In making a commitment we center our energy upon a specific and follow through. Through commitment we develop will power, perseverance, and the courage to face difficulties.

Meditation helps us keep our commitments up to date be centering and keeping clear in our mind. When our thoughts are calm and centered it is easier to keep steady with commitments. Meditation is a fortification to keep to the plan we've decided is best for us.

Qualities developed in a commitment carry over into other aspects of daily living. It is not so important what the exact commitment is. What is beneficial is the strength we develop being true to something or someone.

As an example: While students, we choose our career goal, then make the commitment to spend the time and energy needed to reach the goal. We use our mind to devise a plan, then systematically follow it to graduation.

We decide to use a big allotment of energy to reach our goal, energy that could be used in more leisurely pursuits. We do this because we feel the goal is worthwhile for our future financial support and career satisfaction. We commit our energy till the goal is attained.

Relationships are similar. We water and fertilize the flower of our relationship every day to keep it growing and flourishing. As we feel the happiness we derive in the daily process of living, the commitment becomes 'full feeling.'

We each have a basic desire to be happy, to feel a sense of harmony within ourselves extending to others and nature. We make a big commitment by just living. We say that feeling peaceful and happy inside are worth any expenditure of energy.

Sometimes we aren't consciously aware that happiness is our underlying goal, but if we look back we see that everything we have done was done because we wanted to feel happy.

The state of feeling content or happy is really the goal of any outward commitment. It's not a specific activity, job, or relationship that satisfies us.

What we really want is to feel happy. Therefore we commit ourselves to those activities we feel will make us happy. The way to reach this goal is to use our energy in activities and pursuits that do not disturb our personal place of ease that we find renewed in daily meditation.

Article and photo of park in The Netherlands by Susan Kramer

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For offsite reading

Meditation for Teens and Adults
More than 70 offerings, from guided meditation techniques to on-the-go stress relief and relationship meditations interspersed with verse, and a section of special occasion prayers. 114 pages.

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Meditation for all Kids
Sitting, walking, dance and group circle meditations, along with positive affirmations, verses and benefits of meditation for kids of all ages and abilities in a 100 page book with illustrations.