Signs of Progress in Meditation
“Don’t judge your meditations. Don’t rate them. The physical mind cannot tell how well you did. As long as you are sitting there trying, something will happen.” – Frederick Lenz, Ph.D.
Training a fit mind takes patience, but it is very worthwhile. It affects every area of your life, as well as other people you interact with.
Here’s a common question people have:
Am I making progress in meditation?
You won’t get a 6-pack in the mirror or record-setting metric. The scale won’t go down and you (probably) won’t start glowing. So how should you go about measuring your progress in meditation?
There are a few signs of a “fit mind,” which are often subtle, requiring close observation:
More meta-awareness of what’s going on in your mind throughout the day
Less time angry at people and circumstances, and more time caring for others
The ability to focus on tasks like reading and listening to others more easily
Taking things less personally as your sense of self loosens
More of the day spent immersed in the present moment, in “being mode”
Less worrying about imagined future catastrophes
Increased ability to release unhealthy cravings
Although the benefits of meditation are profound, they might not be initially obvious. This causes many people to become discouraged, thinking they aren't making progress when, in fact, they are.
So look for the signs above in your everyday life. For example, you might stop honking in traffic or recover more quickly from an insult. And while that seems like a small accomplishment, these add up quickly.
The Paradox of Progress in Meditation
You’ll paradoxically progress more quickly by accepting your perceived unfit states and traits (i.e., “flaws”).
Trust that your effort to remain meta-aware and cultivate fit states will yield life-altering results. On one level, there’s nowhere to get to—you’re accepting whatever is here and now.
If you practice consistently, the signs of progress in meditation will creep up. And at some point, you’ll realize that your mind is much fitter than before.
P.S. — If you haven’t already, check out the FitMind meditation app.