What to lose - what to gain...

If you start with mindfulness in a serious way, you surely will win a lot. But you probably will lose some things too. What?
You probably will lose some of the will to identify yourself with the things you own. You can still have things that you need, things that can make every day easier. But you will not identify yourself with them.
Your consciousness will probably have a broader view- it will be hard for you to use things that pollute the air or harm other beings in some way.  Sometimes  you can drive a car or go by aeroplane. But you don't want to do it too often...

After you have meditated for some years your compassion will increase... It will be hard for you look at films with much violence. You will find that your view of the world have changed. You will no more see the world in black and white, but with many colours....
There will be no more completely white heroes and no more completely evil characters.

You will try to understand everyone - and if you succeed,  you don't have to be angry or feel offended.

You will, at least more than before, be satisfied when other people or animals seems to be satisfied. You will feel more connected to everything. Feel as the feelings of other living beings are your own.
You will feel sad when nature are destroyed, but you will be realistic and know that that kind of disasters has happened before. For instance; the ice age in my part of the world.

You will feel less lonely....
But perhaps you will need more time for yourself and and you will probably avoid noisy crowds.

You will still need people around you - but you will prefer people that know some about mindfulness and who appreciate your attitude to life.

You will gain some tender distance to your thoughts and feelings, you can more skilfully choose which one of them you want to stay.
You will still have your bad days, but you can probably handle them better...

Many more things can change - but what depends of your personality. It also depends on how much time you will give to the practise.

But remember, the practise should be pleasant. You can look at it as a good friend, coming to you for a while every day and stays a little bit longer for each time...


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