Recognizing the Changes in Ourselves

One way to assess the progress of practice is to reflect on the changes we notice in ourselves. How do we respond to situations that once upset us? What happens when things do not go our way? What changes do others notice in us?

Almost all of my students share with me how wonderful it is to see the positive changes they experience through practice. They recognize these changes through self-reflection and through others’ reactions toward them. They tell me that these changes have been more enduring than those they experienced through other attempts at self-improvement.

I notice the same phenomenon in myself. Before practicing the Noble Eightfold Path, the most positive comment I received was, “She keeps her word.” Otherwise, people described me as intense, hot-tempered, scary, self-centered, narcissistic, competitive, and goal-oriented at all costs. You get the picture.

Now I hear, “She is a nice, kind person.”

When I reflect on myself, I find peace, calm, and happiness. Sometimes I still think, “I can’t believe I’ve really changed!”

Through practicing the Noble Eightfold Path, we learn to recognize craving, hatred, and delusion in our own minds. As we become less caught up in them, our thoughts, words, and actions begin to change. What once would have become a harsh word or an argument can be recognized and released before it goes further.

Over time, we can look back and see that we are living differently. We may notice greater peace within ourselves and more kindness and care in how we treat others.

This is one of the benefits of practice. Keep practicing, and take time to recognize the changes in yourself.