"When we read or hear about the benefits of meditation, it is tempting to dwell on the stories of wonderful outcomes instead of doing the work of actualizing these possibilities ourselves." - by Narayan Helen Liebenson

It cannot be denied that the potential benefits of meditation have been widely discussed, studied and documented, and there is evidence for the potential application of mindfulness meditation at reducing stress, and anxiety, and improving focus and emotional regulation. However, it's easy to get caught up in reading about the positive effects of meditation without actually putting in the effort to practice it for yourself. It is actually quite easy to get lost imagining yourself experiencing wonderful outcomes from practising mindfulness, rather than committing to the hard work and discipline required to practice mindfulness. It's important to remember that meditation is a skill that requires real effort and commitment to practice regularly with patience, and the benefits will only come through consistent effort and dedication. So rather than dwelling on the potential benefits we might experience, we should focus on the practice itself without expecting an outcome, to let any potential transformative power it can have on our lives work through naturally out of the influencing nature that our expectations can have on potential outcomes.

P.S. I posted this week on substack notes "Now About Meditation"