Meditation and 'not trying to change anything' I've been practicing mindfulness meditation for around three months now. I've heard many times that a key aim for meditation is to be with whatever thoughts and feelings are present, without trying to change anything. I understand to a large extent why this is important, as much upset is caused by suppressing and mentally running away from things that we are afraid of.

However, in my practice I have found that if I consciously try to relax during a session (muscular tension is an issue with me) it can be a much more fulfilling, refreshing experience. Is this not an example of trying to change something, and therefore 'bad' practice?
'Not trying to change anything' is a modern idea and is not what is taught in the original Buddhist teachings.
In the original teachings, there are four right efforts, namely: (i) effort to prevent unwholesome states of mind; (ii) effort to dispel unwholesome states of mind; (iii) effort to cultivate wholesome states of mind; and (iv) effort to maintain &amp; increase wholesome states of mind.
'Refreshing' calmness/tranquility ('samatha') is considered a wholesome state of mind that is preferably developed. To cultivate calmness requires a keen/observant yet very gentle effort to keep the mind clear &amp; equanimous.

For him, having thus developed the noble eightfold path...the
four right efforts... go to the culmination of their development.
[And] for him these two qualities occur in tandem: tranquillity
(samatha) &amp; insight (vipassana).
MN 149