The mantra trains our mind in focus and concentration, putting us in a very relaxed state that de-stresses us and provides many health benefits. When we observe something real, we become more mindful of all our surroundings and our thoughts; we become highly sensitive to nuance and subtleties.

We see more, and we appreciate more. We’re able to notice things we never noticed before. It even increases our wisdom significantly because we’re so much more aware of so much more going on.

We understand how many different levels things can work on. We can see relationships, connections, and patterns. It opens up a mind-blowing amount of information that we’re able to understand on a deep level, which you cannot get with the mantra.

However, if you decide to do the mantra, and you do that consistently for the rest of your life, you will experience immense benefits. Within a year, you will wonder how you ever lived without it. That has been my experience.

Meditation is a very simple but powerful practice, and we don’t need to add pressure or expectations to it. It does take time, but that’s why it teaches us patience. From patience comes peace, and from peace comes bliss. Keep it up, and you will surely find it.

Get rid of your expectations. Toss them out the door. You don’t need them.

We’re so used to putting expectations on ourselves in every aspect of our lives, and we are very hard on ourselves. We expect perfection from ourselves. We want to measure achievements and goals and track our progress.

But in meditation, we’re just putting all that aside and simply being. It’s a radical concept, and it is so important to be aware of that kind of thinking: this is pointless, this isn’t doing anything, I’m not doing it right, I’m thinking too much.

Those thoughts will be there, but they don’t need to be listened to. Don’t follow them. Just allow whatever comes in any moment.

In meditation and in life, we simply allow what is to be. Not resisting the universe is what creates this peace.

Do make a consistent habit of meditation. Every day at the same exact time, and do not miss it no matter what. That is the greatest “do” of meditation I can think of, because it is all about consistency.

It doesn’t matter if you meditated for 10,000 hours but then you haven’t done it for 30 years.

You have to do it every day. This way, every single day you will be nurturing the ability to experience joy more and more, so that every day can be the greatest day of your life—better than the last day because you meditated even more.

You learn to go deeper and deeper into peace, joy, and this love for life.

So make it a habit. Don’t be too hard on yourself.

So many people try meditation, and if they can’t sit still for an hour without thinking, they think it’s not for them and they quit. I don’t know anybody who can go an hour without thinking, even the best Buddhist monks I know.

So just try one minute. Try 30 seconds at first, but make it stick. Progress over time.

Don’t be too hard on yourself. Don’t be too easy on yourself.

Take that middle path.