Day 17 - Building A Foundation
“Imagine the foundation of a house. If it’s weak or un-sturdy the structure itself becomes unreliable. The same is true of our physical body. If we don’t have a strong foundation this vessel that we move through this experience in also becomes unreliable.”
- Em Hrovat
Journal Thoughts
Mind.
Consider that your mind originally is like a little empty attic, and you have to choose what to stock it with. A fool takes in every sort of thing he comes across whereas the skilful one is very careful as to what he takes into his brain-attic, keeping nothing but the tools that'll help him in living well.
A strong foundation of mind is built on integrity. Reason holds the reins. Feelings and passions may rage furiously, like the true heathens they are, and desires may imagine all sorts of vain things, but judgment still has the last word and casting vote in every decision. Strong wind, earthquake shock, and fire may pass by, but a mind that is solid and reliable follows the guidance of that still small voice which interprets and directs our attention.
We can rely on our mind not to misdirect our attention the more we practice mindfulness, stillness and storing the right things in the attic of our mind.
Meditation is the best cleanser and refiner of the mind, and the number one tool for learning how to properly respond to life's happenings.
The difference between a mind that is a refuge and a mind that is a trap is what's held in it. What if you dedicated 15 minutes every day to meditation .. for the rest of the year. What if?
Body.
We want our body to be the most reliable, dependable vessel it can be as it moves us through our life. We want to be able to move efficiently and effectively; ease getting in and out of the car, quickly catching your balance when you slip on a wet surface, and finding your peak strength in your yoga practice or sport. A body that moves well is healthier from the inside out, and a healthy body can be relied on to keep us feeling our best. When we feel our best, we are able to enjoy more of life.
Take a walk outside today. If you run any errands, park away from the door so you have to walk. Make time for a variety of intense physical exercise everyday, even if you only have time for 25-30 minutes.
Life.
A solid foundation in life looks like reliable standards for how you choose to live. Do you spend money frivolously? Are you respectful of other people’s' time? How do you spend your time? How do you treat other people? How do you nourish your well being every day? Can you rely on you? Can others rely on you?
“In yoga we need a solid foundation to continue moving forward and advancing in our practice. The same is true of our life, we need a strong foundation so that our efforts moving forward are reliable cause we know the ground we stand on is solid.”
- Em Hrovat