survival and celebration

{There appears to be a conflict between survival and celebration.  Survival, taking care of your basic needs,  is based on pragmatism, exertion, and often drudgery.  Celebration, on the other hand, is often connected with extravagance and doing something beyond your means. For the warrior, ruling your world means that you can live in a dignified and disciplined way, without frivolity, and at the same time enjoy life.}

In the dictionary, the definition of discipline is based on the practice of training people to obey rules or a code of behavior, using punishment to correct disobedience. 

The word discipline becomes beauty-full when we approach it from a new perspective. 

Discipline comes from the root disciple. Disciple means to be a follower or student of a teacher, leader, or philosopher. Whether we are an apprentice to another or act as our own teacher and student, discipline helps us have mastery in the world. 

In today’s fast-paced and frenetic world, just getting the most basic daily routines done can leave us exhausted and empty at the end of the day. We need discipline to do the work required, to get the results we desire. And yet, there has to be more to just getting things done to get what we desire. 

This commitment is called DEVOTION. 

Devotion to our work.
Devotion to our relationships.
Devotion to making our deepest dreams and desires come true. 

When we look at discipline as devotion, discipline is no longer the gut-wrenching hard work that we were brought up to believe. It's a kind of discipline that is inspired by an intense internal desire. It’s a sacred commitment we make for ourselves that nurtures and nourishes us wholly (holy. 

In order to master the art of any craft, our daily activities require repetition and relentless commitment to practice for perfection. That kind of perfection takes practice. 

Practice is our prayer.
And prayer is beautiful.

*quote by Choygam Trungpa, The Sacred Path of the Warrior 

note to self.

what are you waiting for?
there's no perfect time or perfection or enough time to perfect.

creativity is what's calling.
make  S O M E T H I N G,  it begs of you.

like a child longing for your time, creativity doesn't care what you make, just that you take time to create.

all of the projects sitting on the shelf,  compartmentalized in some far corner of your mind,  a long ago written idea on a now tattered page.

pick one.
TODAY.

don't wait any longer.
some day, there won't be tomorrow.






copyright 2012 Alisa Barry

more or less

more or less is usually a casual statement that you really don't care one way or the other, you're not sure or it really doesn't matter.

when you add intention to those words, here's what you get:

more of what I want.
less of what I don't want
definitive clarity

instead of being blase', it becomes an empowering emotional commitment;
a discipline that isn't about drudgery, but  rather devotion.

put that intention into action and you are unstoppable.







copyright 2011 Alisa Barry

discipline as a practice of devotion

devotion to our art
devotion to our work
devotion to our family
devotion to our well-being

it's about faith that what we are doing is meaningful
it's about mindfulness in the practice of what we undertake
it's about showing up with ourselves as our offering.





copyright 2010 Alisa Barry

sanctify your space

to live in a sacred space is to live in a symbolic environment
where spiritual life is possible,
where everything around you
speaks of exaltation of the spirit.


- reflections on the art of living


find a place where you can ritualize your life.
make your sacred altar
where your heart is heard
without words.


copyright 2009 Alisa Barry

devotion

de·vo·tion

Pronunciation:
\di-ˈvō-shən, dē-\

Date:
13th century

1 a: religious fervor : piety b: an act of prayer or private worship —usually used in plural c: a religious exercise or practice other than the regular corporate worship of a congregation
2 a: the act of devoting b: the fact or state of being ardently dedicated and loyal
3obsolete : the object of one's devotion


a delicious song to be sung everyday...rejoice in the dance that becomes our daily practice of life.












copyright 2009 Alisa Barry