This is one of my favorite meditations. It’s also one of the simplest ones in my regular bag of tricks. When I’m feeling uncertain about a situation (or, if I’m feeling TOO certain), I use it to help me sort out what I have going on. It revolves around this statement: QUESTION EVERYTHING.

I read recently that the human brain processes something like 400 billion bits of information a second.

How much of that is based in truth? And how much of that do we actually stop to validate?

It’s your obligation to yourself to determine what’s “real” vs. what’s “illusion.” And if something seems amiss, to perceive what is actually going on.

No one can do this for you.

People have been trained to absorb 15 second sound clips as truth. It’s up to you to discern what you think is right—and when you’re being led.

Beware of false knowledge. It is more dangerous than ignorance.
–George Bernard Shaw

Meditation exercise to question everything

Close your eyes. Focus on your breath until your heart rate slows and steadies.

Think of a situation or challenge that you care deeply about right now.

ASK:

Do I have all the facts? Have I stopped to examine what is actually happening? Or am I relying too much on my assumptions?

Are suggestions around me and my emotions leading me astray?

And then? Listen. 

When you’re done, write down any thoughts or impressions you may have. Reflect back on them over the next few days, see what occurs to you, and how you may want to adjust your course of action based on what you learned.

Explore more meditation exercises

Check out other practical meditation exercises designed to help you connect with your inner guidance and get the answers you desire.