When thinking about where to start I kept coming back to the “pillars” because it has been the distinction and practice of the pillars that have brought me to this place.
Talking from direct experience also makes this about me sharing what I have learned and what I know.
It is merely a perspective that I share from my own direct experience and experience for me is the truest of all teachers.
I would define a pillar practise as an activity that:
- I prioritize because I know that in fulfilling that activity I am living consistently with what it means to me to live a life of personal integrity.
- I perform on a frequent basis generally daily, weekly or fortnightly at a specific and measurable time and for a specific and measurable period and done either alone or with others depending on what that activity is.
- I perform consistently because I know that it fills my cup, serves me and enables me to serve others, makes a difference in my life and the lives of others
- Cultivates my capacity and my ability to reference from within and as such reduce the impact of external stimulation and validation
- Gives me a sense of peace, calm, an experience that I matter and a feeling of being connected to myself and to others
- Contributes to creating and having a life that works.
- Is aligned with what I am doing and who I am being in the world
I am going to illustrate a pillar practise with the example of meditation
My meditation practice as pillar practice is as follows - 20 minutes twice per day in a seated closed eye posture usually done alone but sometimes done with others. Mornings predominantly at sunrise and outdoors and evenings predominantly at home, in the meditation space that I have created at home and performed in the early evening.
A total of 14 sits per week for a total of 280 minutes which equates to 4 hours and 40 minutes.
My tithing practice as a tapestry (practice) is as follows - on a weekly basis I manually (using a banking app) transfer money from my spending account into a tithing account. It is 10% of the money that goes into the spending account. I will then look for opportunities throughout the week to use that money in various acts of service from buying raffle tickets in local fund raisers through to purchasing food for homeless people. I have taken a personal decision not to set up any automatic transfers from the tithing account so that I can be fully conscious of when the money is used.
My pillars and my tapestries are my oxygen mask. They are what feeds my inner cultivations, my integrity, my capacity, my sense of self and my commitment to what I am doing in the world.
As such I am completely committed to them as distinct from attached.
Committed means that they are prioritised and absolutely at the forefront and I do not put other activities before them.
I also recognise that life by design is unpredictable and that it ebbs and flows and that sometimes things will come up that will mean that my pillars and my tapestries are set aside but when they are it is done with deliberation and awareness and a clear commitment to living with integrity.
My pillars and tapestries are not set in stone but changing them is always done in a considered manner.
As of today, 6 January 2022 my pillars are
|
Pillar Activity |
FACET |
SUB-FACET |
BEING (for this practice) |
WHEN |
WITH WHO |
DURATION |
|
fortnightly date night with Caroline |
FAMILY |
partner |
connected |
fortnightly |
Caroline |
4 hours |
|
dinner at my parents one night per week |
FAMILY |
parents |
acceptance & service |
monday evenings |
my parents and my sons |
2 hours |
|
8km run - once per week |
PHYSICAL |
outer health |
in action |
lunchtime or weekend afternoons |
alone but what is missing could be a buddy |
40 minute |
|
one on one time with my son Leroy |
FAMILY |
children |
grateful & present |
Monday evenings post my folks |
Leroy |
90 minutes |
|
dinner with my sons at my folks |
FAMILY |
children |
calm |
fortnightly Monday evenings after Kungfu |
Rohan (and the folks and leroy there as well) |
2 hours |
|
kung fu training twice per week |
PHYSICAL |
outer health |
committed |
Mondays and thursdays |
My sons and with Brett |
1 hour each |
|
One HIIT session & pool or ocean swim |
PHYSICAL |
outer health |
focused |
Mondays and thursdays |
Sven |
90 minutes |
|
strength training session - once per week |
PHYSICAL |
outer health |
committed |
Tuesdays |
Jason |
1 hour |
|
gratitude practice twice weekly |
PERSONAL EVOLUTION & CONNECTION |
serving others |
grateful |
Monday and Wednesdays |
On my own |
10 minutes each times |
|
Mens group Eastern Suburbs (fortnightly) |
SOCIAL |
friends |
grateful |
Mondays fortnightly |
the men |
2 hours |
|
journal once per week |
MENTAL |
clarity - doing and being |
committed |
Monday mornings 6:30 - 7:45 |
on my own |
75 minutes |
|
face to face connect with a a man or men once per week- can include coffee, walk, lunch etc |
SOCIAL |
friends |
abundant |
It has been friday mornings but not really working |
A man in my world |
1 hour |
|
The Sit Avalon every saturday - meditate, train, swim, coffee with the crew |
SOCIAL |
local community |
light and playful |
Saturday mornings |
The Av community |
3 hours |
|
Meditate twice per day |
PERSONAL EVOLUTION & CONNECTION |
free |
daily twice per day for 20 minutes |
on my own and in community |
20 minutes per sit |
|
|
the course in miracles daily |
PERSONAL EVOLUTION & CONNECTION |
spiritual development |
connected |
daily in the morning |
on my own |
10 minutes |
|
smoothie DAILY |
PHYSICAL |
inner health |
consistent |
daily each moring |
my family |
10 minutes |
And my tapestries are:
|
tapestry |
FACET |
BEING |
FREQUENCY |
SCHEDULED RHYTHM |
|
no dairy, no cherries, no pine nuts, no salmon, and eating really good quality protien and good amounts of vegetables |
PERSONAL EVOLUTION & CONNECTION |
intentional |
Daily |
NA |
|
Keeping my desk and working sace, my car and my cupboard completely organised |
MENTAL |
intentional |
Daily |
NA |
|
tithing |
PERSONAL EVOLUTION & CONNECTION |
abundant |
Daily |
NA |
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