On discipline

“Do or do not. There is no try.” - Jedi Master Yoda, Star Wars

I have not wanted to write this week. I have avoided it. I planned how I was going to write next week and make an excuse for not writing this week because of what is going on in my life. However, a recent conversation - about the word “should” and the segue from that word into the quote above - reminded me to check myself. I promised myself this year that I was going to post every Friday. I did not say I was going to try; I said I was going to do. So here I am, showing up, even though the manic energy humming through my body is pulling me away from the computer every few minutes.

Over the last year or so I’ve been reading about the stoic philosophy and its virtues of wisdom, justice, courage and temperance. Temperance can be further broken down into self-control, discipline and modesty. Of the four virtues, I struggle the most with temperance.

I think part of this is because I want things to feel right - not necessarily feel good, but…flow. When things feel sticky, I typically either throw a ton of energy at it or I run away from it.

Learning to sit in the tension and continue to do the next needed thing can only be accomplished through the effort of non-effort.

As May marches on and we begin that slide into the summer, is there a place where you need to remain present and do? If it feels overwhelming, can you find a small segment that you can bite off?

Be well, beautiful people.