In meditation what we practice is what we Meaning Factcheck Usage

You know, that idea that “In meditation, what we practice is what we become” is so much more than a nice saying. It’s the absolute core of how transformation actually works. It’s about the direct, tangible sculpting of your own mind through consistent, deliberate focus.

Share Image Quote:

Table of Contents

• Meaning
• Explanation
• Origin & Factcheck
• Context
• Usage Examples
• FAQ

Meaning

Your repeated mental actions, your focus during meditation, literally shape your brain and your default state of being. You are, quite literally, practicing a new way of existing.

Explanation

Look, it’s like this. If you spend your 20 minutes on the cushion constantly bringing your focus back to the breath, what you’re *really* practicing isn’t just breathing. You’re practicing the *skill of noticing distraction and gently returning*. And that skill, over time, becomes who you are off the cushion. You become less reactive, more centered. Conversely, if you practice cultivating a feeling of loving-kindness, you are strengthening those neural pathways. You are, through repetition, becoming a more compassionate person. The practice *is* the becoming. It’s not a metaphor; it’s a neurological reality.

Quote Summary

Context	Attributes
Original Language	English (3668)
Category	Personal Development (697)
Topics	habits (85), practice (38)
Literary Style	minimalist (442)
Emotion / Mood	focused (87), inspiring (392)
Overall Quote Score	85 (305)

Origin & Factcheck

This comes straight from Daniel Goleman’s 1988 book, “The Meditative Mind,” where he was synthesizing his research and experiences with different meditation traditions. It’s often misattributed to Buddha or other ancient sources, but it’s a modern, psychological framing of a very ancient principle.

Attribution Summary

Context	Attributes
Author	Daniel Goleman (125)
Source Type	Book (4032)
Source/Book Name	The Meditative Mind: The Varieties of Meditative Experience (60)
Origin Timeperiod	Modern (527)
Original Language	English (3668)
Authenticity	Verified (4032)

Where is this quotation located?

Quotation	In meditation, what we practice is what we become
Book Details	Publication Year/Date: 1977 (originally as The Varieties of Meditative Experience, revised 1988 as The Meditative Mind); ISBN: 9780874778335; Last Edition: Tarcher/Putnam 1988; Number of pages: 320.
Where is it?	Approximate page from 1988 edition, Chapter 3: Concentrative Meditation

Context

Goleman was writing at a time when Western science was just beginning to take meditation seriously. He was explaining that these aren’t mystical states, but trainable skills of the mind. The quote sits within his exploration of how different meditation practices—from concentration to mindfulness—develop specific and distinct psychological faculties.

Usage Examples

This is a powerful concept to share with a few key groups. For the skeptical beginner who says “I can’t stop my thoughts!”, you can explain they’re not failing, they’re just practicing the *return*, which is the entire point. For the burned-out executive, frame it as mental training for resilience; they’re practicing equanimity to become less shaken by market fluctuations. And for anyone in personal development, it reframes the journey from “fixing myself” to “actively building the person I want to be, one session at a time.”

To whom it appeals?

Context	Attributes
Theme	Principle (838)
Audiences	coaches (1277), seekers (406), students (3111), trainers (231)
Usage Context/Scenario	coaching sessions (85), habit formation talks (2), motivational events (92), self-growth workshops (9)

Share This Quote Image & Motivate

FAQ

Question: Does this mean if I have a “bad” meditation session, I’m becoming worse?
Answer: Not at all. The “practice” isn’t about having a perfectly quiet mind. The practice is the *act of returning*. So every time you notice you’re distracted and gently guide yourself back, you are successfully practicing and reinforcing that core skill of awareness.

Question: How long does this “becoming” take?
Answer: It’s incremental. You won’t feel different after one session, just like you won’t get strong from one push-up. But the cumulative effect, over weeks and months, is profound and noticeable. The changes are subtle but they compound dramatically.

Question: Can I practice becoming anything?
Answer: In a sense, yes. That’s why choosing your meditation object is so important. Focusing on breath cultivates concentration and calm. Practicing metta (loving-kindness) cultivates compassion. Your focus determines your direction of growth.