Willpower?
The irony of willpower is that it requires willpower to develop more of the same. The most obvious case in point is that meditation is an exercise of willpower that requires willpower. Willpower is what I’m missing most and it’s the thing I have the hardest time working on.
The most damning part is that willpower is something for which you can’t get a personal trainer, and which all the inspirational words in the world won’t change.
Step one is acceptance, right?
Hey, that's better - now I have accepted that, I feel good. Who needs willpower anyway
Hey, that's better - now I have accepted that, I feel good. Who needs willpower anyway
Actually dead gnats meditate really well. At least they can sit still for long periods of time (until they rot away or something eats them).
Palzang
When I do meditate, it's for around five or ten minutes, and I find is uttely blissful.
What a jerk!
I know what you mean about Will, Matt!
Fat chance.
Fat chance.
Human beings are mainly water and, like water, tend to take the line of least resistance. The trick is to set up just such a line to our desired outcome. For example, if I want to get fit for our local half-marathon to raise money for a favourite charity, this outcome is persuasive enough to get me out of bed to train - on fine days. If I have managed to do this enough while enthusiasm lasts, a wet, windy day will still present me with the choice between getting up for a morning run, or turning over and going back to sleep. A persuasive outcome and some good runs in memory will enable me to channel my energy into getting and running.
This is, of course, because that is where my attention is fixed. "Energy follows attention."
Of course, we can always try willpower but it never worked for me. Habit has been far more useful. Only then can I congratulate myself on the apparent strength of my will! LOL
I never feel bliss, I never have any magical experiences as such, it is what it is but it is something I do because I can see the benefits. My motivation is high and even when I think I would rather read or watch television; I just ignore those thoughts and do it anyway.
I have been sitting for nine months now and can't believe I still feel so motivated (I nomally lose interest in things fast and look for the next great thing); I just know this is "working" and it is absolutely no effort at all. I like it and it is teaching me so much about how things really are, plus there isn't anything else out there; it's all in my mind to start with.
You know when you have this strong instinct that something is right? Well this is the "rightest" thing I have ever encountered and I hope it benefits others as it does me!