The Virtue of Commitment
06 May 2010 Leave a Comment
in Commitment, Determination, Gentleness, Joy, Joyfulness, Love, Moderation, Patience, Perseverance, Purposefulness, Self-Discipline, Trust, Uncategorized
When the virtue of commitment is considered in light of personal well-being, what comes to mind is how important it is for commitment to be paired with Love.
Commitment without Flexibility can be harsh and unyeilding. Commitment without Love can be cold and uneffective.
Commitment without Trust can be useless and daunting.
Commitment without Gentleness can be blind and without purpose.
Commitment is making a goal and sticking to it regardless of the obstacles. Commitment is dedication and determination and optimisim.
When we have commitment then we have strength. When we have strength we can achieve any wellness goal that we have set for ourselves. When we set and achieve small goals we will be empowered to achieve more. In this achieving our true potential can be realized and manifested. When our true potential is discovered, great Joy is experienced and all struggle falls away.
Day 179: The Gift of Desire
17 Feb 2010 Leave a Comment
in Enthusiasm, Moderation, Self-Discipline Tags: personal growth, positive thinking, self-improvement, virtues for well-being
Now, now, I don’t mean desire as in red, hot desire…this is that small spark of desire that is that quiet voice in our hearts that whispers songs of hope.
Today I’m thinking about the gift of desire because when I completed Debbie Ford’s 21 Day Consciousness cleanse (and by the way I am not getting paid to promote it) I was eager to do it again! That’s because the change in my focus and energy has increase so much in the past 21 days that I think by doing it again I can continue to release the “chains” from the past (my negative thoughts) and move forward positively into the Moment.
My desire today, my goal for the next 21 days, is to continue writing and continue growing my new copywriting business. 21 days ago I had a vague idea that I would like to write and get paid for it. But today I now have 2 clients whom I am working with to improve the content of their websites! Exciting right. Right!
What strikes me is the power that I am finding in doing what my heart guides me to do. I had read all about the joy and strength people find when they do what they love, but to experience it is altogether different. Last night, I wrote and researched for my copywriting business for 4 hours and when I closed up my computer and was getting into bed I was saying, “Night night Rachel” and the whisper from my heart was “keep writing! I don’t want to go to bed! I want to keep writing!”
“Seriously?” I said to myself.
“Seriously!” was the answer.
So, with this little internal battle between my inner writer (with enthusiasm) and my inner desire for sleep (wisdom) I had to call on the virtue of moderation.
“Self,” I said, “You have written for 4 hours and that’s great. But now it is time to sleep. Sleeping rests the mind and body and will give you more energy to be able to keep writing tomorrow. How about we just sleep now and dream about writing? How would that be?”
And to my delight the answer was a quiet, “Okay.”
Day 179: The Power of Presence
17 Feb 2010 Leave a Comment
in Love, Moderation, Self-Discipline, Unity Tags: living in the moment, power of presence, virtues for well-being
Ekhart Tolle made this phrase popular in his book “The Power of Now” when he wrote about becoming “present” and living in the moment. When I read that book I could tell there was truth in it right away. It was one of those things where you just read it and go, “Yes! That’s it!” I love that book and go back to it often. My other favourite of his is “The New Earth” which doesn’t seem to get as much attention but was really captivating for me.
Well, today was the last day of my 21 day Consciousness Cleanse and I am feeling a significant strength in my ability to live in Presence. (Tolle capitalizes the word in his book which I find interesting as it connects it to the divine and sacred in that way for me.)
Living in the present moment today has got me reflecting on, “what virtue is being used when one is “living in the moment” or “living in Presence”?
What would you say it is?
If you have ever felt that wonderful feeling of being connected to yourself and the sacred in you at the same time, when it felt as though you fit in the world and were basking in light and acceptance then you will know what I mean. I discovered this wonderful and magestic feeling first in meditation and now I call on it often in the course of my day.
I think it is the virtue of Unity. Oneness. Acceptance. Love. I think there must be more than one name for it.
But this wonderful expression of the divine in our lives is a true gift that offers so much inspiration and strength. From it all other virtues become possible.
My greatest challenge today was physical. I came home tired from a long day of training at the new job and was craving sugar after dinner. The only sweet treat in the house are some cookies that I made and froze that are gluten-free but not dairy free. The last time I ate them they caused me great pain and discomfort for the next 24 hours.
I stood there looking at them thinking, “Mmmmmm…cookies!” And I thought to myself, is it worth it to eat them when I know they may cause me pain? At first I said No. But THEN I WENT BACK TO THEM!! And I had not one, or two, or three, but four! Oh boy! No self-discipline there. But it was a choice I made fully conscious of the consequences so there was a certain awakeness to the moment and a giddiness that I felt at being able to choose.
Well, that was 2 hours ago and I do have some cramping now but nothing like I thought it would be so maybe I’ll be alright. Or maybe I’m kidding myself and I will suffer all day tomorrow.
Needless to say, I lived in the moment of “Cookie Eating” and really, really enjoyed it. Now if I can stay in the moment and love myself through the pain as well then I’ll really be doing okay.
