You sit down to meditate in order to meditate. You have a goal and you want to do it well. Maybe you even have a clear plan, points you want to reach, but that's the first problem.

In meditation, often the only thing to do is nothing. To be. To open. To let go. To see, and to be present. And there you are, wanting results here and now.

Isn't it funny that the very thing we want to reach is what keeps us from reaching it? What a sweet paradox. We chase a result whose whole nature is not chasing. We want something that rests in fact on accepting what already is. We grow impatient, while the whole task is to be here, now.

We'll never live to see the future, and the past will never catch up with us. Now, though, is always here, waiting patiently for us to let ourselves notice it, appreciate it, love it.

So what about your goal? When will the changes come? How long before your everyday state and awareness begin to shift once you start meditating?

Like most changes in life, it happens gradually, and it depends on how much heart you put in, how much time you give, and where you're starting from. Don't expect enlightenment after five minutes. Getting to know yourself is a beautiful journey. Instead of dreaming about how wonderful it'll be once you reach your goal, start appreciating where you are today. When you sit down and begin to watch yourself, don't hand your mind a list of expectations. You are as you are. Why would you suddenly be someone else?

Simply sitting in stillness, or walking through the park in presence, will slowly change your state. But don't expect huge changes overnight. For many who meditate regularly such moments do come, yet they aren't always lasting, and bracing for big results usually just leads to frustration and a low mood. Far more important is to enjoy the path you've stepped onto and to find pleasure in the daily practice. If you force it, chances are you'll drop meditation before long, and nothing will come of it anyway ;)

See you on the path!