“If we can just quiet down all the oughts and shoulds in ourselves, if we can be finished with that whole protestant ethic trip we’ve been on, we will see that we are really already further out than we give ourselves credit for being. We keep thinking we have to get behind ourselves and push, when all the time we are actually being propelled full speed ahead. When we see that, we recognize that sadhana (spiritual practice) isn’t something we do to get ourselves somewhere; it’s something we do to get ourselves out of the way, so we can stop being obstacles to the process.” Ram Dass, Paths to God: Living the Bhagavad Gita
3 steps to get out of your own way:
Quiet down.
Let go of oughts and shoulds.
Engage in spiritual practice (sadhana).
Sounds simple, and it is, however, it isn’t always easy. That’s where practice comes in.
Sadhana means spiritual practice. Practice does not imply expertise but, rather, becoming skilled through repeated exercise. I can become skilled at getting out of my own way by sadhana, by practicing.
Sadhana, when we’ve let go of oughts and shoulds, can become pure joy. That’s when the struggle ends and we realize that we are being propelled.
What is your experience with spiritual practices? Do you find them helpful or hindering? Difficult or easy? I’d love to hear from you.
Would you like help in establishing spiritual practices (sadhana) that will aid you getting our of your own way? Would you like help in ending the struggle and finding pure joy? Then take advantage of a Complimentary 45-minute Discovery Session (a $120 value) that I am offering for free for a limited time. Contact me to schedule your complimentary discovery session by clicking on the Contact Carla tab.
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