“I Fall Down, I Get Back Up”
The path of meditation, like life, has many hazards.
Roots, branches, rocks, potholes… ‘being on the path’ isn’t a straightforward as meditating and attaining eternal bliss.
We will certainly encounter setbacks.
For many, a fall can be seen as a problem; a sign that something has gone horribly wrong.
You finally get going with your practice, everything is fine for a week or a month… you even start to feel good again…
…and then bam, an old pattern surfaces.
You get caught.
You feel like crap.
You find it hard to take yourself to the cushion.
Then you give up.
One minute you are on top of the world, next minute you are face first in the dirt.
In the mud, the temptation is to stay down.
Since starting my journey with meditation, I’ve spent my share of time in the dirt.
It can get difficult to continue picking yourself back up.
But what is the other option?
This morning, I saw my 2 year old daughter take fall after fall after fall (her gumboots are on the large side!)
Without fuss, she stood up and kept going.
No tears.
No self loathing.
No beating herself up.
I’ve got a lot to learn from her.
Just the task at hand – chasing the dogs and exploring the beautiful colours and textures of winter in the Grampians.
It was inspiring.
Perseverance.
Persistence.
No one taught her this, it is innate – a natural drive that is beautiful to witness.
My belief is that we all have this inside (even if we have forgotten it.)
When was the last time you found yourself stumbling or falling?
What tripped you up?
A challenging family encounter?
Receiving difficult news?
… maybe it was a beloved sporting team who lost the game?
One thing is for sure… to be human is to be capable of falling.
We are united by that.
We all trip up, and this matters not nearly as much as how we deal with our situation when we do.
Courage in the mud.
That’s what I want for me.
My Soul commands it.
And meditation is the core practice I use to be reminded of my inner strength.
This week, we remind you of your power to get up out of the mud, no matter how many times you have fallen.
This power is your Soul.
It has been with you since birth.
It is the same force that grew you from a single seed… into the grand tree that you are today.
Meditation helps me see the hazards on my path.
Showing up consistently cultivates strength of character.
And God knows that I need both clarity and strength on my journey through life.
If you are feeling the call to learn a simple, ancient meditation practice that will give you the clarity and conviction to keep going when you fall down, we would love to share more with you.
We have had one spot remaining in a twin share room (female only) on our July 19th to 23rd Soul Retreat.
Learn more about the retreat by clicking here.
To secure your place and register, click here.
We pray that if you have recently found yourself tripping up, that you dust yourself off and keep marching forward.
It is what your Soul wants.
