“Commitment is only one of two things – in or out” — a quote from Mokshapriya‘s sunshine lecture.

 

My Guruji Mokshapriya, asked us to commit ourselves to meditation in one yoga retreat.  Without much thought, I made the promise to commit myself every day to meditate. Once I committed, my meditation practice started, and I could never go back now. It‘s like once you learn how to walk, you will not go back to not walking.

Before my comitment to meditate everyday, I read books, attended classes, listen to people’s experiences, I was at most interested, not yet comitted. I wanted to know how to do it before I got started. It was without action, thinking too much, and I never got anywhere with what I always wanted to do. But, once I committed, everything seems to fall into place. Like learning how to walk, the first time may be 5 minutes, then 10, then 15, 30, 1 hour. Small milestones, small wins, and I finally was doing it. Now, it seems odd not to do it.

Commitment is our promise to see something we desire done. This is how we can ensure we get things done. We often have a great idea, plan for it, talk as if we knew everything, we even study it, review it before we actually do it. But if we only know it, but never do it, it won’t get done.

We must trust the process, as there will be challenges. If we fail, we must get up, and try again. We mustn’t judge ourselves, if we make a mess, it is an opportunity to clean it up. We should aim at a higher purpose or goal, and keep aligning ourselves to it. Our effort should flow, and if it does not flow then the job is not for us.

Having the commitment is also taking responsibilities. “commitment is only one of two things, in or out”. The quote says it well, we are either in it, or we are not. If we are not taking responsibility for the result, then we are not in it. Then the result will not be guaranteed.  If that is not what we want, then taking responsibility is the way to go.