It is in our blood to believe that we are special, in one way or another. It is predominantly our reason for getting out of bed every day. But in fact, how often have we really put ourselves under the microscope to see just how special we could be if we applied ourselves.
How special would we be if we truly purified both our minds and our bodies? How special would we be if our deeds were entirely selfless, not just good will, that laps up the warmth of appreciation that comes from those we serve.
I am one such person. I thought I was special...for a long time. But the more I develop my true self awareness, the more I realise, I have a long way to go to get to that "special person place". I have been working on improving myself, ok, but this has not been a speedy process. It is like I am in no hurry at all. But lets face it, the shell is not as young as it used to be. So, it is time to start getting serious again with my progress.
I propose to do 10 things in 10 days.
10 things I have not been able to do to date.
Day 1. Started my day with a new routine: 2 hour routine
Get up early enough to go for an appreciation walk, followed by stretching and abs, 30 mins of Meditation and then read 30 mins every morning before I start the rest of my day.
By Day 2. Withhold speaking about another person unless complimenting them.
By Day 3.Stop biting my nails
By Day 4. Give up Flour
By Day 5. Not buy anything for myself.
By Day 6. Give up Sugar
By Day 7. Give something
By Day 8. Save something
By Day 9. Make something every day.
By Day 10. Get onto a Live food diet
The challenge is not in making the list, it is in the action.
I will update every day. If I don't you, you know I have failed.
Day 1:
Well I did it. I went to sleep without an alarm. Woke up early and went for my walk. Did my stretching and abs, did my meditation and reading all before I started with my day as planned.
I will repeat this process tomorrow and add the second task.
Day 2: Another day of productivity. Got through my new start, (appreciation walk, stretching, abs, reading and meditation. Was tested once solidly for about 10 mins on my second goal but managed to hold my awareness and control the way I directed my speech so as to say only what needed to be said and added nothing about the people I was questioned about in terms of negative statements. Was tested again in the afternoon in a situation that would normally have had me talking about what happened, but once again I simply saw it as a test and withheld my speech.
I watch Eddie Murphy's movie the other night...1000 words. It has plenty of theosophical concepts in it well worth watching.
I have begun to change my view on my other goals already, with no desire at all to have a "last minute" experience before I give them up.
Biting nails is tomorrows goal...this will be a big one...not unlike someone having to give up smoking after doing so for 37 years. Good luck to me.
Day 3: I spent most of the day fully aware, ever watching. I slipped up once with one finger nail in my mouth completely subconsciously, catching only the end of the event.
Productivity of thought was great today. Well aware of my thought processes before hand.
Got through my start to the day with Appreciation walk, stretching and abs and reading.
Day 4: Started my day differently today, as I had early morning coaching and didn't get up early enough to my appreciation walk etc. Did all other things over the span of the day, but this was still not the point.
Biting nails didn't occur. Positive speech was good. Gave up Flour today without too much fanfare.
Day 5: Missed my appreciation walk again due to even earlier coaching starting. Did manage to catch up on the other aspects throughout the day. But the idea wasn't about doing the activities, it was about the way I start my day. So this needs to be reviewed. Managed to keep my nails out of my mouth again for the whole day, although I am fidgeting with them all the time, seeking out rough bits to bite. Solution, cut any rough bits as soon as I find them. Positive speech today, tested a couple of times.
Flour no issue. Not buying anything for myself...first day...everything provided for me so no needs.
Day 6: Started my day early again. Didn't get everything done....ie meditation wasn't done nor abs. But got the reading, walking and stretching done. Positive speech, tested again today. Flour no issue, although I had Muesli today which effectively has wheat in it. So I will remove this from my diet so as to bring it into line with the next goal which will be no wheat....not just no flour.
Didn't buy anything for myself. Gave up sugar. This is a bit tougher than it looks....as sugar is in almost everything so I need to refine my goal in the next round.Went out for dinner with friends. This was a bit of a challenge. Ended up with a very plain dinner. But it was still ok. Definitely prefer my own cooking. Went to McDonalds afterwards, where I was the only person who was not eating ice cream or junkie sweets...but everyone was very non judgmental so it was great. Rest of the goals were achieved.
Day 7: Todays goal was to give something....this was a bit of a challenge, but had me thinking about what is important to other people and also how to do this in a meaningful way. This highlighted the need to explore my motives for this 10 day challenge. I did my appreciation walk, a bit of stretching but didn't get through my meditation. Did the reading, speech was not the best. Got well tested tonight. Don't feel it was productive. Quite and intensive push on the faults of others. Not really feeling I was an angel on the productive front.
Nails are still intact. Got gifted a iced caramel frappe by my wonderful wife who does know what I am trying to do, but it was still me who drank it...so failed on the sugar front. Also had the last of my muesli today, so failed on the wheat front too. Not an ideal sort of a day.
What I have learnt is that the effort if sustained will develop my will and in time I will be successful. I think after some thought two things have surfaced. 1 The original motive is Detachment. 2. That I must remember that detachment includes releasing dogmatic approaches to things. The way around this is to remember, that it is not about the giving up of flour, or sugar or the biting of my nails that matters...it is about the drive to commit to a cause that will develop my will.
Day 8: Did well on most things.
Day 9: Didn't achieve the task.
Day 10. Didn't achieve the task.
So now I will review my focus and start with a fresh approach.