[loquor]

That's a reasonable perspective. But the parent comment talked about a different kind of thinking. Constantly judgemental thinking is not healthy. If you just sit there meditating, and your idling mind (often) jumps to uncomfortably self-critical and doubtful thoughts, that is an unhealthy mental habit, right?

Here is how meditation can help here. (1) You become okay with having those sort of thoughts - you don't have to flee from them or push them away. (2) You can observe exactly based on what you criticize yourself, or what you feel hung up on. (3) After meditating, with a clear mind, you can rationally consider those matters. "Huh, do I really regret <xyz> decision? Why does <abc> aspect of it bother me now that I notice it?". You can resolve this conflict now.

This is my experience. Besides this, it just feels good to be calm.

> Why would I want to get unhappy again because someone tells me it’s good for me?

I also understand this sentiment. Sometimes if something gives you anxiety or intrusive thoughts, its better to leave it and let it slip by your thoughts rather than to bring it into attention. But even so I want to tell you this - a lot of the benefit of meditation comes not from exercising your cognitive and reasoning abilities, but from just being okay with how things are. It's really that simple.

[silveroriole]

CBT gives me the tools to do all of this much quicker. I simply write down anxious or critical thoughts and examine/interrogate them on paper. There seems to be no point in sitting with my eyes closed for twenty minutes when I can effectively chase off a negative thought with paper and pen in five. This also gives me practice with actually changing my thought patterns and building better life habits. I don’t see how focusing on my breath could possibly change my thoughts any more effectively than that.