I am often asked the question - "How do I know if the mindfulness practice I am doing on my own at home is effective?"  My answer usually goes something like this: "If you want to see if the mindfulness practice is working for you, look and see whether things are changing or shifting for you more broadly in your life."

For example;

• How are you speaking to yourself when you make a mistake?
• Are you less reactive?
• How are you doing at letting go (when that’s clearly the wisest choice)?
• Are your communications with others more harmonious?

This question arises because sometimes when we sit and do formal meditation practice, it can be our experience that not much happens or that we still feel wound-up at the end of the practice.  It is useful to understand that every meditation practice is different: sometimes we will feel a sense of spaciousness and ease whilst at other times we may feel no different from at the beginning of the practice. 

Rest assured - that the practice is working – just like when we train at gym or go running, sometimes we will experience a state of ease, even flow and yet at other times it will feel like just plain hard work!  Whatever our subjective experience in the moment is, allow it to be and recognize the brain is still being re-wired and we are learning to be more at home and at ease in and with ourselves, to cultivate a friendlier relationship with ourselves.