Comments on: Great Discipline Experiment: Day 3

By: Nicolas Voges

Nicolas Voges — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 09:22:21 +0000

Meditating, workout, journaling, dharma studies, what a profound selection! I share the longing to make all of them part of my daily life and I have succeeded in doing so… once in a while. I do like the idea of really committing to them as well. Well, maybe I rather like the idea of succeeding in it. I certainly know what joy and benefit they bring. Still I find my ways around doing it on a daily basis. So, why don´t I do the things I know to be so benefical? «If you really want to do it, you finally will». I hate this statement! I got the feeling that wanting things just hard enough, doesn´t do it for me at all. Balancing strictness and gentleness seems to be the task for me. Getting in touch with my motivation often works for me. What am I really aiming at – sitting, writing, moving, understanding? What is there to be fulfilled? Getting in touch with myself and all living beings , that is connection. Gaining inside in the conditions of suffering and the ways to overcome it, that is understanding. Meeting up to my word, «because I said I would do it», that might be trust and reliability. Maybe this one motivation of trust and confidence is the tricky one. I do want to proof that I can trust in my disciplin.The feeling of failure doesn´t help much. «Making myself trust» bears a lot of inner censorship and disappointment. That is (for me) what to sit, write and be with and I do agree with you that disciplin can be returned to ever day. Thank you for writing about your Experiment,
I enjoyed connecting to it.

By: susan

susan — Thu, 28 May 2009 13:30:03 +0000

You guys!! So kind and supportive and smart. I appreciate it tremendously.

By: Kate Mazetier

Kate Mazetier — Thu, 28 May 2009 12:18:54 +0000

“discipline is not about being all willful and strict- it is simply the ability to come back. Period.” If I could remember this one thing, I would save myself an enormous amount of suffering. Thank you Susan, for reminding me of this essential point. And good on ya for recognizing your successes rather than focusing on your ‘apparent’ failures. We could all use some of that, I suspect. Congratulations on moving through the steps of getting this book out to the world. Your work is awesome!

By: Lynn Jacobs

Lynn Jacobs — Thu, 28 May 2009 04:26:41 +0000

This is great. It really is all about taking small steps. Since beginning this Experiment I definitely have been wanting to do everything on my not to do list and hardly anything on my to do list. It’s interesting to just watch without judgement and keep a focus on shifting the energy in the direction I want to go. The most critical part for me is not judging myself. I’m glad to be doing this.
Congrats on meeting your deadline. That had to feel fantastic! Best of wishes for tomorrow!

By: Mary Campbell

Mary Campbell — Wed, 27 May 2009 22:22:17 +0000

Well, as Susan Piver says in her soothing voice on my CD, when you get distracted in meditation, don’t beat yourself up! Gently nudge yourself back to focusing on your breathing… as many times as it takes. And you have unlimited chances to start over, with anything. Whenever anyone asks whether I am “born again,” I answer, “Oh, yes! Several times a day.” …Grace and peace….

By: Susan Piver

Susan Piver — Wed, 27 May 2009 22:03:06 +0000

New post: The Great Discipline Experiment:Day 3. Wherein everything fell apart, came back together, & looked different. http://bit.ly/FNeKf