Hey Steven (and David)

So, I had another great meditation session this morning. Which is significant to me because it followed yesterday which was also great. I have decided to make one small addition to the program (which I feel necessary for me at this stage and I'm not necessarily advocating for everyone else).

Before I begin my session I will explicitly ask myself the following question:
Are you willing to yield control for 20 minutes and let whatever happens happen?
The theory is that this will help me consciously decide to let go of the the reins before I even begin. I did something like it this morning and I seem to respond favorably to a polite request.

This may not be necessary for me forever if I undergo some personality change as a result of prolonged meditation practice, but for now my "default" behavior is to try to control and manipulate things to become what I think they should be -- because of course everything is supposed to "achieve" and reach its' ultimate potential and it won't do that without conscious exertion and help.

I have recognized this line of thinking and appreciate that it means well and may be suitable for other areas of life. But its methods are in opposition to what NSR is trying to accomplish.

It is like stressing out over trying to relax in the perfect way. You don't even know what the perfect way is because you've never done it because you are too busy stressing yourself out trying to find it and thus you will never find it anyway. In relaxation, more effort does not yield more results. Go figure.

So anyway, I am coaching a small group of young men in a six-month exercise program starting on Monday. We will be exercising 6 days a week (properly separating muscle groups across different days of course). I am doing the program with them. So I am committing to everyone here that I will practice NSR consistently for the next six months. I will not take credit for the exercise day unless I have done at least one NSR session (I will still be trying for the twice daily, of course).

Best regards everyone,

David.