Relinquishing Preconceptions: A Journey into Mindfulness Meditation
I’ll never forget my first mindfulness class, not because it was profound, but because it was... underwhelming. And not in a bad way. Just in a shockingly ordinary kind of way.
I walked in expecting incense, maybe a soft-spoken monk in robes, possibly even some kind of divine download that would split my life into before and after. I had stress. I had burnout. I wanted answers.
Instead, I got silence. A circle of strangers. And a teacher who looked more like your favorite aunt than a spiritual guru.
We all sat down on the floor. The room was quiet enough to hear someone’s jacket crinkle. My brain? Anything but quiet. It went into full panic mode:
Women Adopting mindfulness and meditation practices
“This is it? Just sitting? Where’s the part where I become enlightened?”
I fidgeted. My foot fell asleep. My inner monologue sounded like a Twitter thread on caffeine.
Then the teacher spoke. Her voice didn’t command attention, it invited it. Like a whisper you lean in for:
“Mindfulness isn’t about escaping. It’s about arriving. You don’t need to feel mystical. Just... feel.”
And I don’t know why, but something about that cracked me open a little. I stopped trying so hard. I took a breath. Then another. And for a fleeting moment, I wasn’t trying to fix anything, I was just there.
Mindfulness vs. Meditation (Because I Thought They Were the Same Thing)
So here’s what I wish someone had told me that day:
Mindfulness is the quality of attention , present, open, kind.
Meditation is the practice that trains it.
It’s like this: mindfulness is your ability to pay attention without spiraling into judgment. Meditation is how you practice that skill, over and over again. Not to be perfect, but to build the kind of awareness that sticks with you when life isn’t quiet or pretty.
What I Had to Unlearn (and Maybe You Do Too)
I came in carrying a suitcase of preconceptions.
Here’s what I’ve slowly let go of:
Meditation isn’t thinking harder.
It’s noticing thoughts, not following them down a rabbit hole.You don’t need a Himalayan cave.
My best meditation? In my car, parked, with the AC on.It’s not about magical experiences.
It’s about noticing the ordinary, and realizing that is the magic.It’s not a quick fix.
It’s slow. Like compost. But it’s real, and it works.It’s not an escape.
Mindfulness isn’t checking out, it’s checking in.It’s not self-centered.
The more I tuned in to myself, the more I felt connected to others.You can’t fail.
Every distraction you notice? That’s the practice.
What’s Changed Since Then
I still get distracted. I still have days where sitting still feels like torture. But I’ve learned something big:
Mindfulness didn’t turn me into someone new.
It helped me finally meet the person I already was.
The woman who’s been buried under to do lists and anxiety. The one who breathes. Who pauses. Who notices the sky on her morning walk and actually tastes her coffee instead of just inhaling it between emails.
Want to Start? Start Here:
Name your expectations. Then, set them aside like you would your phone.
Sit simply. No music, no drama. Just sit.
Watch your thoughts. Don’t fix. Don’t judge. Just observe.
Return to the breath. Again. And again. That’s it.
Repeat daily. Even five minutes a day shifts things over time.
What I Tell Friends Who Ask
“Do I have to clear my mind?”
Nope. Just notice your mind.
“Will it help with stress?”
Yes. Not instantly. But deeply.
“What if I get bored?”
Good. Boredom is a doorway. Open it.
“Do I need a teacher?”
No. But it helps. Apps are a good start too.
“Is it religious?”
Nope. It's spiritual if you want it to be. But it's also just... breathing.
Letting Go Is the Real Practice
Turns out, meditation wasn’t about floating above my problems, it was about planting both feet on the ground and staying.
And the moment I stopped trying to feel extraordinary?
That’s when I started to feel fully human.