to help with my anger, also to help get clarity. Meditation has helped after a few months.

[@Alinikki110]

one of the best concise talk on meditation, excellent

[@allanlam7669]

I like it. The myths that were busted for me were, meditation is a blank mind, he dispelled that with the polar bear example. meditation is about a still mind. He explained about meditation is moving around thoughts. I liked the final excercise of just letting your thoughts wander and always having the breath there to return back to. I do this when I take a walk. I find it does much the same thing. I think about a range of topics and always when I run out I just return to my stepping. just moving forwards with my feet. The momentum and the breeze and the sights around me.

[@paznj9414]

I agree with you, meditation is about a still mind. I enjoy very much spending time in nature and exercising. There is when my mind wonders freely until I find the sweet spot where finally my thoughts are quite.

[@NatvarNanaHotelBrokers]

Terrific explanation

[@SC-li6pf]

Best description on how to meditate !!!!

[@hj8607]

The world you live in is the world you see through your own eyes . Changing , improving your ability to live in a serene world, is changing the world . I start my night of sleep by letting my thoughts run and when my mind starts to quite , I turn off the light .

[@harmanmaan870]

My God , this guy is genius, i was struggling to meditate but he showed me the right way. this video should have billion views

[@jeebanthapa1311]

I chanced upon listening to this talk today and I'm glad that I did. Very nice presentation. Found it very logical and practical.

[@KahMa36]

I love everything about this preso Light. Thank you.

[@Koshinkailite]

Thank u, a subtle change for me, waves of thought pass through the mind like the weather and like the weather a emotional storm can pass through whole countrys effecting all beings... So to stay aware of the breath yet allow the mind freedom to naturally ebb and flow within the river of consciousness is closer to how the great monk wants us to work...

[@CaLiCatch22]

I really enjoy this speaker. Amazing info.

[@jburdick8611]

I LOVE your suggestions. LOVE THEM! Thanks you SO much!

[@Moon-ij5ju]

Thank you this is amazing

[@sowjanyapeddireddy898]

Awesome technique...

[@maureenoconnell8181]

Very inspirational talk.

[@the.spiritual.activist]

I live how he is taking alot of the ignorance out of the idea of meditation. This eliminates alot of the guilt, shame and self-judgement that obstruct our emotions thus mind when trying to find balance in our body during mediation. It literally becomes counterproductive when you're stress management modality becomes the source of your stress. 💜🫶🏾✨️

[@albertthomas2448]

medation, very simply and beautifully explained. very good talk

[@carlosalicea78]

Albert Thomas agree....

[@martinroberts8469]

What's medation?

[@RSSASMR]

Very Informative♾ I will start this technique today it just sounds like the perfect way to calm the mind when I was trying to quiet the mind🤯... life changing

[@mehdhalaouate4598]

Thank you🙏

[@abhijitgupta90]

I instantly liked the video. One of the best things that i have come across in recent times. Thanks !

[@midoann]

He is good. As a psychologist I knew about the studies and more because I practice and suggest patients to do so. However, is the first time ,after learning different meditation techniques, that a meditation teacher/ coach in few words in a instruction has solve the famous 'monkey mind' dilemma: Let your mind flow and second focus on your breath. Usually, meditation teachers say it different. They emphasis on the breathing and leave the mind as something to get rid off ( of course many say is an impossible 100% mission, since is the minds work is to think). Next month, I'm going to a Vipassana retreat. I heard from a Goenka YT video that usually most of the meditation techniques objective is find peace, get rid of stress but Vipassana objective is purification, related to the subconscious. Let's see how I experience it. Thank you

[@jamesgathatwa1485]

Thank you Light Watkins For breaking down Meditation to a language that an every day person can understand. Finally I can meditate successfully .

[@Wildlife0167]

perfect video on the most popular topic meditation. it clearly differentiate the myth and actual definition of meditation. it also cleared the my doubts about how to focus on certain things

[@kitaartx8855]

This is literally so helpful. Thanks for making these videos for us. Really appreciate it

[@paznj9414]

Good tips for beginners. Worth it to try.

[@joydeeppaul2900]

Proud to be an Indian.... Meditation was invented in India thousands year ago and the first man to address it in west is Swami Vivekananda ... hope all you know about Swamiji and the great Chicago address...

[@tpb1006]

Take it easy man. You guys just jump on anything indian. Why do you have such a low self esteem.

[@MsAnchovey]

I've changed my mind about meditation after this TED talk. I can do as he instructed rather than how I've been taught in the past; it never was sustainable bc it was just so difficult and I didnt gain anything that I know of. It's so difficult to think of NOTHING. Lol 10 minutes of focusing on breathing after my amazing Wim Hof breathing exercise works wonders. Look up Wim Hof (IceMan)...these 2 go together fabulously. Also trying SOMA breathwork.

[@raymondmaglaris4149]

I bet it does will try tonight

[@VikasR]

That was bang on perfect video on meditation 🧘‍♂️

[@sandhuamrit977]

This video is really motivated and informative

[@abettermousetrap]

a well spoken young man

[@viewer5682]

Thank you brother

[@meandmybobbygee1812]

So I I start meditating at 14, I'll be young for all eternity. Got it.

[@lyfelesscadaver1713]

The powers of the mind has no limits

[@wynstansmom829]

@@lyfelesscadaver1713 "I'll be young for all eternity"...yes, and so will Janis. Janis, you are missed. Me and my BobbyGee, I hope you are not 'missed' for a long, long time. peace.

[@zenthepoet.]

You wont but it will feel like it...

[@MrsSheffield]

With meditation - I find lots of people have preconceptions about what they “should” be feeling or not feeling, or they tie “goals” to their meditation practice. For example, “I’m going to meditate so I can become xyz…” This type of thinking often deters people because they find that they didn’t get what they set out to get with meditation. It is far more productive (if you’re going to set a goal with meditation at all), to set the goal of meditating every single day regardless of how you feel, regardless of how tired you are, regardless of what’s happening in the outer world, regardless of how much time you think you have, etc. Just do it. 5 minutes, 10 minutes, 20 minutes …whatever you can do. Without expectations, without forcing anything, without judging anything. You will eventually look back (maybe after 10-20 years of doing daily meditation) and realize how it has impacted your life, your personality, your relationships, your ability to think, create and love. It’s amazing.

[@tashabartho9912]

That worked for me! thanks

[@matthiascerebri3315]

I must say that my prejudices arenow gone for the most part. I also love to see how many endless possibilities there are.

[@pleepxwb]

allowing the mind to wonder and drift is a mistake, because we are training our minds to cultivate such habit. really we are to practice being conscious when mind drifts and pulling it our attention back on relaxing and calming mind body.

[@dresean3725]

pheng lee Hey uhhhhhh, this is literally what he said towards the end. He said focus on your breathe and if you notice the mind starts to wonder, gently bring it back (without getting mad at yourself or having any negative feelings). Do this everytime your mind wonders. Basic mindfulness. I wonder if you didn't watch all of the video cuz I was thinking the same thing you were until he got to the end :)

[@yogatayo436]

Thanks for the tips 🙏🙏🙏

[@drdubeysk]

very nicely explained

[@mohanveeru9280]

Very useful information about meditation thank you plz send me the meditation process videos

[@johnadams8554]

I usually don't put comment on videos but man that was one of the best videos i've ever watched

[@librasunmoon8513]

Wow great talk! Thank you 🙏

[@colleenakaleeannrogers1486]

This was very informative! Thank you

[@suryanath8464]

I love this way of meditating!! Very easy !!

[@tiseytise]

This was amazing! Thank you!

[@anthonypraveen3086]

Nice presentation..Great Job.

[@prafullakarule1012]

Amazing.... Highly recommended for beginners

[@arctichare8185]

Well Worth Watching. Thanx

[@jesudominic]

Really good one!

[@neonemuse]

Wonderful speaker. Well thought out exercises and stories to illustrate his opinion on the matter. I think I will be giving this a go. :)

[@gabrielm3683]

this guy has a gift

[@rawlawgirl]

Excellent.Thank you.

[@MONIMUPE]

Thank you... it helped me a lot.