Stick-with-it-ness: January 21 - 27

Too many options is not always a good thing. When I feel bored or stuck in a rut, I’m tempted to look for something new and exciting. There is no shortage of blogs, podcasts, and apps promising a plethora of opportunities. Don’t get sucked in!

There’s no value in digging shallow wells in a hundred places. Decide on one place and dig deep. Even if you encounter a rock, use dynamite and keep going down. If you leave that to dig another well, all the first effort is wasted and there is no proof you won’t hit rock again.

Swami Satchidananda 

The spiritual path requires determination and perseverance. Cultivating stick-with-it-ness is no easy task. The day will come when I don’t feel like meditating or heading to the gym or packing a healthy lunch. Hanging in there in spite of indifference builds spiritual fire. This sort of energy is the fuel for progress.

The secret to most things in life is to show up and stay in the game. Keep on digging.

Practice

Meditate daily. When obstacles get in the way, plow through. When boredom arises, vow to stay anyway. When thoughts distract, return to the breath again and again. If you hit a rock, dig deeper. If you fall one hundred times, keep getting up. Deep wells take time and steady effort.