The Practicing Mind: Bringing Discipline and Focus Into Your Life

Keeping the impartial observer perspective is what I would work on as if I were watching a friend go through this and I was counseling them. Staying aware that I had a choice in how I would react to the feelings was what I strived for. Not falling victim to a conditioned response of my personality was my goal. I wanted to consciously make a habit o

Alignment to the Observer brings non-judgment and hence equanimity. How do we become aligned to the Observer? How do we free ourselves from the confines of our ego? Though there are certainly a number of ways to accomplish this, in my opinion, the most effective method for creating this awareness spontaneously and effortlessly is meditation. Throug

I hope you already know that the answer is that it is always perfect. It is perfect at being wherever it is and at whatever stage of growth it is in at that

If you are not in control of your thoughts then you are not in control of yourself. Without self-control, you have no real power, regardless of whatever else you accomplish. If you are not aware of the thoughts that you are thinking in each moment, then you are the rider with no reins, with no power over where you are going. You cannot control what

However, your ego quickly loses ground to the simplicity of doing one thing at a time and doing it slowly, on purpose. It has no place to build stress and work up internal chatter. That is because working slowly in today’s world goes against every thought system. You can only work slowly if you do it deliberately. Being deliberate requires you to s

Also remember the opening phrase if you do begin to succumb to discouragement. The paradox of patience and discipline is that it requires both of them to develop each of them.

At any point in the day when you are involved in an activity and you notice you are feeling bored, impatient, rushed, or disappointed with your performance level, realize that you have left the present moment in your activity. Look at where your mind and energy are focused.

A paradox of life: The problem with patience and discipline is that it requires both of them to develop each of them.

When you truly shift into putting your attention on what you are doing “right now” and continue to be aware that you are doing so, you begin to feel so calm, refreshed and in control. Your mind slows down because you are only asking it to think of one thing at a time. The inner chatter drops away.