Edge

For today's meditation lesson Tamara talks to us about the fear of losing our edge. Some newcomers to mindfulness have a fear that it will soften them or cause them to lose their competitive edge. This is a common apprehension among ambitious people who value hard work and achievment. The thinking goes, "What it I become too relaxed, too peaceful, or too accepting because of meditation"? This concept is rooted in a misunderstanding.

Meditation does not fundamentally change who we are. If we are ambitious or hardworking we will still be that way even after we meditate. Instead what might change over time is the way we work and our relationship with our goals and ambitions.

We cultivate the skill of concentration so we can focus more intently and increase productivity. We become more calm and clear headed and learn to let go of our fixation on the end results so we relax into our goals, take risks with greater ease, and enjoy the process. I leave you today with a quote from Lao Tzu-

"Be still like a mountain and flow like a great river."