I often find myself listening to workshops, podcasts, and reading books on how we can become better meditators, better therapists, and better versions of ourselves. I wanted to share a couple of phrases on meditation that have stayed with me—simple words that shifted how I view my practice.
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“There is no such thing as a bad meditation.” — Dr. Wayne Dyer
This phrase comes from Dr. Wayne Dyer’s Ten Secrets for Inner Peace and Success, specifically from the chapter “Embrace the Silence.”
I love it because I often catch myself wondering, Am I doing this right? During meditation, my thoughts can spiral—first I notice a thought, then I criticize myself for having it, then I critique the critique. Suddenly, I’m evaluating my meditation instead of just being in it.
But that phrase reminds me: none of it is bad. Even the judgmental thoughts are part of consciousness, part of being human. Instead of fighting them, I can accept them more gently. Meditation isn’t about eliminating thoughts, but about letting them come and go—like little thought bubbles floating away.
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“Meditation is a perfect waste of time.” — Alan Watts
I first heard this in one of Alan Watts’ talks on Eastern philosophy. At first, the phrase made me laugh, but the more I sat with it, the more profound it felt.
We live in a culture obsessed with doing—always asking what am I doing, what should I be doing, what could I be doing? My inner critic often shows up here, reminding me of all the things I “should” be doing.
But calling meditation “a perfect waste of time” reframes everything. It honors the act of simply being. It allows me to treat meditation not as a distraction or an indulgence, but as something royal, sacred, and worthwhile.
And really, that perspective doesn’t just apply to meditation. It extends to my blogs, my songs, my therapy sessions—anything where self-expression and self-worth are being nurtured.
✨ Closing Thought
These phrases remind me that meditation is not about performance or productivity. It’s about presence. Whether I’m wrestling with my thoughts or letting them drift like bubbles—whether I’m “wasting time” or simply being—there is no bad way to show up.
