Radio Headspace Am I Showing Up, or Just Trying to Get Something?
Mar 30, 2026
A teacher notices the fine line between being present and quietly trying to get somewhere. Stories explore meditating for success and chasing pleasant feelings. Practical checks on intention, thinking quality, and softening grasping come up. The conversation contrasts acting from curiosity and care with acting for outcomes.
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Conference Moment That Sparked A Question About Why
- Dora Kamau describes a conference encounter where someone wanted to meditate to become more successful.
- The attendee admitted they'd only keep meditating if it produced success, revealing a conditional motivation that sparked Dora's reflection.
What You Think About Shapes What You See
- Dora explains the Buddha's teaching that whatever we repeatedly think becomes the inclination of our awareness.
- Focusing on success makes us filter every action through the question, will this make me successful, shaping perception and behavior.
When Meditation Became A Quest For Feeling Good
- Dora shares her early meditation journey where she initially chased the pleasant peaceful feeling that sometimes followed practice.
- Her teacher told her to let go of the desire to feel good, which revealed her practice had become conditional and created more suffering.