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I’m going to begin by foreshadowing the key points in this episode, because I’m a bit concerned that what I have to say will upset some people and they’ll stop listening before they get to the punchline. So, here it is: Meditation is not a relaxation exercise and chilling out with guided meditations is not meditating. That said, there’s nothing wrong with chilling out and if you’re doing it, you don’t need to stop. I do, however, want to encourage you to try meditating, too. Why? Because there are so many benefits!
Okay, now for the full story. Guided meditations can be incredibly relaxing. Find the right narrator, and you can chill out, zone out, bliss out, and tune out with ease. And chilling out is healthy. It gives you a break from stress and negative emotions and allows your body to both physically and mentally relax.
But, zoning out is the opposite of meditating. Remember, meditation is formal mindfulness practice and mindfulness is awareness without judgement. You cannot be aware of the present moment if you’re tuned out. Meditation involves tuning in.
There’s a bit of a complex relationship between relaxation and meditation. It’s easier to meditate if you’re relaxed and meditation can help foster relaxation. But, it’s possible to meditate successfully even if you’re very tense, and relaxing to the point of being unaware of what’s going on takes you out of a meditative state. 
If you enjoy chilling out, don’t worry. You don’t need to stop. I do it, too. I have a small collection of guided meditations that quickly get me into a blissed out state and I use them regularly to decompress and relax. But, I don’t fool myself into thinking I’m meditating. When I meditate, I turn my attention to whatever is happening in the present moment, and when my attention wanders away, I deliberately, but gently bring it back. 
If you’ve never tried tuning in, I encourage you to give it a go. When you first try, you might find that it’s not so easy to do. You might find that your mind is very active. Don’t panic, this is normal, and there’s no need to revert to chilling out. Instead, stick with it. It may take several sessions before your mind begins to get quiet and calm, and even when you get there, there may be days when your mind is very busy. I’ve been meditating for over 15 years and I still have monkey mind days. As a seasoned meditator, however, I don’t let them bother me. I know there’s nothing wrong with me and that, if I just persist, just keep sitting and watching without judging myself, my mind will calm all on its own.
Here are some links to Mindful15 episodes about how to meditate with a busy mind:

* Excuse buster: You’re wrong if you think your busy mind means you can’t meditate
* Calming your thoughts: The counting technique
* Calming your thoughts: The labeling technique
* Monkey mind isn’t the problem you think it is
* Get back to basics: Meditation’s three key steps

In a couple of minutes, we’ll practice together and I’ll coach you to use curiosity about your breath to help keep your attention focused.
Meditation is worthwhile because it teaches you about your own mind and it helps you create a healthier relationship with your own emotions and thoughts. There’s a growing body of scientific research supporting the many, many mental,