Hasten slowly, you soon will arrive

"Hasten slowly, you will soon arrive"

- Jetsun Milarepa

“Life is like the harp string, if it is strung too tight it won’t play, if it is too loose it hangs, the tension that produces the most beautiful sound lies in the middle"

- Buddha

Sarah writes:

Yesterday's post was around self - discipline and the dangers of falling into a lethargic rut, especially when our usual daily structures have been stilled to some degree or another. A really great blog comment was raised around how to maintain diligence every day and so that's what I will try and explore today. Of course, these are just my ramblings and thoughts and so please add any comments or ideas...

The whole world has slowed down, something that I never really thought would happen. I have been aware, for sometime now, of my belief that a person who wakes up to the sound of an alarming alarm, sits for a quick meditation; runs to gym, work, a second job; whilst always messaging, texting, engaging in activity after activity is considered a healthy, enthusiastic, well rounded and balanced individual. Every minute feels like it needs to have a different undertaking squeezed into it. It's no wonder that sometimes, like me this last weekend, we just collapse into a Netflixing loafing binge until our eyes are square. And when this happens we feel that we haven't done anything, that our time has been wasted, and the more we partake in these slothful choices the more difficult it is to motivate oneself back into the mad "productive" rush of existence.

I guess what I am talking about here is extremes. This may just be me, but I am either full of life and energy zooming around the place, or wishing I could stay in bed and let my brain melt on never-ending YouTube clips. So I think this time, whilst the worlds time pressures may have lifted in some aspects, could be a good opportunity to not only set a healthy, balanced schedule and routine, but to also check the motivation and manner in which we live out this structure.

For me, ironically, I think it would beneficial if I try to move more slowly through my days. Although each day can be full of work, practice, and connecting with others, self - discipline can also be a form of kindness, of not whipping oneself into action, but rather doing each activity in a calm and gentle way. The quietening of the world around us, London included, could provide ample opportunity to explore this middle ground. I will try to have days that are strengthened not only with routine, but a conduct that is calm and un-rushed. Maybe this way my days could be be full as well as intentional, and not lead to the lethargy of last Monday and Tuesday!