For years, I thought a good meditation meant a quiet mind, a perfectly straight posture, and leaving the cushion feeling peaceful.

Some days all three happened. Most days they didn’t.

My meditation practice began decades ago. I learned to meditate through reading books such as Thich Nhat Hanh’s “The Miracle of Mindfulness.” This wasn’t the worst way to begin; however, I was missing something important.

The early days of my practice relied heavily on guided meditation to help me keep focus, but the desire arose to sit quietly. This is where I felt the most frustration, as I, like so many others, think our minds need to shut down completely.

That is not the nature of mind.

I learned that sitting quietly for ten minutes, allowing my attention to move from thought to breath, and back to thought again, was where the real practice lived.

The moment I stopped judging a wandering mind as bad meditation was when I stopped chasing perfect meditation.

What if a successful meditation is simply the one you showed up for?

What if the distracted days teach us more than the peaceful ones?

What if meditation isn’t about becoming perfect but about becoming present?

If you’re new to meditation, you might enjoy beginning with my Awareness Meditation, where we practice noticing breath and body without judgement.

If these reflections resonate with you, I’d love to have you continue the journey with Dandelion Doorways. New essays and guided meditations are shared as they are created.

I am grateful to have met you on the path.