We are a goal-oriented society. We set goals at work, if we are dieting, our goals are set in pounds, and at the beginning of each school year, kids are taught to work their hardest so their report reflects their hard work.

When it comes to meditation, instead of setting goals, we need to set intentions. This is a hard concept for many of Pathway to Mindfulness’ clients to embrace. No matter the reason they decide to meditate, in most cases the reason is stated as a goal:
• To deal with my pain;
• To calm down my ADD;
• To do better in standardized tests;
• To lose weight;
• To lower blood pressure;
• The list is endless….

By simply voicing a goal, you are not being present in the moment. You are thinking in the future – what you want to happen instead of focusing on the present. That alone brings tension or stress into your life, because you are thinking about something negative. You begin to judge. You use terms such as your life has become unacceptable, or you are looking to rid yourself of something that is bothering you. The negatives outweigh the positives.

A goal is something you have to achieve. Or to put it another way, it is something that you don’t have right now, something you need to flourish. Negativity takes over.

It’s not unusual for clients to become agitated if after only a few meditations they have not found the relief they are seeking.

So what to do?

Instead of framing your reason for starting meditation as a goal, think of it as an intention. You find an intention in the moment. An intention cannot fail because it happens in the present moment. Instead of saying I am meditating to lower my blood pressure, consider setting this intention: “I am going to sit down and practice and see what comes up.” That alone is freeing. It brings strength. It is also rooted in present moment awareness.

If you meditate consistently, it will help you achieve what you desire. But here’s the distinction: when you embrace meditation for its own sake, not to get something out of it, then you will begin to experience the benefits of mindfulness mediation, living in the moment, opening to experiences and coming back to the mind when it begins to wander.

Intentions are internal. We don’t have to look anywhere else to set a present-moment intention. Our intention will allow us to gain peace inside. As we practice with intention this brings a trust, that we really can let go in meditation. Practice this daily and eventually you will begin to understand that you can change your life, from within, little by little, practicing daily.

When you let go of your goals and stop struggling, then there is room in your being for health, peace, calm and happiness.

To find out more about mindfulness meditation, call 203.628.4492, ext. 592
or info@PathwayToMindfulness.com