Kind Ambition

I need a guru to visit some yoga centers in India and to learn to do yoga.

This reminds me of what psychologists say is the difference between external rewards and internal rewards. Internal rewards are similar to what practitioners seek in yoga: the inward qualities of persistence, endurance, and will power. Relying on internal rewards is more effective motivation than being tied to physical material outcomes. One of the examples given was losing 50 pounds, and I have accomplished that goal, but only by focusing on my relationship with food and controlling my eating habits. By concentrating on the present, and only on what I could control instead of an external future outcome, I was able to be sustained on small daily victories without having to grasp at the future. Each present day turned inward toward persistence and will power was happiness enough. Even after 50 pounds, I still have more weight to lose, and sometimes I forget and grasp at the future, wishing I was already at my goal weight. Then I remind myself it's the process that counts, what we learn each day of the journey about ourselves, others, and even about Reality itself.

I've given myself the "responsibility" of making a difference at my local animal shelter. Flyers, voluteer time, the whole bit. It's a truly daunting task ahead of me and for the last few weeks i've been overwhelmed by the load that i've put on my own shoulders. It seems like no one cares. After reading this article I realize that even if I can't reach the goal that i've set in my mind, it's okay. Everything that I do is one more thing that wouldn't get done if I wasn't there. By taking it one day at a time and setting realistic goals I feel as if i'm a real asset to the shelter.