Yielding

"Water is fluid, soft and yielding.
But water will wear away rock which is rigid and cannot yield.
As a rule, whatever is fluid, soft and yielding will overcome whatever is rigid and hard. 
This is another paradox. 
What is soft is strong"

Lao-Tzu

 

The paradox of starting meditation is that it is very easy to learn .. but challenging to 'do'.

 

And we have a tendency to try too hard or hold on too tight or be too judgemental of ourselves.

 

When the secret is to actually be soft.

 

To yield

[to give up possession of on claim or demand: as to give up (as one's breath); to surrender or relinquish; or submit]

 

To let go.

 

In many of the wisdom traditions we are asked to reflect on the habits, tendencies and 'rules' we find in our meditation practice .. and see if there are similar 'traits' in our approach to life.

 

Are you too goal oriented, greedy for results?

Do you need constant entertainment?

Is commitment an issue?

Are you a controller, a dreamer or a procrastinator?

 

With the mindfulness and awareness that we cultivate in our practice of meditation, we have an opportunity to notice what arises in us .. to notice and learn not react .. to yield!  We learn that we  need not feed or be distracted by our habitual patterns .. rather over time we shall find that just noticing and opening to what we find within is enough.

That the secret is to be soft and yielding to the "you" that you find in your meditation practice.