Hi, this is Monique Rhodes. Welcome to the In Your Right Mind Podcast, where we're learning how to be happier by working with our minds. If you'd like to know more about what it is that I do, please come to iintendtobehappy.com and let's get you on the track to being happier.
Why Meditation Isn’t What You Think
I’m often asked to give talks all over the world, and one of the things I always encourage people to do is to start a meditation practice. But meditation is something many people feel unsure about. It can seem difficult, uncomfortable, or even pointless.
The truth is, meditation is often misunderstood as a way to escape—from stress, from noise, from pain. But real meditation is the opposite. It's not about escaping. It's about coming home—home to yourself, exactly as you are.
Seeing Clearly, Not Escaping
At its heart, meditation isn’t just a relaxation tool, although it can make us feel relaxed. It is a courageous act. It’s the boldness to stop and say, “Let me see my life clearly.”
- This body.
- This mind.
- This breath.
- This unfiltered moment.
Meditation is where we pause and observe—not to fix, not to judge, just to witness.
Becoming the Observer
You might feel the tension in your shoulders or the beat of your heart after coffee. You might hear your thoughts racing through praise and criticism. That’s okay.
You notice your body.
You notice your mind.
You notice your world—your relationships, your job, your routines.
And you do this not to change anything, but to look clearly, like you’re holding a camera of awareness.
And this is where power begins—when we stop trying to push things away or fix ourselves, and simply allow ourselves to be.
Precision Without Drama
Meditation teaches us to become observers, not reactors.
- The tightness in your chest? It’s just tension.
- The loud thoughts? Just thoughts—not truth.
- Your partner’s quietness? Just a moment—not your fault.
With practice, we learn to respond with precision—seeing exactly what’s here without overlaying stories or judgments.
You feel heaviness in your legs—without saying, I’m lazy.
You hear your mind race—without deciding, I’m irresponsible.
We strip away the narrative. And underneath, we begin to see: we are not our thoughts. We are not our habits. We are so much more.
Pair Precision with Gentleness
But precision alone can feel cold or harsh. That’s why we pair it with gentleness.
Imagine yourself as a scientist studying a rare flower. You’re precise, yes—but also tender. Curious. Soft.
Meditation invites that same kind of awareness:
- When sadness arises, don’t push it down. Say: “Hello, sadness.”
- When anxiety grips, breathe into it. Say: “Here is anxiety.”
Meet every part of you as if it were a guest. Not to judge. Not to fix. Just to sit with.
That’s radical compassion.
Meditation Builds Awareness—and Choice
When you begin to sit like this, you start to see your patterns:
- Maybe you spiral into self-criticism after social media.
- Maybe tension rises when someone cancels plans.
- Maybe your to-do list triggers ambition—or dread.
And with this awareness, you begin to have choice.
- You don’t have to react.
- You can pause.
- You can choose kindness over criticism.
You learn to stay—with yourself, your feelings, your humanness.
Not to perfect yourself. But to know yourself.
Meditation Doesn’t Solve Your Life—It Reveals It
Meditation won’t remove your fear, but it will show you that you can feel fear and still act.
It won’t stop your thoughts, but it will help you stop believing all of them.
It won’t make you flawless, but it will make you familiar with who you really are.
And that changes everything.
Just Stay
You don’t need to be anyone else.
You don’t need to escape.
Just stay.
See what you see.
Feel what you feel.
Don’t run. Don’t hide.
You’re exactly where you’re meant to be.
In that moment, when you give yourself full attention—held with kindness—
you begin to heal.
You begin to come home.
Let meditation be your guide to clarity.
Let clarity lead you to compassion.
I hope this has been helpful.
As always, be kind, take care, and go gently in the world.
