Are You Overthinking Meditation?
- Anna Kim
- 2 minutes ago
- 2 min read
Many beginners ask:
“What should I think about during meditation?”
At Bayside Meditation, we gently shift the question:
“Can you let go of your thoughts, instead of following them?”
Meditation isn’t about trying to stop thinking or forcing calm.
It’s about watching your thoughts arise—and releasing them, one by one.
That’s how you return to your original mind: peaceful, present, and free.
Why You Don’t Need to Think During Meditation
Your mind is full of stored memories:
past conversations, fears, regrets, dreams, and old emotions.
These mental recordings come up during meditation,
but they are not you. They’re just noise from the false self—
the mind you’ve accumulated over a lifetime.
Our practice focuses on discarding these thoughts,
not entertaining or analyzing them.
Step-by-Step: How to Let Go of Thoughts During Meditation
Here’s how we guide new meditators to begin discarding the false mind:
1. Sit comfortably and close your eyes.
2. Bring up recent thoughts or memories (what’s been weighing on you).
3. Acknowledge the thought—then say in your mind:
“This is not the real me.”
4. Let it go, like placing it in a box and setting it aside.
5. Repeat, gently and patiently, until the mind becomes lighter.
💬 It’s not about blocking thoughts.
It’s about emptying what you’ve been holding onto.
Real Benefits of Letting Go (Instead of Holding On)
People often say things like:
• “I had no idea how much I was holding in.”
• “I finally feel clear—not just calm.”
• “It’s like I met the real me for the first time.”
This is the true benefit of meditation—not momentary peace,
but lasting clarity from releasing what’s false.
Common Misconceptions About Meditation
Myth Truth
“I can’t meditate—I think too much.” Thinking is natural. What matters is learning to let go.
“I need to stop all thoughts.” No—you just need to not follow or hold onto them.
“My mind is too busy for this.” That’s why we practice. The busier the mind, the more it needs release.
Try This Today
Take 5 minutes. Sit quietly.
Close your eyes and bring up a recent stressful memory.
Now say to yourself:
“This is not me. I let it go.”
Do this a few times, gently.
And notice how your body feels afterward.
✨ This is how your journey begins—with one breath, one thought let go.
Want Support Letting Go?
Join us at Bayside Meditation—online or in person—and experience what it’s like to discard your mind, step by step.
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