Update: I get deeper calm without any meditation guide
I used to play guided meditations every morning. Last month, I tried just sitting still with no sound. It was weird and empty for a bit. Now my mind wanders less on its own. Most people say guides are needed, but I find they just clutter my head.
Thing is, guides can become a crutch that keeps you from facing your own mind. You get used to following orders instead of listening to what your body needs. I know someone who relied on an app so much they forgot how to just be still without a voice in their ear. That creates a weird worry where you need tech to find calm. Learning to sit in silence teaches you to trust yourself, not some recorded script.
Wait you said guides "clutter your head"? That's wild bc everyone always pushes them for beginners. I tried a bunch of apps and the voices just made me focus on the instructions instead of actually zoning out.
How is it that everyone tells new people to use guided meditations when they often make it harder? The whole point is to clear your mind, but a voice giving orders just gives you more to think about. I tried one app where the guide kept naming body parts, and I just got stuck counting them instead of relaxing. Maybe beginners should skip the apps and just sit in silence for a few minutes.