reflections on determination

"Would you tell me, please, which way I ought to go from here?"
"That depends a good deal on where you want to get to," said the Cat.
"I don't much care where—" said Alice.
"Then it doesn't matter which way you go," said the Cat.
-Lewis Carroll  

Determination is the thoughtful process of figuring out where we want to go, and the strong commitment to follow through.  I don’t know what your aspiration is, but I do know that you have one, and that you will be happier, and more peaceful if you know what it is. Yoga means union, everybody has one,  and  we manifest our intentions in the small choices we make every day,  or not.  

In our mindfulness practice,  when we are practicing, we are already fulfilling our aspiration to awaken. Full open hearted presence is the path and the goal. 
There is no reason for failure. If you don’t practice at all, surely there’s nothing to gain. But if you practice, you cannot fail. The moment you’re doing it, you’re already profiting- Sayadaw U Tejaniya

Whatever we are doing, we can take our practice with us.  An ancient word for mindfulness is 'sati' ,  to keep in mind.  Bringing awareness to our thoughts,  choosing patience, taking a few conscious breaths, may seem like small things, but they are not. To change our behavior is to embody change on a cellular level.   

Be your own hero. Determination is the hero's journey of facing dragons.  Heroes don’t look the other way, or define themselves by obstacles, they define themselves by their quest.  To be happy, we need to be engaged with an aspiration larger than ourselves, one worthy of struggle.  To choose to endure discomfort ( for good reasons!)  is empowering. Obstacles can concentrate our energy,  sharpen our minds, and challenge our  self-limiting ideas.  Facing our fears diminishes them.  

Just like we prune our trees to energize healthy limbs and grow beautiful fruit,  eliminating distractions creates the space we absolutely need to thrive in a chosen direction.
As with any journey, you do best to take along only the bare essentials so that you don't weigh yourself down. -Thanissaro Bhikkhu

Determination requires a foundation of faith and kindness. Faith in yourself, faith in your aspiration as being worthwhile, and the willingness to let go of what you don't need.
To be committed means to give ourselves fully, and to do this, we need to have found confidence in our own hearts. Ayya Khema

And we need compassion for ourselves, because falling down, and getting back up is part of any  real journey.

I have no doubt that those who attempt to transform their minds, overcome their disturbing emotions and achieve a sense of inner peace, will, over a period of time, notice a change in their mental attitudes and responses to people and events. Their minds will become more disciplined and positive. And I am sure they will find their own sense of happiness grow as they contribute to the greater happiness of others. I offer my prayers that everyone who makes this their goal will be blessed with success. H.H. Dalai Lama

thanks for reading! may your week be guided by your determination and thoughtfulness.