> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.gilespcroft.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Practice vs. perfect - URL: https://www.gilespcroft.com/practice-vs-perfect/ - Published: 2024-10-06T07:00:00.000Z - Updated: 2026-09-18T10:53:58.000Z - Description: What's the difference between the 3Ps and mindfulness? 🧘🏻 - Author: Giles P Croft - Tags: Meditation, Attention, Consciousness, IMPLICATIONS, Presence, Real stories, Sharing, Sunday Spiritual, Thought realisation Two items grabbed my attention in quick succession, prompting today’s Daily Reminder. The first was a question from a subscriber, who asked, > *“What’s the difference between the 3 Principles and Mindfulness? There seem to be a lot of parallels to me.”* …and then almost as a ready made answer, along came someone on LinkedIn, commenting on a post about [presence](https://www.gilespcroft.com/tag/presence/), insinuating that, > *Yeah… but it takes practice.* And I thought, *Whoa, hang on.* Isn’t that what keeps everybody stuck? The belief that ‘being more present’ takes effort; that it’s to be worked at, or a goal to aim for? Let me ask you, for instance: Do you like the idea of having to work hard at something? Putting the hours in so that you can achieve some sort of repetitive future goal, around being awake to life? No, me neither! --- When I got back to our dear subscriber, I mused that maybe this was the difference: What if presence is what we already are? There’s no trying to be done; no practice involved in resting in your True Nature. It’s already perfect. Whereas, generally, we associate mindfulness with ‘trying’ to be more present. For me, that ‘trying’ element is an intellectual thing. It looks like there’s something we have to *do* with the thoughts we observe (which includes ‘observing’ them in the first place!) … all of which only makes sense to do if we see thought as problematic to start with. Where’s the problem? It’s just thought! 🤷🏻‍♂️ For me, the key difference is to see that you can’t *not* be present, as is beautifully described by Leo Hartong, in one of my favourite books, [*Awakening to the Dream*](https://amzn.to/4rSnQ1b?ref=gilespcroft.com): > *“You may make a great effort to be fully here and now, but even if you wanted to, could you be anywhere else? Even when you take your mind for a walk down memory lane, get caught up in fantasies, or anticipate some future event, you are here and now.* > *“Ask yourself how many steps it takes to get to where you are? How much time does it take to arrive at this moment? How much effort is required to be what you already are?”* Maybe there’s a reason they call it the great no-thing. 💟 Giles p.s. Your regular reminder of the [Richard Carlson](https://www.gilespcroft.com/tag/richard-carlson/) quote that underpins ALL of this: > ***“Thought, in and of itself, is harmless.”*** Rest in the truth of that one, and there’s no ‘practicing’ to be done! SIGN UP FOR THE DAILY REMINDERS newsletter [![CTA Image](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9b/f3/9bf3d316-7d32-494b-814f-a7d94d6358c3/content/images/2025/12/DR_Lockup-Black-1.png)](#/portal/signup) Want to start **your* days with helpful, insightful content like this? The Daily Reminder is a quick, lighthearted email that arrives in your inbox, to help keep you grounded in reality, so that you get to **‘Think less, and live more.’* **“They feel like a moment of stillness in a world of madness.” \~* Neil, UK **“One of those small things with big impact. Honestly, just sign up!”* \~ Paula, UK [GET YOURS NOW ](#/portal/signup) ### Related [Practice!Do we want to talk about this stuff, or live it? 😄![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9b/f3/9bf3d316-7d32-494b-814f-a7d94d6358c3/content/images/icon/DR_Lockup-Black-3-3ff0ea17-0afe-479c-8b2f-3d8d241d51f0.png)The Daily RemindersGiles P Croft![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9b/f3/9bf3d316-7d32-494b-814f-a7d94d6358c3/content/images/thumbnail/photo-1715274156767-22ebfa6ff978-1-b066864b-82b8-486e-b3a6-57836ca956ce.jpg)](https://www.gilespcroft.com/practice/) …in which I seemingly contradict myself and recommend you **do* practice (but in a subtly different way)