# Meditation Fail > Meditation Fail is a 2023 meme format featuring people or animals hilariously failing at meditation through interruption or distraction, presented as image macros or reaction videos. Meditation Fail is a broad category of meme content featuring people, animals, or characters hilariously failing at meditation. The format typically shows someone attempting to meditate only to be interrupted, distracted, or otherwise unable to achieve inner peace. The genre gained traction alongside the mainstream wellness boom of the 2010s, particularly as secular meditation apps and mindfulness culture became widespread online[1]. ## Origin The meditation fail format doesn't trace back to a single viral post. Instead it emerged organically as meditation culture went mainstream during the 2010s. Figures like Sam Harris, a neuroscientist and author who studied meditation in India and Nepal before launching the Waking Up meditation app in September 2018, helped bring mindfulness practices to a secular tech-savvy audience[1]. Harris had been promoting meditation through his podcast (launched September 2013, originally called Waking Up) and his 2014 book *Waking Up: A Guide to Spirituality Without Religion*[1]. As apps, YouTube guided meditations, and wellness influencers made meditation ubiquitous in internet culture, the comedy of failing at it became a natural counterpoint. Early meditation fail content appeared on YouTube as compilation videos and on Tumblr and Reddit as relatable image macros. - **Platform:** YouTube, Tumblr, Reddit - **Creator:** Unknown (community-created) - **Date:** ~2010s ## Overview Meditation Fail memes play on the gap between the serene ideal of meditation and the messy reality of actually trying to do it. The format covers everything from cats sitting on people's laps mid-session to intrusive thoughts derailing an attempt at mindfulness. Common variations include image macros showing a person in lotus position with captions about racing thoughts, videos of pets or kids interrupting meditation sessions, and reaction images captioning the internal chaos that happens the moment someone closes their eyes to "clear their mind." The humor works because meditation demands stillness and focus, two things the internet is terrible at. As meditation moved from niche spiritual practice to mainstream self-care trend, the comedy potential grew with it. ## How It Spread The format spread across platforms in step with the wellness trend. Reddit communities like r/meirl and r/me_irl became hubs for meditation fail image macros, typically featuring stock photos or screenshots paired with captions about intrusive thoughts. TikTok later became a major platform for the format, with creators filming themselves attempting meditation only to be interrupted by pets, roommates, or their own inability to sit still. The meme also found a home in mental health humor spaces, where jokes about trying to meditate while anxious or depressed struck a chord. The rise of secular mindfulness apps, including Harris's Waking Up which committed to donating 10% of profits to charity in 2020[1], kept meditation visible in online culture and gave the fail format a steady stream of material. ## How to Use The meditation fail format is flexible. Common approaches include: 1. Post an image of someone sitting cross-legged with eyes closed 2. Add a caption representing the intrusive thoughts, distractions, or chaos happening internally ("Me trying to meditate / My brain reminding me of that thing I said in 2009") 3. Alternatively, film a short video of an attempted meditation session going wrong ## Cultural Impact Meditation fail memes sit at the intersection of wellness culture and internet humor. They reflect a genuine tension: millions of people downloaded meditation apps and tried mindfulness practices during the 2010s and 2020s, and many of them found it genuinely difficult. The memes gave people a way to laugh at shared frustration without dismissing meditation itself. The format also overlapped with the broader genre of "expectation vs. reality" memes, where the polished version of an activity gets contrasted with the actual experience. ## Fun Facts - Sam Harris studied meditation for over a decade in India and Nepal before returning to Stanford to finish his philosophy degree in 2000[1]. - Harris briefly served as a volunteer guard in the Dalai Lama's security detail in the early 1990s[1]. - The Waking Up app became the first company to sign the Giving What We Can pledge for companies, committing to donate at least 10% of profits[1]. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### What is Meditation Fail? Meditation Fail is a meme genre showing humorous attempts at meditation gone wrong, typically through intrusive thoughts, distractions, or interruptions[1]. ### Where did Meditation Fail come from? The format emerged organically across YouTube, Reddit, and Tumblr during the 2010s as meditation went mainstream through apps and public figures like Sam Harris[1]. ### What does Meditation Fail mean? The memes highlight the relatable gap between the peaceful ideal of meditation and the chaotic reality of actually attempting it[1]. ### How do you use Meditation Fail? Pair an image or video of someone meditating with a caption or interruption showing the opposite of inner peace. Intrusive thoughts and pet interruptions are popular setups. ### Is Meditation Fail still popular? The format is semi-active, with new variations still appearing on TikTok and Reddit as meditation and wellness culture stay relevant online. ## References 1. [Sam Harris]() --- Source: https://meme.com/memes/meditation-fail Published by meme.com — The Internet Meme Library