The Oxford Mindfulness Podcast

Getting Real with Mindfulness Ep. 3 - Mindfulness Doesn't Work

Dec 5, 2025
Is mindfulness not meeting your expectations? The hosts explore how inflated claims shape perceptions of its effectiveness. They discuss the importance of curiosity over 'shoulds' and the patience needed for real benefits. Listeners learn that mindfulness is a lifelong journey rather than a quick fix, with realistic outcomes like stress reduction and better relationships. Practical insights help navigate grief and anxiety, emphasizing that it’s all about understanding and managing expectations.
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INSIGHT

Results Depend On Expectations

  • Whether mindfulness "works" depends on what you expect it to do.
  • Mismatched expectations often make people conclude it has failed.
ANECDOTE

Enlightenment As An Early Expectation

  • Victoria Fontana once expected enlightenment and effortless happiness from practice.
  • She now recognises that expectation was about an external attainment rather than practice.
ADVICE

Ask What 'Not Working' Means

  • If someone says mindfulness isn't working, ask what they mean and what they expect.
  • Explore trauma, timing, and misunderstandings about what the practice asks of them.
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