Why do you practice meditation, mindfulness, contemplative prayer or any similar kind of practice?

(are you practicing by taking the blue pill or red pill?)

(are you practicing by taking the blue pill or red pill?)

If you practice any kind of mindfulness or meditation — or the kind of mini-pauses (from 20 seconds to 2 minutes) that Jan and I offer in our Effortless Living community — why are you practicing?

​Is it because you believe it might be good for you, but you’re not quite sure why?

Is it for stress management?

Is it because visualization, breathing or relaxation feels good?

Are you pausing to get rid of the noise in your head so you can get some insight on how to resolve a problem at work, or to resolve an interpersonal conflict?

Are you pausing because you’ve found that the pause practices help reduce physical pain or may help you resolve a psychological issue?

What then, is the point of pausing?

What is the point of being mindful?

If you don’t know or understand how these things affect you, and how they relate to your everyday goals as well as your lifetime goals, they will not be nearly as effective as they could be.