100-Day Practice! Day 30

 It's been sixteen days since my previous post and we're now thirty days into our daily practice of sitting and moving. It is said that it takes about twenty-eight days to establish a new habit. Hopefully, you're now feeling more enthused to exercise your daily sitting devotion and much less reluctant to stop. 

At about 5:00am EST tomorrow morning, the winter solstice will occur and the winter season officially begins! The naturally contractive energies of this season are ideal for sitting meditation and to explore your inner Self. 

Part of the process now is to settle in becoming the observer of the experience without expectation, judgment. Just continued faith each of the remaining seventy days in this 100-Day Practice!

Blessings,

To be great, get it done! 

100-Day Practice! Day 14

Day 14

If you find yourself doubting the benefits of sitting every day at 5:00am or perhaps you're rationalizing that missing just one day won't make any real difference over the span of 100, welcome to the oh so typical "commitment remorse" period. This quite common sense of doubt and regret about your resolution to create a new and beneficial habit is really an opportunity in disguise. 

It's been my personal and vicarious experience that sometime between the 14th and 21st days of a new endeavor a rebellious toddler energy is evoked that disdains change. This "toddler" energy is comfortable with things as they are and fights tooth and nail to maintain the status quo. This is the opportunity for the burgeoning adult spirit within us to step in. The evolving adult within us needs to gently and firmly coax the toddler to do it in spite of the seeming inanity or discomfort of it all at the moment. 

Within another 7-10 days, those rebellious sentiments seem to wither and fade away and a growing sense of freedom to choose and act in our self-interest bursts forth. This is the energy we embrace and which then propels us forward to complete the task.

Sit and enjoy your process...

First chapter: Yang Family Style Taijiquan

 

Blessings!

"To be great, get it done!"

100-Day Practice! Days 12-13

Sitting Meditation...

Days 12-13 

Blessings!

To be great, get it done! 

100-Day Practice! Days 10 & 11

 Day 10 (11/30/20)

This morning's session was punctuated by the sound of the rain's pitter patter on the AC in the window. My right knee was more reluctant than usual to participate in sitting. I massaged it a little longer this time and it was fine. Generally, I was more aware of my body being less comfortable than I typically am. That made for distraction from my internal focus for sometime. Eventually, I settled in...

As a courtesy, I am posting the following quote for Mr. Jamal Ashanti Bey who is participating in the 100-Day Practice!: "It is better to move less than more; it is better to not move than to move less; moving while being immobile is the movement of creation."   -Master Wang Xiangzhai

Day 11 (12/1/20)

The time sitting and moving seemed to pass by more quickly than usual this morning. Perhaps the recent energies of the Lunar eclipse and Beaver moon were contributing factors in my experience yesterday and today? We are made of the stuff of celestial bodies and are a part of Nature. Though subtle, it stands to reason we are affected in some manner; especially when in a meditative state.

Blessings!

"To be great, get it done!"

100-Day Practice! Day 9

 Day 9

I was feeling pretty tired last night and had doubts about waking up at 5:00am this morning to sit in meditation. I was rationalizing and negotiating with myself to feel okay with not doing the practice. What would it matter if I missed just one day out of 100; especially since I've been doing this kind of thing since 1985? And, anyway, no one would know if I did it or not. On and on my mind wandered...

It wasn't until I walked by our meditation room that my true Self emerged to take the reins and keep me on track. This is the Self that emerged over the years as a result of the investment I've made in trials and tribulations learning to be disciplined, tenacious, and diligent. It's the part of me that doesn't let me fail or fall without getting back up to continue my journey. 

What I've learned is that it's okay to not want to do a practice. Those feelings are rather normal when you choose to be at your best committed to a goal. What matters is whether or not you succumb to the feeling.

It's my belief that success must be earned and, therefore, that process is intrinsically challenging to help cultivate the muscles of character required to achieve one's aims. Thus, what truly matters is what you actually do; especially when no one knows you're doing it and you are not going to be complimented for doing it. In the darkness of the enclosed chrysalis, a caterpillar transforms itself into a butterfly that must struggle and break through to emerge to fly!

As I walked by the meditation room, I stopped, entered the room and setup my seating space. I then got my clock and set the alarm for 5:00am. I heard it ringing way off in the distance this morning and my Self got me up out of my comfortable bed to go sit. One day closer to achieving my goal. No epiphanies this morning, no glorious revelations. However, it is a powerful link built in to the chain of constancy...

Blessings!

"To be great, get it done!"

100-Day Practice! Day 8

 Day 8

Wonderful morning sitting...

I spent my movement time (about 45 minutes) massaging my toes, feet, ankles, knees, groin and hips. Feel so much freer in my gait and standing...

Blessings!

"To be great, get it done!"

100-Day Practice! Day 7

Day 7 

Here it is already--the first week of this 100-Day journey has arrived! Waking up at 5:00am each morning in order to prepare to begin sitting at 6:00am, has been rewarding; especially because I revel and thrive in the experience of discipline. Discipline is required to be successful in whatever endeavor you choose.

Standing on bricks (YMAA Retreat Center)

There are several types of meditation which all seem to have a similar purpose: enhance awareness, focus attention, optimize health and well-being. and elevate spiritual pursuits. The best meditation is the one that you will do consistently. 

While 100 days (now 93 days remaining) may seem daunting, consider dividing this period of time into four (4) phases:

PHASE 1: The first 25 days (ending December 15th) This is a period when you may find yourself trying a variety of strategies to get comfortable with your choice of sitting and movement meditation. Be gentle with yourself if it seems challenging to settle in. Do not give up.

PHASE 2: The second 25 days (ending January 9, 2021) It is said that it takes about 28 days to create a new habit. This period will help transition you from the previous period with panache. You will most likely feel rather settled with your choices of the first 25 days and can now revel in your rhythm.

PHASE 3: The third 25 days (ending February 3. 2021) While you've been making observations since the first day, this period lends itself to going deeper in each day's experience. I strongly urge everyone to journal your experiences as a reference point for future self-evaluation.

PHASE 4: The final 25 days (ending February 28, 2021) This last period is when you can almost be in automatic mode to just enjoy each moment of your sitting and moving meditations. You've consciously created a habit that will serve you for the remainder of your life. 

Blessings

"To be great, get it done!"