---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We have to be careful not to think that…"
description: "\"We have to be careful not to think that meditation is about getting rid of thoughts. On the contrary, I would say that meditation helps us to creativel..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e96/martine-batchelor-48382_be-careful_we-have-to-be-careful-not-to-think-that_164842.jpg"
---

#  We have to be careful not to think that meditation is…

![“We have to be careful not to think that meditation is about getting rid of thoughts. On the contrary, I would say that meditation helps us to creatively engage with our thoughts and not fixate on them.” quote by Martine Batchelor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e96/martine-batchelor-48382_be-careful_we-have-to-be-careful-not-to-think-that_164842.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e96/martine-batchelor-48382_be-careful_we-have-to-be-careful-not-to-think-that_164842.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e96/martine-batchelor-48382_be-careful_we-have-to-be-careful-not-to-think-that_164842.jpg)

> “We have to be careful not to think that meditation is about getting rid of thoughts. On the contrary, I would say that meditation helps us to creatively engage with our thoughts and not fixate on them.”

[Martine Batchelor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martine-batchelor/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Meditation isn’t about emptying the mind, but about engaging thoughts creatively without clinging to them.

**In simple terms:** Meditation helps you work with thoughts, not erase them.

Key Takeaway

Use meditation to observe and transform thoughts.

Themes

mindfulness creativity mental health

Mood

calm curious

Type

inspirational practical

When to use this quote

- stress reduction
- creative problem solving
- emotional regulation

Key Concepts

non‑attachment cognitive flexibility

Questions to Reflect On

- How can you notice thoughts without judging them?
- What creative insights arise when you stop fixing on thoughts?

A Different Perspective

May be challenging for those seeking quick mental silence.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Creativity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creativity/) [Meditation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/meditation/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/)

## Related quotes

> [I think meditation helps greatly with creativity. If it's a pure expression of yourself no matter what it is or what medium, it's going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainn-wilson/i-think-meditation-helps-greatly-with-creativity-if-it-s-a-pure/)

[Rainn Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainn-wilson/)

> [I know there's millions of problems in the world, but if you dwell on those, then you're going to be miserable. I think my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-love/i-know-there-s-millions-of-problems-in-the-world-but-if-you-dwell-on/)

[Mike Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-love/)

> [Meditation isn't really about getting rid of thoughts, it's about changing the pattern of grasping on to things, which in our everyday experience is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pema-ch-dr-n/meditation-isn-t-really-about-getting-rid-of-thoughts-it-s-about/)

[Pema Chodron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pema-ch-dr-n/)

> [We need to transcend our thoughts and desires to truly understand philosophy and the universe as a whole. However, in our everyday life, we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-chang/we-need-to-transcend-our-thoughts-and-desires-to-truly-understand/)

[Henry Chang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-chang/)

> [“What does not engage our feelings does not long engage our thoughts either.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-andreas-salom/what-does-not-engage-our-feelings-does-not-long-engage-our-thoughts/)

[Lou Andreas-Salomé](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-andreas-salom/)

> [Meditation helps us to get out of our thoughts about the future and really be in the present moment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tara-brach/meditation-helps-us-to-get-out-of-our-thoughts-about-the-future-and/)

[Tara Brach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tara-brach/)

> [The Dalai Lama would say that meditation is something that can help everyone. But he's aware that it can be misused or things can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pico-iyer/the-dalai-lama-would-say-that-meditation-is-something-that-can-help/)

[Pico Iyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pico-iyer/)

> [When people say that meditation makes them calm, they are often referring to this stability of the mind. A stable mind creates the foundation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sakyong-mipham/when-people-say-that-meditation-makes-them-calm-they-are-often/)

[Sakyong Mipham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sakyong-mipham/)

> [I think to say that meditation is helpful to artists is true and it's great, but it's also essentially helpful to any kind of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-palmer/i-think-to-say-that-meditation-is-helpful-to-artists-is-true-and-it-s/)

[Amanda Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-palmer/)

> [Meditation did not relieve me of my anxiety so much as flesh it out. It took my anxious response to the world, about which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-epstein/meditation-did-not-relieve-me-of-my-anxiety-so-much-as-flesh-it-out/)

[Mark Epstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-epstein/)

> [We could say that meditation doesn't have a reason or doesn't have a purpose. In this respect it's unlike almost all other things we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-watts/we-could-say-that-meditation-doesn-t-have-a-reason-or-doesn-t-have-a/)

[Alan Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-watts/)

> [Remember what people used to say about meditation? Now everyone is doing it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirley-maclaine/remember-what-people-used-to-say-about-meditation-now-everyone-is/)

[Shirley MacLaine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirley-maclaine/)

> [“Meditation is not about getting rid of all your thoughts; it’s learning not to get so lost in them that you forget what your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-mcgonigal/meditation-is-not-about-getting-rid-of-all-your-thoughts-it-s/)

[Kelly McGonigal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-mcgonigal/)

> [I just want to sleep. A coma would be nice. Or amnesia. Anything, just to get rid of this, these thoughts, whispers in my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-halse-anderson/i-just-want-to-sleep-a-coma-would-be-nice-or-amnesia-anything-just-to/)

[Laurie Halse Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-halse-anderson/)

> [“My head is killing me, my throat is killing me, my stomach bubbles with toxic waste. I just want to sleep. A coma would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-halse-anderson/my-head-is-killing-me-my-throat-is-killing-me-my-stomach-bubbles-with/)

[Laurie Halse Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-halse-anderson/)

## More by Martine Batchelor

> [“karma just means action, in Buddhist terms to act out of an intention conditioned by external and internal conditions, which in turn will have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martine-batchelor/karma-just-means-action-in-buddhist-terms-to-act-out-of-an-intention/)

[Martine Batchelor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martine-batchelor/)

> [The most important part of the practice is for the question to remain alive and for your whole body and mind to become a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martine-batchelor/the-most-important-part-of-the-practice-is-for-the-question-to-remain/)

[Martine Batchelor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martine-batchelor/)

> [“The Buddha does not see nibbana as a special, metaphysical place to go to but as a process of dissolution that one can achieve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martine-batchelor/the-buddha-does-not-see-nibbana-as-a-special-metaphysical-place-to-go/)

[Martine Batchelor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martine-batchelor/)

> [An act of meditation is actually an act of faith--of faith in your spirit, in your own potential. Faith is the basis of meditation.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martine-batchelor/an-act-of-meditation-is-actually-an-act-of-faith-of-faith-in-your/)

[Martine Batchelor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martine-batchelor/)

> [Experiences are like cherry on the cake. It's nice, but that's not what's going to make a difference to the habit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martine-batchelor/experiences-are-like-cherry-on-the-cake-it-s-nice-but-that-s-not-what/)

[Martine Batchelor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martine-batchelor/)

> [As long as we are focusing on the breath we do not feed our mental, emotional, and physical patterns. By returning to the breath…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martine-batchelor/as-long-as-we-are-focusing-on-the-breath-we-do-not-feed-our-mental/)

[Martine Batchelor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martine-batchelor/)

> [“Right action is not a fixed right action, it is an action that is conditioned by love and respect. It is an action that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martine-batchelor/right-action-is-not-a-fixed-right-action-it-is-an-action-that-is/)

[Martine Batchelor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martine-batchelor/)

[Explore all 8 Martine Batchelor quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martine-batchelor/)

## More Be careful quotes

> [Be careful. I wouldn’t want anything to happen to the worst Spanish student in the history of the language.” I laughed. “No problemo.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kiersten-white/be-careful-i-wouldn-t-want-anything-to-happen-to-the-worst-spanish/)

[Kiersten White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kiersten-white/)

> [If I held all the thoughts of the world in my hand, I would be careful not to open it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-le-bovier-de-fontenelle/if-i-held-all-the-thoughts-of-the-world-in-my-hand-i-would-be-careful/)

[Bernard le Bovier de Fontenelle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-le-bovier-de-fontenelle/)

> [You've got to be careful against classy fighters, especially counter-punchers because if you go for the finish too early, you can end up getting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-froch/you-ve-got-to-be-careful-against-classy-fighters-especially-counter/)

[Carl Froch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-froch/)

> [ \[A\]s you partake of the world's bill of fare, that's darned good advice to follow. Do a lot of spitting out the hot air.… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-seuss/a-s-you-partake-of-the-world-s-bill-of-fare-that-s-darned-good-advice/)

[Dr. Seuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dr-seuss/)

> [We must remember that intelligence is not enough. Intelligence plus character--that is the goal of true education. The complete education gives one not only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/we-must-remember-that-intelligence-is-not-enough-intelligence-plus/)

[Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/)

> [I have to be careful to get out before I become the grotesque caricature of a hatchet-faced woman with big knockers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-lee-curtis/i-have-to-be-careful-to-get-out-before-i-become-the-grotesque/)

[Jamie Lee Curtis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-lee-curtis/)

> [Our communications reflect in our countenance. Therefore, we must be careful not only what we communicate, but also how we do so. Souls can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-lionel-kendrick/our-communications-reflect-in-our-countenance-therefore-we-must-be/)

[L. Lionel Kendrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-lionel-kendrick/)

> [Well sometimes, culture can stifle talent, so you have to be careful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monty-williams/well-sometimes-culture-can-stifle-talent-so-you-have-to-be-careful/)

[Monty Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monty-williams/)

> [And so we have to be careful with looking at additional stimulus that we don't provoke an increase in the bond rate and then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-raines/and-so-we-have-to-be-careful-with-looking-at-additional-stimulus-that/)

[Franklin Raines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-raines/)

> [Be careful who you might trust the Devil was once an angel too.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/be-careful-who-you-might-trust-the-devil-was-once-an-angel-too/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [One must always be careful of books," said Tessa, "and what is inside them, for words have the power to change us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/one-must-always-be-careful-of-books-said-tessa-and-what-is-inside/)

[Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/)

> [He who believes in God is not careful for the morrow, but labors joyfully and with a great heart. "For He giveth His beloved,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/he-who-believes-in-god-is-not-careful-for-the-morrow-but-labors/)

[Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/)

> [Be careful, once water is spilled, it can never return to its container](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ciel-phantomhive/be-careful-once-water-is-spilled-it-can-never-return-to-its-container/)

[Ciel Phantomhive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ciel-phantomhive/)

> [We used to tell our receivers, 'If you want to run an inside breaking route, and you want to fight for yardage after the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-gruden/we-used-to-tell-our-receivers-if-you-want-to-run-an-inside-breaking/)

[Jon Gruden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-gruden/)

> [A bad investment is going for quantity over quality. If you're trying to be careful with your wallet, especially with the economy right now,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-siriano/a-bad-investment-is-going-for-quantity-over-quality-if-you-re-trying/)

[Christian Siriano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-siriano/)

Browse all 989 Be careful quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "We have to be careful not to think that meditation is about getting rid of thoughts. On the contrary, I would say that meditation helps us to creatively engage with our thoughts and not fixate on them.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Martine Batchelor"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martine-batchelor/we-have-to-be-careful-not-to-think-that-meditation-is-about-getting/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Be careful"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martine-batchelor/we-have-to-be-careful-not-to-think-that-meditation-is-about-getting/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e96/martine-batchelor-48382_be-careful_we-have-to-be-careful-not-to-think-that_164842.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e96/martine-batchelor-48382_be-careful_we-have-to-be-careful-not-to-think-that_164842.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e96/martine-batchelor-48382_be-careful_we-have-to-be-careful-not-to-think-that_164842.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“We have to be careful not to think that meditation is about getting rid of thoughts. On the contrary, I…” — Martine Batchelor",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Martine Batchelor",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martine-batchelor/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "We have to be careful not...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martine-batchelor/we-have-to-be-careful-not-to-think-that-meditation-is-about-getting/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martine-batchelor/we-have-to-be-careful-not-to-think-that-meditation-is-about-getting/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
