During my journey of learning and practicing mindfulness, one question often left me puzzled: How should we relate to the “goal-oriented” nature of mindfulness?
In this day and age, we’re used to setting goals and seeking results in everything we do. We work out to get fitter or slimmer; we study to pass exams or improve our skills; even meditation is often assigned a list of “practical benefits”—like reducing stress, increasing focus, improving emotional wellbeing, or enhancing happiness.
There’s nothing wrong with these intentions. The issue is: when these goals become the motivation behind our mindfulness practice, how do we stay true to the spirit and attitude of mindfulness?
As many mindfulness practitioners know, mindfulness is more than a technique—it’s a way of living, a way of bringing awareness into the present moment. Among the foundational attitudes of mindfulness, one key element is non-striving. This means we don’t practice in order to immediately achieve a result, and we don’t cling to whether or not those results will happen.
Practicing mindfulness is more like growing a flower: we can’t pull the seedling to make it grow faster. All we can do is water it, weed around it, observe it each day, and let it grow in its own time.
Have goals, but don’t cling to them
Mindfulness doesn’t mean living or practicing without purpose. Quite the opposite—most of us come to mindfulness with a clear motivation. Maybe you’re dealing with anxiety, insomnia, or difficulty concentrating. Maybe you want to be a more empathetic parent, partner, or team leader. Or maybe you just want to take a breath amidst a busy life.
These motivations are real and deserve respect.
So, mindfulness doesn’t deny the existence of goals. The key is: Can we allow goals to exist, while not attaching too tightly to achieving them?
Non-striving is a form of freedom
When we become attached to a particular goal, we often feel frustrated or self-critical when things don’t go as expected. You might meditate to sleep earlier, but after several sleepless nights, you start wondering, “Am I doing it wrong? Maybe I’m just not suited for mindfulness.”
This mindset stems from being fixated on results.
Practicing a non-striving attitude helps us realize that the practice itself is an act of care and companionship with ourselves. Even if nothing improves today—even if all you did was sit quietly for five minutes and observe your breath and thoughts—you are still nourishing your wellbeing.
Non-striving doesn’t mean we abandon our goals. It means we give them more breathing room, allowing them to unfold naturally rather than forcing them into existence.
Let each present moment be the goal itself
The deepest attitude in mindfulness is a shift—from “doing something for a result” to “doing it just for now.”
We no longer engage in practice solely for a future outcome—we begin to treasure the quiet moments, the clarity that comes from awareness, the gentle self-acceptance that arises.
At that point, mindfulness is no longer just a tool to get somewhere—it becomes a way of being. A way of living.
