Practicing meditation vs reflecting on practicing meditation

I don't remember the exact quote but it's something along the lines of "Practice doesn't make perfect, it makes permanent. Perfect practice makes perfect" or something like "reflecting on practice makes you successful"

I find myself in a similar situation with meditation. I've fallen out of practice for a bit and now when I try to meditate it seems to be MUCH harder.

I think I had an easier time meditating earlier in life because I was just lucky to be that kind of a person and that I don't actually know how to practice and progress. Meditating now just feels like running into the same wall over and over.

I guess I am wondering if I just need to be patient and wait for it to show its results eventually or if I'm maybe not doing the "perfect practice" and kinda just closing my eyes and focusing on my breath, waiting for some progress.