Mindful Living: Self-Discipline

Today’s Mindful Living tenet is self-discipline, or more literally, the fire of transformation. This teaching reminds us that meditation and mindful living is not meant to be synonymous with sunshine and rainbows or with joy 100% of the time. 

Mindfulness grows from burning away non-supportive habits in order to actualize who we really are. 

Self-discipline is the teaching that focuses attention so that attention becomes intention.

We can see a direct example of self-discipline in cultivating a daily meditation practice. 

I’m sure you can think of a thousand other things that you could do with this time, but as meditation practitioners, we forsake some momentary pleasurable distraction because we’ve named what we are practicing for -  some insight, comfort, transformation or knowing… We show up and we do the work because we know why we are practicing. 

How we show up for the work also matters.

We can be half-hearted - calling it meditation but really we are taking a bath with a glass of wine.

We can be ego driven - focused on the fruits of our labor, the outcome, or the goal. 

We can be balanced by bringing a sense of faith to the practice.

Faith is actually a primary ingredient in self-discipline. Faith that the work is enough. That the choices you make, the sacrifices you willingly agree to, the flames that might burn a bit as you walk through them, all of it is the path you are meant to be on. The work is enough. 

It is in this way that we practice. 

So that our stories and the weight of discarded emotions, thoughts and beliefs that have fallen to our forest floors don’t burn uncontrolled. 

Fire at first glance can seem like a fearsome, raging inferno, when in actuality, it is lighting our path and nurturing our rejuvenation. 

So let’s burn; let’s do the work.

Special thanks to today’s sponsor: Baronfig. Baronfig’s line of “Tools for Thinkers” includes guided journals, notebooks, writing instruments, bags, accessories, and so much more. As an avid journaler, I use and love their guided meditation journal, dream journal and their basic Confidant notebooks! Use code MindfulMinute through 4/27/23 to save 10% on your own order at baronfig.com. 

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