The Ninth Obstacle—An Inability to Maintain Continual Practice

Continual practice means to remain steadfast and committed to something. If you want to succeed or master anything, you must practice, practice, and continue to practice. Without practice, nothing can be achieved. If you wish to achieve a state of vitality, happiness, and peace, you will need to focus on your health, your self-worth, and seeing life for what it is: an opportunity to learn, know, and master your karma and thus master your life. This focus requires constant practice. Otherwise, we get careless and distracted by cravings and desires. Everyday life will present you with obstacles to overcome. That is why you must practice finding balance, strength, flexibility, and peace. It takes work—that’s karma! Let’s get started. END: Even after you have succeeded and mastered something, you must continue to practice. Karma yoga is a lifelong practice because it is about how you live your life. Practicing karma means continually making conscious choices every moment you live. The most important things in life are your health, happiness, and peace. Each of these takes continual practice. So, practice daily taking care of the most important things in life: your health, happiness, and peace in the body, mind, and soul. EGO: Flip up your palm and extend out your index finger, the symbol of the soul. The ego thinks of itself as the master, forgetting that it is the reflection of the true self filtered through the mind. Karma teaches that the true self is selfless. However, when filtered through the perceptions and attitudes of the mind, it tends to become selfish. It often gets caught in the illusion of life, boosting its importance. It sometimes thinks it has all the answers and is perfect, so there is no need to continue to practice and learn. Pull your index finger in and place your thumb on top. Take a breath and surrender to the symbol of the soul. At our core (our soul), we are our selfless essence or our true self, which is pure, simple, and unique. It’s independent of the body and the mind, yet it depends upon the body-mind for its existence here on Earth. Life will present us with many obstacles. It takes continual practice to overcome and master life’s obstacles. So, every day, practice, practice, practice, and keep practicing. Namaste ~ may you walk the path of life with health, happiness, and peace Doctor Lynn For books, classes, consultations and more, visit http://www.doctorlynn.com