But science works with statistics and probabilities, usually regarding groups, so that what happens for 80% of the population, for example, doesn’t translate into an 80% chance that you will experience it. Statistics can be misleading. If you roll a die five times and each time it comes up as a 5, when you roll that die again, what are the chances you will get another 5? The same as all the other times: 1 in 6. So, putting the statistics lesson aside, we all know that life is uncertain. The same is true with meditation, but research does suggest that certain practices and programs do seem to have a measurable, and in some cases, clearly observable positive effect on things like mood, well-being, and self-compassion, among others. My advice would be to let this science lead you to be a skeptic, which means to explore the practice with an open, curious mind that has let go of preconceived notions. As I like to tell my students: Don’t take my word for anything. Let your own experience be your guide. This article appeared in the February 2018 issue of Mindful magazine.
