I’ve meditated for five minutes a day, every day, for a week. That’s a total of thirty-five minutes of mindful breathing. Woohoo!

Maybe I should be expressing my pride in this accomplishment in a more restrained fashion, one more befitting the quiet, contemplative nature of the process. But if I’ve learned anything from dipping my toe in the waters of mindfulness, it’s that there is no right or wrong way to go about it.

On some days I felt jumpy and impatient. My mind wanted to review an earlier conversation or plan tomorrow’s dinner instead of attending to my inhalations and exhalations. On other days I felt tired and heavy-lidded. I’d like to say I also had Goldilocks days when it felt “just right,” but that didn’t happen.

Research has shown that regular meditation practice leads to changes in the brain structures associated with self-control, attention, and self-awareness. I’m all for giving my concentration and willpower a boost, so I plan to keep meditating, adding a few minutes to each practice every week, and hope that over time, I’ll improve my mindfulness skills. I’m going to have to wait before I decide whether it’s beneficial for me.