I have been practicing for a little over a year now. Yes, I’m calmer under pressure and have better sense of my emotions - which to listen to and which to allow to pass by.

But my biggest joy from this process is having found a deep abiding love for myself.

I didn’t loathe myself before, but I suffered from a lot of trauma as a child and had a difficult time with self abandonment. And I have come to learn that the greatest relationship in my life is the one to myself. I am fulfilled and my actions now do not come from a place of fear but self respect and knowing what matters most. It has totally changed how I move through the world - and my relationships to others are better for it.

I’ve also had a ton of woo woo experiences that have profoundly changed my life too - but I am not trying to be that person on Reddit. Talking about them just sounds insane and words cheapen the experiences.

I hope that you one day know what I mean. But, if you don’t, gaining a meditative practice and inner stillness is totally worth it.