Discipline, Devotion, and Self-Reflection

What happens when the common things of life happen to us? You know, like getting sick, the sickest I’ve been in about eleven years or so.

One thing we all do kind of automatically, I suppose, is roll with the punches. We accept and adjust, accommodate, and just simply do the best we can. For instance, I could not bear to not produce a piece of writing last night, so even though I was really sick, I still cranked out 169 words (Lol!). However, it was so fever-crazed that I didn’t put it up on Instagram or any social media except for the platform where I have my string of posts — 314 last night.

But are we limited to just accepting and grinning and bearing it? Well, no, and yesterday there was no grinning involved for me. Lots of grins today, though, because I’ve felt much better — getting there!
When I’m really ill, I have several responses. One is that when it hurts to even walk, I picture life in my mind almost as an onlooker, take stock of what’s been going on with me. It’s almost like an out of body experience, looking down on the healthy Michael and wondering things.

Like did I do anything to attract this? Honestly, I don’t get hung up on that, but it never hurts to wonder. So, I take stock of what I’ve been doing. One thing I always decide, to varying effects, is that I need to eat and exercise more effectively.

​I also consider things I value and how much I value those. I will mention one thing I considered yesterday because it’s something that’s relatively new to me. I missed the interaction with social media, especially the engagement with folks on Instagram. No, I’m not addicted, but since this writing is my purpose right now, it’s no different than saying someone who loves their job is addicted to work.

And for all those folks who believe social media is so negative, anything can be. If I’m positive and communicate any topic with some positive slant, I can expect positive back — well, mostly. The very few times things have even come close to negative, I answer according to my Heart and move on.

Perhaps the largest realization I’ve had is how much I’ve come to value this work over the last ten months. I know myself well enough to understand I really mull things over before I launch. I’ve always been like that, and part of that is thinking through all associated connections, actions, and reactions that might be involved. Ugh! I don’t like that much about myself, but I’ve been growing.

This discipline of writing everyday has been something I needed. Believe me, I am aware that some of my articles are better than others. The article I put up on medium.com last night was definitely written by someone fever-crazed. The Morning Pages this morning may have been even worse. I didn’t realize I hadn’t done even a cursory proofread — until I looked back on it tonight.

It’s more than discipline, though. I am doing Heart-work, living my Purpose. And I am so passionate about it that it seems like discipline, but it’s really devotion to myself, my Heart, and to the world.

Therefore, when I put in the time, effort, and skill to produce my writing, it is a work of love. It’s what I have to offer of core Self.

And this has taken me about three times longer than it usually does. Like I said. Love.

​Blessings!