One way to understand meditation is that it is about creating a habit in our consciousness of constantly trying to be more aware.
For example, when we meditate and notice that we have been distracted, we are helping establish the habit of turning our attention back to the object or technique. We are also establishing the habit of equanimity by transforming distraction into its opposite, concentration.
In this way, we not only train to become more and more attentive when we meditate, but we also help make attention a habit in daily life.
This is why we practice by starting the meditation technique as soon as we begin our session. We do not start with breathing exercises or by calming down in any way. We start the actual meditation immediately, and in this way create a habit of being lightning fast with our attention when it is needed.
The habit of lightning-fast attention is invaluable, for example, in a crisis situation, where the chance of overwhelm is great. Instead of reactively entering stress mode, with its primitive fight-flight-freeze reactions, we will be more likely to respond appropriately.
In the longer-term perspective, establishing meditation as a daily habit is crucial for such other habits to take root. In fact, meditation is itself a habit that makes establishing all other…
