Daily Question
How can I tend my path to make it clear and compelling to those who will follow?
23 Reflections
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I think trying to live by my beliefs is a good way to tend my path, I don’t know about anyone following. The word integrity comes to mind.
Perhaps as an example of being an imperfect but dedicated devotee.
This is about just doing the work. It’s about how you show up while you’re on the path. We generate insight from what we are aware of and setting intensional helps communicate the future. The compelling part is when you look back at the path you took and see what type of person will follow and make it to the end.
Save Water with a RUBBER BAND! [Or, Save Money, if that’s what floats your boat 🙂 ] This rubber band keeps the water from coming out at the maximum flow rate, which is important in these times. And of course I can easily get the maximum flow rate when I want it. – see photo in the Lounge
When I read today’s question, I realized that what I wrote in my journal today applied to it so I share it below. It begins with a powerful quote from S.C. Lourie. I found it on FACEBOOK.
Journal September 3, 2022:
“Something I’ve learned is that you just don’t know how anything is really going to go. And you are going to really hurt hard on some days. You will experience loss and tragedy and rejection. Nothing can protect you from that. Not money. Not power. Not even love.
But you will also experience beauty and healing and surprises
that soften the walls around your heart. They won’t always make the painful moments feel worthwhile. But sometimes they will. And that’s something we all deserve to experience. That feeling of growing flowers where their just use to be wasteland.” S.C. Lourie
When I read the quote above, I thought, Yes,. we seldom know how anything is going to go.
The medical doctors I see for my spine tell me that most people can’t walk after 10 spinal compression fractures. I’m told I have 12 and I still walk–not as far and not as well nor as fast but I can still walk. Posture is not as good as it use to be and discomfort is usually present but I’m so thankful to be mobile–able to walk.
I just returned from getting my groceries so I won’t have to ask my son to do it for me on this holiday weekend. He is so good to me and so attentive and when I can accomplish something myself, it brings me joy. I try not to lean on him more than necessary.
I know that this part of my journey has softened my heart and I love S.C. Lourie’s image of “the feeling of growing flowers where their used to be wasteland.” And there was definitely wasteland as accepting my limitations has been so hard. Fear truly tried to own me. I also realize that I may have more to accept farther down the road but as Lourie says, we just don’t know. What I do know is I intend to keep watering those flowers around my heart no matter what! Blessings, Carol
Despite being a gift, written language has limitations. This question feels awkward. I am trending my path, my Sadhana, through various daily touchpoints: mantra, prayer, daily question, contemplation, trying to be non-harming, gratefulness, and, most importantly, meditation. That makes it’s clear for me to live authentically and joyfully. But, I don’t know if I understand compelling others to follow. I firmly believe you must walk your own path. Although, I’m available to support others on their paths and share what works for me.
Thank you, Avril – I agree. Why would I want to compel anyone to follow me? What comes to mind is – my kids are potty trained and even my grandchildren, and that’s about as far as I ‘need’ them to follow me 🙂
Love the image…such wisdom…
This question embeds a fair amount of what could be or become hubris. I’m making my path, not someone else’s.
That said, I do seek “followers” for the changes I’m trying to make through my work (in transportation). I do this by communicating clearly and consistently, by remaining open and curious, and by demonstrating that it’s okay not to have all the answers, which is a shock to the system for some. I also model and highlight anti-racism in how I approach the work. Mostly, I’m me. If someone follows I expect they’ll branch off as they absorb learning they want to take in new directions.
After reading your answer, Barb, I posted here my latest Lounge post, which I’m aspiring to Influence people with, on a website I’ll not name because it might get the post blocked 🙂
My granddaughters can’t understand why I’m so slow to post on the website for those who seek to ‘influence’ but supposedly I need lots of posts, daily or more often 😐
I can walk my path thoughtfully, deliberately, and choosing the direction carefully, while cultivating as much clarity as possible for myself while I walk … and try my best to not go too close to the ledge and fall off a cliff.
My path is towards enlightenment and by taking time to tend to my physical, spiritual and mental health every day, I feel I’m closer. And by doing that, people close to me can see how I’ve been transformed. When they ask what’s different or how can I remain calm in certain situations, I tell them what I’ve been doing. This sparks curiosity. They may not follow right away or ever but at least they see one way to get there. Everybody had their own path though so I don’t know if my tending mine is ‘compelling’ but it can offer clarity.
I have a passion which made me an activist. I wanted as many people as possible to follow my path and learned that I can not make that happen. I have to follow my own path and make sure every day that I stay on it (that in itself is challenging enough). Sometimes others will be compelled to follow a similar path because they like what they see when they look at me and my actions; many will not. In the end everybody follows their own path and some may join me on my path for a little while as part of their own. Quite frankly, I now think that it was pretty arrogant of me to expect anybody to follow MY path.
I continue on with my practice of mindfulness and gratitude. My previous path was wrought with addiction to alcohol and the resulting turmoil it brought to the universe around me. I hope my current path will be less painful to follow.
Why should others follow my path and not their own? I need to just concern myself with my path and that I am on the right track. To each their own. I can offer my experiences and beliefs which they can make decisions for themselves.
I can make compassionate and moral choices, which, over a long period of time, can lay down a clear path. But I don’t make those choices thinking about whether or not others will follow. Except when my children were young, then setting a clear example was very much on my mind.
It’s weird to think about “those who will follow.” I’m not seeking that, but I do hope that I live in such a way that I make others feel good. I feel like I am here to share light, and if that light can help brighten up someone else’s path, then I am happy. I tend to my light daily with meditation and reflection so that it stays bright and clear.
To continue with my daily morning routine of waking up., meditating and reflection of gratefulness. I am learning to continue doing so even if things are going well for me. By doing so, I am still practicing for the difficult days. I try to share my thoughts and practicing with others . By doing so, people are noticing a change in me and perhaps will follow suit.
I think people want to chart and tend their own path and are not very interested in mine or anyone else’s. I do enjoy reflecting on people that I care about and remembering them as loving, joyful, giving or another good characteristic. Hopefully, someone will think about me that way too.
I was going to say that I don’t know the answer to this one, but I suppose I do…
JOY
😄
The only path I care to tend is one that maintains me in community. I am not the least bit concerned about those who may or may not choose to follow. Their path is theirs to seek out for themselves.
Kevin, when I read the question this morning, my first reaction was “see Kevin” 🤭 with no answer to your question already. It was a little lazy of me.☺️
And…..I actually agree with you now.😘
I check out the Kevin answers too. Thank you Kevin.