Body, Continuity, Strength
With the acceleration of life on all levels, our expectations have also begun to evolve. We want to swipe through our spiritual development, like swiping a screen with a single finger, speeding it up, checking it off, and moving on. We think we possess the knowledge we’ve read. We want to immediately become the ideal and perfect version of ourselves that we envision, but of course, we can't, and layers of guilt, confusion, and inauthenticity pile up.
As human beings, our tendency to take the easy way out and do what suits us is increasing by the day. You won’t be completely cleansed with just one detox, you won’t become an amazing dancer after just one month of dancing, you won’t fix your circulation with two days of walking, and you won’t feel fulfilled by searching for your truth in what teachers say. While it might be unpleasant to read this, the truth is: we may know deep down that the path to healing and authenticity is a process, but we’re still inclined to live result-oriented and think of the result as the "end."
The world will continue to be an uncomfortable place, pushing us to grow. Not everything will be flowers and butterflies. The fact that the spiritual content you think works doesn’t always apply to the world, and the line between a life filled with flowers and butterflies and self-deception is constantly being blurred, are some of the biggest indicators.
Many people believe they will figure out how to ground themselves after a few lessons, or that they will find themselves through dance after a few sessions. The truth is that, yes, you can absolutely experience profound breakthroughs and awakenings, even after just one or two classes. However, what truly matters is the sustainability of that breakthrough, of that awakening. We can’t expect our bodies to open up to us and reveal themselves just by experiencing momentary insights or pleasures.
Continuing the embodied experience is necessary.
As we maintain a practice with our body, we face parts of ourselves we didn’t know existed. This is the meaning of deepening. The body is not something that you just instantly solve or fully comprehend. It evolves layer by layer, with trust, with transformation. The body is a mystery.
The concepts of continuity and stability often sound burdensome because they are associated with unwanted responsibilities. However, when we find continuity and stability within ourselves, we always have a steady embrace to return to every time we falter or fall. As we teach the body continuity, growth and depth intertwine, guiding us toward unity with the body. The mind then follows and positions itself accordingly.
It’s important to distinguish between "working hard" and "working mindfully." They are two entirely different qualities. You can work for hours with your body without truly connecting, or in just fifteen minutes, you can feel an incredible connection that transports you to entirely different times or dimensions.
But for that "fifteen minutes" to happen, there needs to be a "process" that leads us there. It doesn’t have to happen every day, but even small, consistent efforts will open the doors to your senses, emotions, and unimaginable beauty. Continuity is the simplest earthly formula that will connect you to your body, and it supports your stability in other areas of life. This consistency will remind you of your strength, and strength is not built in a single moment.
Strength is the gift of the process.
"It’s not the power of the water that cuts through the stone, but the persistence of the drops."