Yet It’s Funny How The Mind Rebels
Give me a steady beat, and I’ll start tapping the counter-beat or some kind of improvisational rhythm.
That’s just the mind. It doesn’t want to be locked-in. It wants to run and be free without rules.
So if you want to make The Work a steady practice, the quickest way to cause a rebellion is to set a rigid schedule for yourself.
Force Does Not Work for Long
But what works for me is the sweetness of discovery. That attracts me. That’s what keeps me coming back and doing The Work pretty much daily for years.
But this can be a Catch-22.
In order to experience the sweetness of discovery, you have to spend some time exposing yourself to The Work. Many people never get off the ground.
In Other Words, There’s a Momentum to Getting Started
One way to jump start your practice is to go to a workshop, or retreat, or online course. This can give you enough of a taste to whet your appetite and overcome the initial momentum.
Another way to overcome the inertia is to work with a certified facilitator. Working with someone who is experienced in The Work can help you to look in places where the sweetness of discovery is most likely to be found.
With a few “wins” under your belt, you may feel inclined to pick it up on your own.
Then It’s a Matter of Maintaining Momentum
Of course, the only thing that will truly maintain your momentum is your own sweet discoveries.
But there are other ways to support yourself even while you’re developing the skill of inquiry. One of the most powerful is to work with others. This is what Slow-Cook Inquiry and Steady Pace Inquiry are all about. The group moves forward and often carries the individuals along.
Same with pairing up with a partner to do The Work by phone or Skype. There’s something about this human interaction that is charming in itself, and can be a great support for continuing The Work.
Another huge benefit of working with others is that you get to experience the sweetness of the other people’s discoveries, which can be as juicy as your own.
So I Encourage You to Let Your Mind Be Free
Let it find it’s own way without force. Any true dancer is attracted by the steadiness of the rhythm, but is not bound by it in any way.
In the spirit of exploration, I invite you to test the world of self-inquiry one step at a time. If you find it attractive, welcome to The Work. And if not, there’s no harm in watching (or listening) from the sidelines.
Have a great week,
Todd
“You can’t force people to be sober or honest or kind. You can say “Thou shalt not” till you’re blue in the face, and they’ll do it anyway.” Byron Katie, A Thousand Names for Joy.
If you like this article, feel free to forward the link to friends, family or colleagues. Or share the link on Facebook or other social media. If you have thoughts you’d like to share about it, please leave your comments below.
Get two new articles about The Work of Byron Katie every week. Subscribe to the newsletter here.
