do or do not, there is no try

yoda
yoda

i had a chance opportunity to have tea today with a coach in my network whom i really respect.  he's bold yet spiritual, an entrepreneur, innovator and strategist.  i get the sense that he has mastered the integration of his inner and external life, and his path is to share that energy with others.  a modern yoda, perhaps. over the past few months, i've talked on and off about the highs and lows of the journey i've been on.  i shared some of the learnings from the recent leadership class, and talked about where i am now with it.  in figuring out a new normal, i've chosen to go inward right now and lay low, i said.  developing compassion for myself is where my journey is headed now, i said.  we talked about resources, he asked me a few questions, the most curious being if i had ever considered finding a teacher.  apparently, bringing into consciousness the depths of my personal filters can become a magnified situation at first and the spiritual path can be guided, if not accelerated, through sutras and dialogue, not just practice.  he said, the sutras will blow my mind.

an intriguing conversation i found myself in...  i understood its implication to mean i must be at some sort of crossroads - or state of readiness - that i'm not aware of, but others who are trained in mindfulness can spot.  it got me thinking about my yoga practice, how after 13 years, i have yet to study the yoga sutras.  i lean on my practice to provide refuge and show me the way and despite the stories i can share about yoga saving my life, it makes me wonder how much i truly understand about it and how much left there is for me to learn.

before we said goodbye, we couldn't help but have a business conversation.  we discussed the research project i want to do.  i shared the tips i received from others, and how i felt i have to plan a bit before i get started.  like a true entrepreneur, his advice was jump in with both feet and check it out.  no need to plan right now.

ah... i get it.

do or do not, there is no try.