Written by Jen Liu

“Like the strong trunk of a tree as opposed to its feebler branches, or the ocean depths that remain still while waves beat against the shore, stability has a tranquil quality to it and lives in the more hidden spaces — closer to the core, away from the surface. It doesn't thrash around with the chaos of the wind or tides; it takes a lot more to rattle it.”

In Dharma Moon's 100-Hour Mindfulness Meditation Teacher Training, students learn that one of the main benefits of a sustained mindfulness meditation practice is increased stability. This deceptively simple byproduct of mind-training has the power to lead to profound perspective shifts, improve the quality of our day-to-day lives, and support many other aspects of our practice.

Like the strong trunk of a tree as opposed to its feebler branches, or the ocean depths that remain still while waves beat against the shore, stability has a tranquil quality to it and lives in the more hidden spaces — closer to the core, away from the surface. It doesn't thrash around with the chaos of the wind or tides; it takes a lot more to rattle it.

As a result, the inner peace and happiness that arises out of stability is different from the excitement derived from temporary causes and conditions. Excitement is something that can both land in our lap and be ripped away from us in a moment's notice by forces outside of our control. We find a $20 bill on the ground — wahoo! But later that same day, we get a flat tire — oof.

In contrast, a deep sense of stability coming from within can help us develop a steady, resilient understanding of the inherent preciousness of each day, whether it's a day we receive good news about a long-awaited job promotion or get into an intense argument with a loved one. From a meditation practice standpoint, we return to our cushion with consistency because we come to truly believe that each sit is worthwhile, regardless of whether it's going to leave us feeling blissed out or mentally exhausted.

Similar to how non-attachment is not about numbing ourselves, stability is not about flatlining our feelings. It actually has to do with seeing reality more accurately and fully — remembering the larger context — so we're less likely to get trapped in a feedback loop of one corner of our world that is either eating away at or gratifying our ego. Over time, we become less prone to getting yanked around by random threads of thoughts and emotions. We internalize a felt sense of our own "basic goodness" and the basic goodness of others that can't be so easily taken away. Like the healthy, grounded trunk of a tree, we become stable.