How Do You Know You Have Reached Meditation Independence?

Overview

There's a difference between practicing meditation and developing meditation skill. The following signs allow distinguishing between the two.

Signs of real independence:

You can sit for 10-15 minutes without any external guidance - and don't feel the 'count' is less valid.

You return to the breath without anyone reminding you. The noticing and returning happen on their own.

You notice mind-wandering in real life - not only in practice.(Further reading: bringing meditation into daily life) In a moment of argument, stress, difficult conversation - there's a small moment before an automatic response comes out.

You don't feel you 'need' the app to practice.(Further reading: practicing without an app) It's a tool that helps, not a prerequisite.

You can practice in different environments - not only in your quiet room.

Signs the skill is spreading to life:

You notice earlier when you're responding from emotion rather than choice.

There's sometimes a moment of pause before an automatic response - a fraction of a second that wasn't there before.(Further reading: autobiography in five chapters)

With Nowvigation, the courses are built so these signs develop in the right order - from session independence to life independence.