I have long struggled to keep practice commitments to myself although I more easily keep commitments to others. So when the opportunity to participate with the “Keeping Commitments” Buddy Program came up, I was all in.
My commitment involves book-ending my days with Recording and Listening. The focus has been on gratitude, intention, appreciation for the practitioner, and most recently, two-handed recording. Having the support of the “Keeping Commitments” structure is changing my experience of commitments.
One of the things I’ve noticed about checking in with a commitment buddy is that I remember. I remember the commitment I made. I’ve experimented with many ways to remember in the past, yet involving another person sharpens my engagement like no other tool has. Wanting to show up for my buddy translates into showing up for myself.
Practicing with the buddy structure also supports me in experiencing commitments as a process rather than struggling with conditioned beliefs about achieving certain outcomes. This one has been tricky for me because making a commitment is so easily interpreted through ego-mind as a “doing.” That interpretation gets in the way of being here to see what’s actually happening—whether I keep the commitment or not.
Fortunately, the structure of the program reflects what is. The text from my buddy simply acknowledges what is with “Gassho” or “A text was not received. Gassho” without any hint of right or wrong. If I am being told there’s something wrong, it quickly becomes clear that the conversation exists only in my head. Without the conversation, the process can actually be seen. And seeing the process is fun!
Finally, it just feels good to keep practice commitments. Keeping my commitments kindles excitement for practice. And it supports keeping other commitments just as practicing appreciation, gratitude, and mentoring supports living in appreciation, gratitude and mentoring.
In gratitude,
Virginia