At the Mindful Dartmouth Initiative, we are dedicated to promoting a campus culture where all community members are able to reflect more often, connect more authentically, and live from a place of meaning & purpose. It is our goal to make practices that support this vision possible and available to all, no matter your background and identity.
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Common Myths and FAQs
Myth #1 - I can't meditate because my mind is too busy
There is a common misconception that in order for you to meditate, you have to be this serene and calm person. The truth is EVERYONE has a really active mind! Our minds are built to think and that can be a hugely helpful thing at times. It can also lead us astray when our thoughts are continuously ping-ponging from regrets about the past to worries about the future to self-doubts and everything in between. Meditation is not about ceasing all thoughts. Instead it’s about knowing where your mind is going and having a better relationship with what you find.
Myth #2 - Mindfulness is having no thoughts
If you are feeling more stressed just thinking about adding something else to your schedule, you are not alone! Starting a meditation practice can feel daunting but it doesn’t have to be. We like to encourage students to start with just 5-10 minutes of meditation per day and to look for natural spaces of time in your schedule where you can set aside a few moments to meditate. It may be when you need a break at the library, or before you head to class. Or it might be when you are waiting for something to start, scrolling on social media, or after you turn your computer off for the night. Most students find that if they pick a specific time, and plan to do it at that time every day, they do a better job of sticking with it. Sometimes it’s helpful to have a timer or set your cell phone as a reminder.
Myth #3 - Mindfulness should be relaxing and calming
Although feelings of relaxation and ease are often a by-product of a mindfulness practice, they are not the aim. Nor are you doing anything wrong if you don’t feel completely relaxed and calm during or after a meditation.
If there is any “aim” it is to simply stay as present as you can with a spirit of kind curiosity. Some days you might find that there is a lot of unease and unrest within your mind. Other days you might notice a sense of spaciousness and calm. All of it is OK. The point is to just notice without getting caught up in judging your experience as “good or bad” or “right or wrong”. With mindfulness meditation we are building the capacity to be with whatever is arising with greater equanimity which may, at times, feel more grounding.
Myth #4 - Social/moral activism and mindfulness don't mix
Engaging in social activism is a necessary and noble act that is often laced with challenge, frustration, and uncertainty. Many folks find that they get burned out by the constant exposure to the world's suffering and the slow-moving nature of shifting social norms
According to Tita Angangco (co-founder and Director of Community Services of The Center for Mindfulness Studies), “effecting social change constructively and sustainably will require three critical capacities: listening and curiosity (an open mind), empathy and compassion (an open heart [for self and others]), and confidence and courage (an open will).”
By interweaving mindfulness and social activism together, you can learn to cultivate these capacities, while developing greater sensitivity, responsiveness, and resilience for yourself and others.
Myth #5 - Mindfulness will make you less ambitious and "gritty"
One could argue that mindfulness—and its focus on accepting "what is"—may keep us from caring about goals or pushing ourselves to achieve.
However, this recent study says otherwise. Students who reported being mindful overall were found to be more "gritty"—able to persist toward their goals—in the following months. Meanwhile the reverse was not true—being grittier didn't predict later mindfulness.
Additionally, other studies have found that those who practice mindfulness persist more on a difficult task, are more engaged at work, and are less impulsive.
Mindfulness doesn't prevent us from pursuing and achieving our goals, and it may actually help us with them.