Don't set goals for yourself that are too high to reach. Be gentle with yourself. You are trying to follow your own breathing continuously and without a break. That sounds easy enough, so you will have a tendency at the outset to push yourself to be scrupulous and exacting. This is unrealistic. Take time in small units instead.
In "Mindfulness in Plain English," Bhante Henepola Gunaratana advises against setting overly ambitious goals when practicing mindfulness. He emphasizes the importance of being gentle with oneself, as the journey of following one's breath can be unexpectedly challenging. It's easy to become overly strict and demand perfection, but this approach can be counterproductive.
Instead of striving for unattainable standards, Gunaratana recommends taking small, manageable steps in your practice. By focusing on gradual progress rather than exacting performance, you allow yourself the freedom to develop mindfulness in a more sustainable and compassionate way.
