What Is Meditation, Really?

When people hear the word “meditation,” they often picture someone sitting perfectly still in total silence, legs crossed, eyes closed, not a single thought in their mind. But the truth is, meditation isn’t about being perfect. It’s about being present.

At its core, meditation is simply the practice of coming back to yourself. To your breath. To your body. To this moment.

It can look like sitting quietly with your eyes closed, focusing on your breath. It can also look like walking slowly and mindfully, noticing the ground beneath your feet. Or listening to music that soothes your soul. Or even pausing for a few deep breaths in the middle of a busy day.

Meditation doesn’t require special tools, a certain amount of time, or a completely quiet room (though those things can help). It just asks that you show up, just as you are.

Some days your mind will be calm. Some days it will be full of thoughts. Some days you’ll feel peace, other days discomfort. And that’s okay. Meditation isn’t about “clearing your mind”—it’s about noticing what’s there without judgment.

If you’re a parent, a caregiver, or someone with a full and unpredictable life, meditation might even include a wiggly child climbing into your lap or laughing beside you. That, too, is presence. That, too, is practice.

So if you’ve been curious about meditation but unsure where to begin, start small. Start now. Take a breath. Feel it move in and out of your body. That’s it. That’s meditation.

This morning didn’t go as planned—my little one woke up early and climbed into my lap mid-meditation. The stillness turned into giggles, the silence into connection. I hit record, not to capture a perfect moment, but to remember meditation, like motherhood, is messy, imperfect, and absolutely beautiful.