DAILY Yesterday I carried a small blue bowl full of scented oil across the lawn. I held it lightly, mindfully, noting each step, attentive to not spilling. A thought darted through my mind, “Too bad you don’t carry your heart this carefully.” Another zinged in close behind, “Wouldn’t life be lovelier if you paid this much absorbed attention to every moment.”
“Ahhhh yes, small blue bowl, I agree. How do you suggest I do that?”
“Practice.”
“Oh that. I’m not that disciplined/good/attentive/willing/careful.”
“If it made you more joyful, would you? If you could remain mindful long enough to carry me lovingly across that great green stretch of grass, might you not Practice holding what delights your heart, even half that long? Do you not wish to become the skillful artisan of your days?”
“I do! I do! But…”
“The open heart of a practicing Artisan strews beauty along every path it walks. It is not perfect beauty, neither is the Artisan, but she has chosen to show up, to intend, to choose time and time again to stand worthy in her Practicing. Can you not choose the same?”
“I’ll try.”
“Personally, I don’t care for ‘trying.’ It arouses suffering. We are half-hearted from fear when we only try. Our imagination savors all that could happen from a full-out effort. Trying leaves ashy tastes on the tongue. No, I want you to commit. Failure is fine, for it’s full-hearted. Fall, get up, fall again. Be bruised, and honor those bruises of your commitment.”
“No one ever told me they found me more powerful because I was a huge failure.”
“That’s because all they were doing was trying.”
Asana: Visvamitrasana. Visvamitra was the name of a man who through many failures finally became exactly who and what he wanted to be, a great Brahmanical sage.
Begin in Down Dog and pull the R leg over the R hand, placing thigh on upper arm. Open up to your left, turning L foot open, and lifting L arm and placing it on the L thigh. You can remain here, or extend the R leg, and lift the L arm overhead. Remain for 5-10 breaths, and return to Down Dog and do other side.
Health Notes: This pose strengthens wrists, thighs, and abs, committing us to greater physical possibilities.
I refer all of my patients to the Daily Breath Journal to read and be inspired by gems such as the “Small Blue Bowl.” It helps my patients accomplish what they need to do.
Mark Fishman, L.Ac.
As a busy mother trying to train for a half-marathon, I was inspired by the brutal honesty of this breath. I have been reluctant to “commit” to registering for the race I wanted, just in case my training didn’t add up in time. So of course, when I did finally “try” to register, the registration was already filled up. Trying will not be enough for me from now on. I must commit to attaining – commit to prioritizing my small blue bowl above endless email. -Moe