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I have a neighbor who recently asked me if I was interested in taking a hike with him through the open hills area behind our homes. It was a perfect day to walk and be present in Nature so I said yes, I would be interested. About twenty-minutes into our "hike" he began scaling the steep side of a huge rock as tall as a four-story building. Needless to say, since I get dizzy on the top rung of a six-foot ladder, this did not fit my vision of a hike "through" the hills. He intention was to go over this rock rather than through the canyons surrounding it. He egged me on, saying, "You will not believe the view from the top...and we can sit up there and meditate for a while."
Well, that hooked my attention, so up I went. Two-thirds of the way I made the mistake of looking down and told him I was rapidly losing my interest in the adventure. He shouted down to me, "But now you are more than halfway there, so whether you like it or not, you are really committed...YOU can do this!" His cheerleading made the difference and eventually I made it to the top. He was correct; the view of the canyon below was stunning. Amazingly enough there was also a gentle path leading down the backside of the rock which I would have never seen had I not gone the distance. Go figure; I got the view and the victory.
Later, while reflecting on this adventure, I had an overwhelming sense of gratitude for having made the commitment to go beyond the edge of my comfort zone. By looking ahead with determination, rather than fearfully focusing on what lay behind me, I truly had a transformational moment which opened a portal through which I had a chance to see my world with entirely new eyes. The awareness I had is that this wasn't just about the spectacular view of the canyon below, it was how I viewed myself for having gone the distance--I had transcended my own built-in limitations. That is the power to be found in commitment--it changes how you see life, but more important, it changes how you see yourself.
Many of us are "interested" in elevating our current view (or experience) of ourselves, someone, or something, but few of us are truly committed to the process. The reasons we hold back are legion but all equally effective in keeping us from living our dreams. The most powerful aspect about being 100% committed to anything is that it sends a signal to the universe that we are serious about being the place where authentic power reveals itself in the human condition. The universe conspires to support us when our commitment takes us beyond the point of no return. Goethe wrote, "Until one is committed, there is hesitancy, the chance to draw back. Whatever you can do, or dream you can do, begin it. Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it. Begin it now."
As a mindfulness practice consider one area of your life where you have been desiring a positive change and have seen no results and ask yourself this question: "Am I truly committed to manifesting this dream? Listen to your heart and you'll know in an instant. If you discover there has been a lack of commitment on your part, I invite you to go on a little hike with me because there is a rock I want to show you. It's your rock and from the top of that rock the view of your life is amazing. Indeed, whatever you can do or dream you can do, there is no better time than now to begin. The universe is patiently awaiting a sign from you. I'll see you at the top.
Peace,
Dennis Merritt Jones
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