Devotion Over Determination
A couple of years ago, I was attending a training. We were a diverse group, and each person brought their unique perspectives and experiences to the circle. We were sharing during one of our sessions, and I was struck so deeply by something that a person said. The person who shared is a professional chef, and as part of her work, she helps people with more than simply preparing meals; she helps people develop better relationships with food. I don’t remember the context in which this statement was made, but it was one of those moments that simply radically opened my mind.
“Devotion over determination.”
So incredibly simple, yet so profound.
She described that when coaching people to make new food choices, devotion is a more successful motivator to create the changes they seek. And so, I began to soak in these words and think about the impact of devotion, not just in relation to food choices, but how this concept can be applied to everything in life.
As I often do, I turn to nature to seek clarity and inspiration. When I think about this concept, the water element appears before me. Across cultures and throughout time, water has been a place of sacred devotion. Coming to the water's edge and looking over its vastness, the rhythms of water can reveal our cycles. The tides move in and out regardless of our human desires. We cannot wield our determination over the ocean to stop the process or change the currents. However, we can approach with devotion and commit to observing the cycles and moving with the ebb and flow. We can offer our devotion to all the power that water holds.
In your own life, it can be hugely beneficial to step back and look at where you are moving with determination and where you feel genuinely devoted. It is likely readily apparent once you change the wording. The areas you live in synchronicity with devotion, although still involving effort, feel like a joy to partake in. The places you are pushing forward with pure determination are often littered with fatigue, resentment, and a lack of motivation.
So, how do you want to show up? What are your deepest desires? Where can you stand by the seaside, softening into the ebb and flow of life's waves in pure devotion to reach for your dreams?
