If we are ever feeling stuck in life, whatever that domain might be, developing a renewed perspective of failure can bring a fresh sense of aliveness to this moment. We can step boldly into the darkness, knowing everything is going to be alright. If there is nothing to lose, there is everything to gain. Enjoy:

Falling off the Wagon

The yardstick for our growth 
lies not only in our ability to stay on the wagon, 
but in how we treat ourselves
when we realize 
we’ve fallen.

Failure is inseparable
from process;
an ample ore
prime for mining.

What am I doing now 
that I can do differently?
There’s gold in the answers.
Our challenge then is not failure 
but in discernment.

So often, we quit.
We tell ourselves a story:
“I’m not good at this.
I don’t like this.
I may never attain my vision.”
But living up to our potential
is to see beyond unconscious stories,
and to return to
what’s arising.

Self-abuse may trigger the desired behavior change,
but cultivates a fear of failure, 
increases our attachment to a future moment,
and offers an unsustainable foundation for practice. 
A direct path to burnout.

Instead, try cultivating self-compassion and self-love. 
It sounds regressive and weak
but this is far from the truth.
When permit ourselves to explore,
to embrace freedom, 
to take greater risks, 
we develop a love for process over outcome,
the soil for a much more sustainable,
anti-fragile, 
and improved practice. 

When falling off the wagon is less scary, 
we take higher leaps, 
and have the peace of mind
to stay on for longer.

Accept the inevitability of failure 
and manage your crashes skillfully 
with softness and self-compassion. 
We can now hop on the wagon 
with a renewed sense of purpose, 
happiness, 
and love for our path, 
leading us to more desired outcomes. 

Take compassion in your crashes.

Failure

When we try meditation for the first time, 
we might think we’re failing 
because we notice the mind is constantly thinking. 
But this perceived failure is actually a success. 
Awareness of the mind’s habit-patterns
is an initial stage of the process.
It’s all part of understanding ourselves, 
who we are, 
and what’s going on inside of us.
We have to first understand
what’s happening
before we can begin to change.

Dissolution

Things grow obsolete.
Practices fall apart.
Insights dissolve and fade away
into this moment.
This is the way it is,
and so it is with us.

Instead of looking to the past,
or living for the future,
notice the beauty in this moment,
as if you’re seeing it
for the first time.

Notice Wholeheartedly

Have you noticed today 
that you’ve been lost in thought
and unaware that you’re thinking? 
Are you aware that you are now reading?
The point is not to think more about this,
but to do that which is in front of you
wholeheartedly.

~~

Self-Inquiry for Reflection:
– What is not working for me now that I can do differently?
– What does success mean to me?

Self-Inquiry for Presence:
– What is happening?

Thanks for reading. I encourage you to spend time with one of these inquiries and notice what arises. They each contain so many meaningful, beneficial layers.

Much Love,
David

PS – Last call for copies of my books, The Trail Provides and True Nature. If you want to purchase or gift them for the holidays, send me a message. Thanks and wishing you well today.