You've heard the objections. Maybe you've made them yourself. "Meditation isn't for me." "I can't clear my mind." "I don't have time." "That's too woo-woo for sports."
These beliefs stop athletes from accessing a mental training tool with decades of research support. Let's examine the myths and replace them with truth.
Myth #1: You Need to Clear Your Mind Completely
The Myth
What people think:
Belief: Successful meditation means no thoughts
Expectation: Empty mind, blank awareness
Judgment: "I tried it but my mind kept thinking—I can't do it"
Conclusion: Meditation isn't for active-minded people
The Truth
What actually happens:
Minds think: That's what they do; it doesn't stop
Successful meditation: Notice thoughts, return to focus
The practice: The return IS the exercise
Progress looks like: Fewer thoughts? Maybe. Faster return? Definitely.
Analogy: You don't fail at exercise because your muscles get tired; that's the point
For Athletes
Athletic reframe:
In training: You don't expect perfect execution immediately
In meditation: Same principle—practice develops skill
What to expect: Thoughts will arise; you'll notice and return
Progress: You get better at noticing and returning faster
Myth #2: You Need Hours of Practice
The Myth
What people think:
Belief: Real meditation requires 45+ minutes daily
Expectation: Monk-like dedication or nothing
Objection: "I don't have time for that with my training"
Conclusion: It's not practical for athletes
The Truth
What research shows:
5-10 minutes helps: Studies show benefits at this duration
Consistency over duration: Daily short practice beats occasional long
Elite athletes: Many practice 10-20 minutes, not hours
Building: Start small, add more if desired
Research summary: Benefits documented at practical durations
For Athletes
Athletic reframe:
Recovery time: You already have downtime in training schedule
Morning routine: 10 minutes before training
Travel time: Meditation apps work anywhere
Quality over quantity: Focused 10 minutes beats distracted 30
Myth #3: Meditation Is Religious or "Woo-Woo"
The Myth
What people think:
Belief: Meditation requires religious belief
Association: Incense, chanting, mysticism
Concern: Doesn't fit with competitive sports culture
Conclusion: It's not for serious athletes
The Truth
What meditation actually is:
Secular versions: Completely non-religious approaches available
The mechanism: Attention training—nothing mystical about that
Military use: U.S. military trains meditation (not woo-woo)
Corporate use: Silicon Valley uses meditation (pragmatic, not spiritual)
Sports psychology: Standard part of mental skills training
For Athletes
Athletic reframe:
Mental training: That's what it is—training your mind
Focus practice: Same as training physical skills
Navy SEALs use it: If it's tough enough for them...
Box breathing: Tactical technique, not spiritual practice
Myth #4: Some People Just Can't Meditate
The Myth
What people think:
Belief: "My mind is too active" or "I'm not the type"
Self-judgment: Some people are built for it; I'm not
Comparison: "Other people can do it, but not me"
Conclusion: Meditation works for calm people, not competitive athletes
The Truth
What's actually true:
Everyone's mind is active: That's universal, not personal
No "meditation type": The skill develops with practice
Active minds benefit most: More to work with; stronger training effect
Competitive people: Often become good meditators (they commit to practice)
Athletes specifically: Physical discipline transfers to mental discipline
For Athletes
Athletic reframe:
Natural transfer: You already know how to train
Challenge orientation: Treat meditation as a skill to develop
Competitive edge: Others quit because "it's not for them"—you don't
Data: Many elite athletes credit meditation for performance edge
Myth #5: You Have to Sit Still (and I'm Restless)
The Myth
What people think:
Belief: Meditation requires perfect stillness
Problem: Athletes are kinetic; sitting still is torture
Experience: Fidgeting and discomfort when trying to sit
Conclusion: Not compatible with athletic temperament
The Truth
What's actually available:
Many forms exist: Walking, moving, breathing-focused practices
Progressive development: Start with what you can do
Walking meditation: Full meditation practice in motion
Active breathing: Box breathing involves deliberate action
Stillness develops: Capacity builds with practice
For Athletes
Athletic reframe:
Start moving: Walking meditation during recovery
Breathwork: Active technique, not passive sitting
Brief sits: 5 minutes of stillness is achievable
Build capacity: Like flexibility—develops over time
Myth #6: It's About Relaxation (And I Need Energy)
The Myth
What people think:
Belief: Meditation makes you relaxed and passive
Concern: Athletes need intensity, not calm
Fear: Will meditation make me less competitive?
Conclusion: Save it for after retirement
The Truth
What meditation actually does:
Regulation, not just relaxation: You learn to access appropriate states
Pre-competition: Can calibrate arousal up or down as needed
Arousal management: Choose your state rather than being victim to it
Elite performers: Many most competitive athletes meditate
Phil Jackson's Bulls and Lakers: Not exactly passive teams
For Athletes
Athletic reframe:
Control over calm: Meditation gives you control of your state
Intensity on demand: Relaxed when you should be, intense when needed
Flow state access: Meditation supports peak performance
Competition advantage: Calm mind performs better under pressure
Myth #7: Benefits Take Years to Develop
The Myth
What people think:
Belief: You need years of practice before anything happens
Discouragement: "I tried it for a week and felt nothing"
Expectation: Like learning a language—years to fluency
Conclusion: Not practical for immediate performance needs
The Truth
What research shows:
Days to weeks: Some benefits measurable quickly
8 weeks: Standard study duration showing significant effects
Single session: Acute effects on stress reduction documented
Cumulative: Benefits compound with continued practice
Practical timeline: Meaningful effects in weeks, not years
For Athletes
Athletic reframe:
Quick wins: Calming techniques work immediately
Season-relevant: 8-week commitment shows results within a season
Pre-game application: Single-session techniques available now
Long-term building: Deeper benefits with continued practice
Myth #8: It's a Solo Activity (I'm a Team Person)
The Myth
What people think:
Belief: Meditation is individual; team athletes need team dynamics
Concern: Isolating practice doesn't fit team culture
Preference: Rather do something together with teammates
Conclusion: Leave it for individual sport athletes
The Truth
What's actually possible:
Team meditation: Groups can practice together
Team mental skills programs: See building team mental skills
Individual skill, collective benefit: Better individuals make better teams
Shared practice: Builds team cohesion when done together
Coach-led options: Pre-game team meditation
For Athletes
Athletic reframe:
Team meditation: Practice together pre-game or in training
Shared language: Team can discuss mental skills together
Culture building: Mental training becomes team value
Individual accountability: Like physical training—team holds each other accountable
Myth #9: It Conflicts with Aggressive Competition
The Myth
What people think:
Belief: Meditation promotes peace and acceptance
Concern: Athletes need killer instinct
Fear: Will I lose my competitive edge?
Conclusion: Fine for yoga types, not competitors
The Truth
What successful competitors show:
Controlled aggression: Better than reactive aggression
Choice, not suppression: Access intensity when helpful
Combat sports: Many fighters meditate. See meditation for combat sports.
Clarity in competition: Clear mind competes better than anxious mind
The edge remains: Competitive drive isn't eliminated; it's channeled
For Athletes
Athletic reframe:
Sharper edge, not dulled: Precision, not reduced intensity
Emotional control: Choose response rather than react
Better decisions under pressure: Clarity improves competitive decisions
Many champions meditate: Didn't hurt their killer instinct
Key Takeaways
- You don't clear your mind—you return to focus when it wanders
- 10 minutes works—consistency beats duration
- It's mental training—not religion or woo-woo
- Everyone can learn—active minds especially benefit
- Movement versions exist—walking, breathing, not just sitting
- It builds control, not passivity—choose your state
- Benefits come quickly—weeks, not years for meaningful effects
- Teams can practice together—it's not just individual
- Competitive edge remains—many champions meditate
The Return app is designed for athletes who don't have time for anything that doesn't work. Start where you are with what you have.
Return is a meditation timer for athletes ready to drop the myths and start practice. Built for competitors, not for monks. Download Return on the App Store.