Yes, it can. Rarely, but it happens.
Sometimes, for example, people begin to feel more anxious than usual. Or they notice that their mind has become even more restless. These states are usually short-lived, but they can be confusing – especially if someone expects Mindfulness to immediately bring peace and stillness.
That’s why it’s important to understand: it’s not Mindfulness that creates anxiety or restlessness. It simply brings them to the surface – more quickly and more clearly.
Mindfulness helps you see what was already within you – just pushed down, buried beneath daily distractions, responsibilities, and the habit of running from yourself.
That anxiety would have surfaced eventually, even without Mindfulness – likely in a more intense form.
And that restless mind would have shown up anyway, with or without Mindfulness. It just might have happened later, during a period of life when your involvement in the external world begins to fade, and your attention naturally starts turning inward. At that point, you’d likely be caught off guard – and it might hit you even harder.
If you’re looking for a solution that brings transformation without surfacing anything uncomfortable – maybe what you’re really looking for isn’t transformation.
It’s also important to remember this:
None of us can escape our inner demons. We can ignore them, we can run – but sooner or later, they catch up. And the longer we run, the deeper their “teeth” sink in, and the larger the scars they leave behind.
None of us can escape our inner demons. We can ignore them, we can run – but sooner or later, they catch up. And the longer we run, the deeper their “teeth” sink in, and the larger the scars they leave behind.
So the issue isn’t that Mindfulness makes things worse – the issue is that we live in a culture that constantly encourages us to hide, suppress, or avoid everything that feels uncomfortable, unfamiliar, or difficult to face.
In short: Everything that truly matters – and has the power to create deep transformation – may come with uncomfortable side effects. That goes for sport, therapy, deep relationships… and yes, for Mindfulness too. If you’re looking for a 100% “safe and guaranteed” solution – maybe Mindfulness isn’t the right path for you.
An idea from the TT Mindfulness Certified Coach program