Your Life is Your Practice

Note: This is post 6 of 7 in this week's publishing goal.

It's a common misconception that meditation practice only takes place during the time that we set aside to formally meditate. Even if you practice formally for 2 hours a day, most of your life will be spent between sessions of meditation.

The boundary between formal practice and the rest of our lives is merely an idea that we've created. In reality, every moment provides an opportunity to cultivate our awareness.

We can use every moment as an opportunity to wake up and recognize the true nature of our conscious experience. By breaking the spell of identification with thought and recognizing the contents of consciousness, we can cultivate a mindfulness that extends beyond our formal practice.

Whether we're washing the dishes, walking to work, or having a conversation with a friend, we can practice.

By recognizing the openness and clarity of our minds in every moment, we can start to break free from the spell that thoughts seems to cast over everything.

And if we find ourselves struggling to stay present, that's a sign that we need to return to our formal practice and strengthen our mindfulness muscle.

This doesn't mean that we'll never struggle with mindfulness or that we'll never experience doubts. It simply means that we'll be better equipped to recognize those moments of doubt and return to the present moment with greater ease.

In the end, the most important thing is to practice until you reach a point where you can see that you are already free.