You want to achieve mindfulness. How can you balance mentorship and independence?

1 Choose a mentor wisely

A mentor is someone who can support you, inspire you, and challenge you to grow in your mindfulness journey. However, not every mentor is suitable for you. You need to find someone who shares your values, goals, and vision, and who can respect your individuality and autonomy. Look for a mentor who has relevant experience, knowledge, and skills in mindfulness, but also who can listen to you, empathize with you, and offer constructive feedback. Avoid mentors who are too rigid, controlling, or imposing in their approach.

2 Set clear expectations

Once you have found a mentor, you need to communicate clearly with them about your expectations and boundaries. What do you want to learn from them? How often do you want to meet with them? How do you prefer to receive feedback? How do you handle disagreements or conflicts? How do you measure your progress and success? These are some of the questions that you need to discuss with your mentor, and agree on a mutual understanding and agreement. This way, you can avoid misunderstandings, frustrations, and disappointments, and ensure a positive and productive relationship.

4 Appreciate and acknowledge

Mentorship is also a two-way street. You need to appreciate and acknowledge the value that your mentor provides to you, and the effort and time that they invest in you. You can do this by expressing your gratitude, giving compliments, sharing your achievements, and providing feedback. You can also offer to help your mentor in some way, such as sharing your skills, resources, or connections, or introducing them to someone who might benefit from their guidance. This will help you build trust, rapport, and mutual respect with your mentor.

5 Review and revise

Mentorship is not a static or fixed process. You need to review and revise your relationship with your mentor regularly, and make adjustments as needed. You need to evaluate your progress, satisfaction, and challenges, and see if your goals, expectations, and needs have changed. You need to communicate openly and honestly with your mentor, and give and receive feedback. You need to celebrate your successes, and learn from your failures. You need to decide if you want to continue, change, or end your mentorship, and how to do it gracefully and respectfully.

Achieving mindfulness is a lifelong journey, and you can benefit from having a mentor who can guide you along the way. However, you also need to balance mentorship with independence, and cultivate your own skills and insights. By following these tips, you can find the right balance between learning from someone else and learning from yourself, and enjoy a fulfilling and rewarding mindfulness practice.