It does no good to root yourself if:

– the seeds are planted in rotten soil
– the environment is too harsh to grow
– there’s no water
– people keep cutting down trees in your area
– you expect results overnight

While I immerse myself in a contemplative spirituality, it only works if the environment is setup correctly. Otherwise, it can lead to endless years of frustration and misguided attempts.

When people tell us we need to look into ourselves and start there – it pays to know the soil in our hearts is ready. There needs to be a system in place where one can grow, otherwise, they will be stunted by external factors.

If there’s no food, shelter, or a constant fear of something dangerous happening to you, it’s increasingly difficult for anything else to happen. Not impossible, just difficult.

Then, you must be ready for a long and slow process. You must be willing to stick with it day after day – for years. You must be willing to accept there’s no “end goal,” but just a process.

However, it’s in that process that many things come into fruition.