One must empty the mind of thoughts while meditating.
That is absolutely not true and a lot of people turn away from meditation because of this belief.
In meditation you allow the thoughts to come and go without getting caught up in them. You are simply aware of them coming and going, without judgement.
Often those new to a meditation practice, have a stream of thoughts with only a small gap here and there without thought, and that is totally normal.
You have to sit on the floor with your legs crossed to be a true meditator.
This couldn’t be further from the truth. Meditation can be practiced sitting in a chair with feet resting on the floor, or some people prefer to use a meditation stool or cushion. If you are feeling unwell and can’t sit for your practice, it is perfectly ok to lie down, just remember not to get too warm and comfortable, that you fall asleep.
It takes years of practice to be good at meditation.
Some people experience restful feelings of calm as soon as they begin meditation. If you practice daily, even for a few minutes, and approach your practice with an open heart and no expectations, you will begin to notice benefits.
To meditate you have to sit for hours at a time.
While some experienced meditators may sit for hours at a time when meditating, that is simply a choice. When you first begin a meditation practice, it can be challenging to sit for long periods of time. Begin slowly, you may sit for only five minutes and work your way up to twenty minutes.
If twenty minutes seem too long, drop it back to fifteen minutes until you feel ready to up it again.
Don’t get caught up in the time, what’s important is sitting each day for your meditation practice, whether that is five, ten, fifteen or twenty minutes.
As your meditation practice evolves you may find yourself sitting for longer periods. My advice, don’t get caught up in time, just start your daily practice and let go of all judgement.