Meditation Is Not Always the Answer

Healing isn’t one-size-fits-all, and forcing meditation isn’t always the right guidance. So are there meditation alternatives?

I have a lot of opinions about everything — but when it comes to healing, trauma recovery, anxiety, or depression, telling someone what they should do isn’t always helpful.

In the woke and new age spiritual community, it’s common to hear: 

“Just meditate, and everything will fall into place.” But the truth is, healing isn’t a formula. Sitting on a floor cushion and chanting OM for 20 minutes might work for some, but it’s far from a universal solution.

For many of us, life is already overwhelming — forcing meditation can feel impossible and even counterproductive. I’ve had my own battles with anxiety and depression, and I didn’t turn to meditation as the answer.

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What If Meditation Looks Different for You?

The reality? I rarely sit and chant OM. Yes, I use meditative states before and after client sessions to prepare and ground my energy, but not everyone is an energy healer or holistic practitioner with established tools for managing their well-being.

Over time, I’ve realised that meditation can take many forms — it’s about what brings peace, improves mood, and allows excess energy to be released.

• Taking a nap

• Reading a few chapters of a book

• Walking in nature

• Sitting on a balcony with a quiet coffee in the sun

• Spending time at the beach with your dog

Any practice that grounds your energy and restores balance can serve as meditation — it doesn’t need to fit a traditional mold.

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Respecting Individual Paths to Healing

Instead of telling someone to meditate, consider what they might truly need. Many are already engaged in therapy, working through their healing in ways that feel right for them. Trauma, in particular, requires deep, personal inner work — pushed meditation isn’t always the answer.

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Final Thoughts

We’re all doing the best we can, and sometimes our darkest days lead us to the other side, where joy returns.

So, next time, rather than offering a prescriptive solution, ask:

“What would make you feel better right now?”

Apply this to yourself as well. The most powerful step in healing is listening to what you truly need — and honouring that when the time is right.