Effort

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 Topic: Effort


All reward requires initial toil. Put in the work to improve the world we all live in, and look for new ways to improve yourself. 

 

Mantra: “A better world begins with me.” -Reverend CJ Carlin


(It is important to note at this point that the mantras are suggestions. You are free to formulate your own meditation mantras for the Virtues that work for you.)

 

It’s not enough to commit to being a better person; that’s just step one. You have to be willing to do the work - most of it mental - to become the best version of yourself that you can be. Effort requires Self-Control, Mindfulness, and Patience. It also takes Effort to recognize your weaknesses as opportunities for self-improvement. When you fail, be willing to pick yourself back up and try something else. Learn from your experiences and know where to focus your energies. 

 

If you look around, you’ll see that the world is a huge mess right now: plague, war, famine, economic uncertainty, climate change and all its associated horrors. It will take great Effort on the part of many people to start setting it right, and it begins when individuals reach out and start working together toward a better future. Each and every one of us has the power to do good in the world, in our own ways, and the Path teaches us to use that power wisely and Mindfully. Take advantage of every opportunity to make a difference in someone’s life or in the world at large: Vote, take surveys, volunteer, donate, be a listening ear or a helping hand. While it may not seem like much, every kind act, every time one person goes out of their way to help another, has the potential to change the course of someone’s life. You can be the change you wish to see in the world*. All it takes is a little Effort. 

 

(*This is a paraphrased version of a Mahatma Ghandi quote.) 


How can you put in the Effort to improve the world around you? 


Namaste. 

Reverend CJ Carlin 

 

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