Improving ourselves in the face of obstacles
How many of us have strived to better ourselves, to overcome something that we feel is limiting us or holding us back. But it takes time and it's hard to see any progress, is it really worth the effort? Yes, yes and yes - it is worth the time and the effort!
To begin with the first thing to do is tell yourself that you are almost incapable of knowing whether you are making progress or not. For very often what seems to us to be a state of stagnation is a long - sometimes very long, but not endless - preparation for a great leap forward.
It seems that we mark time for weeks and months with no apparent improvement and then suddenly something that was prepared for makes an appearance, and then we see that there is quiet a considerable change and on several points at a time.
As with everything in life, the effort for progress must be made for the love of the effort for progress. The joy of effort, the aspiration for progress must be enough in themselves, quiet independent of the result. Everything done in life must be done for the joy of doing it, and not in the view of the result one wants to obtain. Indeed, in all things, the result does not belong to us.
And if we want to keep the right attitude, we must act, feel, think, strive spontaneously, for that is what we must do, and not in view of the result to be obtained. As soon as we think of the result we begin to bargain and that takes away all sincerity from the effort. You make an effort to progress because you feel within you the need, the imperative need to make the effort to progress. And this effort is the gift you offer to the Divine Consciousness in you, to the Divine Consciousness in the Universe.
It is your way of expressing your gratitude, offering yourself; and whether this results in progress or not is of no importance. You will progress when it is decided that the time has come to progress and not because you desire it.
Here then it is obvious that we must be patient, to understand that it all takes time and that our effort shall be seen through our eyes of patience. Knowing that you have faith in your own determination, in your confidence to keep going in the face of all odds.
To have the right attitude is of paramount importance, to be calm and steady, to have no expectation. Again we put in the effort, the results shall take care of themselves. We learn to be unattached free to witness ourselves in the joy of effort that is enough.
The power needed is the power to go through the difficulty or trouble with out getting fatigued, side tracked, depressed, discouraged or impatient and without breaking off the effort or giving up one's aim or resolution. Whatever method is used, persistence and perseverance are essential.
Sri Chinmoy the meditation teacher says, (1) "I feel improvement is necessary in order for us to make progress. This progress gives us satisfaction. If we are satisfied with what we have right now, and we do not want to go forward, then we will not be happy".
Ref: (1) From Sri Chinmoy's Book - The Inner Promise
Biography - Sahayak Plowman by nature is a calm, positive and happy person. He attributes this to the growing experiences gained through his own meditation practice with the guidance given by his meditation teacher, Sri Chinmoy. He is a writer on spiritual topics, compiler of a published book of poetry Sri Chinmoy's Heart-Garden, meditation teacher and web master for Sri Chinmoy Books.com