With Conviction

With conviction. That is the executive summary. Through the course of any given day, the 35,000 decisions we make, from scratching the itch to going the extra mile, shape the arc of our growth. As many have suggested, simply converting 10% of those  decisions from the negative (I won’t, I can’t or I shouldn’t) to their positive counterparts, can have dramatic effect on our success, defined here as happiness and that obscure abstraction known as peace of mind. A deep satisfaction that things, while not perfect, are sorta manageable and kinda OK. We no longer feel overwhelmed, out of control or hopelessly lost. 

And a funny things happens when we enter this state. Things change. They change as a direct result of that 10% acting as a tipping point. It allows is to look at the world, the part of it immediately accessible and right in from of or very noses, from a new perspective as if we have just removed our dirty spectacles, wiped them clean and replaced them with the lens of hope. It is an entirely new and vibrant spectrum that we suddenly see in colors lifted from the palate of Van Gough. A song played on the unstrung harp of an angelic choir. A feeling of power and unbridled energy flow that only comes from a fierce commitment to life. Or a tuna sandwich.

And so it goes. In our workout sessions we honor the amazing gift of our physical prowess and commit to its relentless need for maintenance and regular care. This must be the foundation. If there is a cliche that I have toted around with all my other baggage these many years, miles and hot dusty roads it is this: Whomever said that happiness is 90% good health, was a pessimist. Should you remain among the doubting Thomases of the world, see what happens when your health and fitness is suddenly picked from your pocket and you stand hungry, tired, cold, wet and broke. Facing this type of challenge it takes the presence of a saint to find a way, a reason, to be anything even close to happy. How could we? What mantra, creed, belief, promise, vow, job description or primary objective could give us the slightest glimmer of hope necessary to carry on, move forward or simply survive? 

 Self confidence? Trust? Blind faith? A code? Your dream? 

Yesterday we talked about the importance of staying true to yourself, knowing who we are, accepting our imperfections and continually moving towards the vision of our better selves. There are three distinct parts of this equation. There is the mind element (did you know that 33% of graduating high school kids in this era never read another book after graduation?) there is the body element (we have an obesity crisis on our hands) and the spiritual component (never before has this been so misunderstood). These three parts create our personal wholeness. And for the songsmiths among you, yes 1+1+1 = 1. 

The grand experiment is to prove this formula for yourself and see. Do it and gauge the results. Spend appropriate time (every day) with the three parts. Read, research, write, ask good questions and listen closely, merge your awareness with reality. Work your body. Go to the gym or the park or the track. Run, swim bike, do yoga, martial arts or briskly walk Fido in the forest (don’t forget the leash and poop bag) and spend some time alone, in silent meditation simply counting your breaths. Chant. Drum in the circle of fifths. Go to the church of whatever faith you hear a whisper. Practice some Zen. Or my favorite, clean your house as if it was a temple. 

You can do all these things on a rotating and regular schedule without having to join a monastery, quit your job or climb Everest. The one factor that is key to the success of your journey is this: You must make a sincere commitment. This is not a path for the weak, frightened or ambivalent. There is no room for doubt, remorse, anger or regret. It is all you moving towards the universal goal of finding your true self. That being said, it IS the path for the weak, frightened and lost. It is for everyone. How?

We do that with the fist step. We make the commitment. We always do it now. It is always here. This sacred adventure, along with its myriad detours, distractions and disappointments, is sustainable not so much by food and water as by faith and conviction. 

With conviction.