Enacting the Boundary

In the beginning, there was...spiritual practice! And all came to fruition from there.

The foundation of boundary-setting is daily spiritual practice. Is that making sense now? Do you see how very practical spiritual practice is?

Cherishing yourself

Your daily spiritual practice brings nourishment and protection, nourishing your wholeness, wellness, and the virtues you want to grow, and protecting you from the mind's proclivities.

The mind, as in your mind.

Fortunately, we all have one — and they are all troublesome in similar ways — but your mind is the one you get to tend. The only one you get to tend. And only you can tend it.

The mind doubts. That's what it does.

Left unmanaged, that doubt is corrosive to your well-being.

Skepticism supports you

Truly there is a time for skepticism; critical thinking is a necessary skill.

Skepticism is healthy doubt; it protects you from getting snookered by assumptions — yours or the ones someone else is trying to feed you.

Skepticism is not troublesome, freewheeling, rampant doubt. It's deliberate, managed, targeted doubt. And if/when you find enough evidence, you release your skepticism. (And sometimes become an insufferable rabid convert — but that's another conversation.)

The doubt that is troublesome is the doubt you let undermine your self worth, the constant second-guessing and devaluing of your own experience.

You cannot experience your worthiness until you get past that level of thinking. And without experiencing your worthiness, how can you develop skill with boundaries? Why would you bother if you don't think you're worth it?

And the remedy is...

The secret to enacting better boundaries for life is daily spiritual practice. Yes, I've said that before. I wish I could animate those words to make sure I have your attention.

Daily spiritual practice is how you find your way past the relentless second-guessing and devaluing.

You get to choose the spiritual practice — or practices — you enjoy most.

Enjoyment matters because any long term relationship has its ups and downs, and daily spiritual practice is the most intimate long term relationship you'll ever have. There will be days when you're just not in the mood, and you'll lean on your (past) enjoyment to support your commitment to practice today.

Be your own best partner

You have a long term relationship with yourself anyway. Why not choose to make it intimate, enjoyable, and rewarding?

Daily spiritual practice empowers us to set the boundary between clarity and overwhelm; it creates the habit of choosing clarity, of choosing to be present. And present is where the joy is.

Enacting the boundary — creating the discipline — of daily spiritual practice builds self respect and self trust. It's really that simple.

Practice because you want to or practice because you said you would. Or practice because you're afraid of who you'll be if you don't practice. Whatever it takes to show up for yourself.

As a renowned yoga master often said, "Practice, and all is forthcoming."