Staying the Course

Imagine yourself on a ship in the middle of the ocean on a stormy night, with strong winds and huge waves. Even with a navigation system telling you which direction to go, staying the course would be quite a challenge when being tossed around by the elements.

Now, let’s say you decide to embark on a journey, follow a practice, or pursue a goal. On a bright and sunny day, you make a start. But what happens when difficulties arise? When you get bored? What happens when the winds start blowing and the waves grow higher and there’s no lighthouse in sight? How do you stay the course?

What keeps you going?

We often tend to forget (or prefer to ignore) that things usually become difficult at some point. Whether we’re traveling somewhere, developing a new skill or habit, or seeking truth, challenges will arise: we get lost, we get bored, it’s too hard, it takes too much time, it’s not what we expected—and the list goes on.

Getting through these difficult moments requires determination and (eek!) discipline. You need something that will help you take your next step. It could be the end goal, shining in the distance. But sometimes that end goal seems so far away it might not even be visible. And that might actually take the wind out of your sails instead of pushing you forward.

In those moments, it helps to reflect on why you started down this path to begin with. What got you out your door, so to speak? And is it still enough to propel you further?

Just drop it

Sometimes things get more difficult as you advance on your journey, but sometimes things simply change. Maybe you started your journey with someone who is no longer there. Maybe this thing you took on turns out to be very different from what you thought. Maybe you have changed. And the question arises: do you even want to stay the course?

If you’re hoping for a simple, clear answer to this question, I can only disappoint you. As far as I know, there isn’t one. Each case must be examined on its own, and ultimately, you’re the only one who knows what’s on the scales. There are certainly times when the right thing to do is let go and chart a new course.

But sometimes, just knowing you have the choice to let go is enough to relax something inside and keep going.

Are we there yet?

When you have a physical destination—let’s say you’re visiting a friend somewhere—you can usually get a map (or an app) or ask for directions. But what about when your destination is internal or spiritual? Say you want to find inner peace, cultivate compassion, or achieve enlightenment. That’s when things become trickier.

There are some “roadmaps” out there, and a good one can offer quite a lot: it might give you a vehicle—a certain technique you can use—and directions: drive your vehicle until you see the blue mountains. Then turn left.

The only thing it doesn’t give you is the distance you need to travel. How many kilometers before you hit that first junction where you need to take a left? How long must you keep practicing before you finally see those blue mountains?

The sirens

This is often where we get bored. Or discouraged. Or doubtful. Did I miss the turn? Am I going in the wrong direction? Am I doing it right? Maybe I’m not cut out for this. Maybe I just don’t have it in me. Maybe I should put my time into something else, something actually useful.

And suddenly, there’s this new thing out there that sounds just perfect, exactly what you were looking for, and it’s so exciting! Not boring at all! Let’s do that!

And often this is what we do. We change course.

So?

Maybe it’s helpful to acknowledge and remember that this is all part of the deal: most probably you’ll face difficulties and get bored, discouraged, distracted and tempted to drop it all and take another road. That’s just how it is. You’re ok.

Find the fire that got you started and kindle it. Take another step.

In the Bhagavad Gita, Krishna tells the doubtful Arjuna: “On this path effort never goes to waste, and there is no failure. Even a little effort toward spiritual awareness will protect you from the greatest fear.”

Take one more step.