Just This Once

The story about choosing to keep a principle 100% of the time really resonates with me because I’ve seen how easy it is to let “just this once” become a habit. For me, this lesson came through something as simple as my commitment to exercise and morning yoga. When I used to work out with Purva Aunty, there were days when I’d feel tired, lazy, or think, “It’s fine if I skip just today.” But I noticed that every time I gave in to that thought, it became harder to show up the next day. So I made a personal rule — if it’s my workout time, I go. No debating, no postponing. That simple decision made consistency feel effortless. Now, at SVYASA, I’ve carried that same principle into my morning yoga sessions. Some mornings, the temptation to sleep a little longer is strong, especially when it’s cool and quiet outside. But I remind myself that I made a promise — to honor my practice and my wellbeing. Missing even once may seem harmless, but it chips away at the discipline I’ve built. What helps me stay committed is remembering how good it feels afterward — not just physically, but mentally. Keeping my word to myself strengthens my confidence. It’s taught me that small daily choices define who we become. The discipline to stay consistent, even in small things, often prepares us for the bigger tests in life. In the end, I’ve realized that it’s much easier to follow through 100% of the time than to live in the uncertainty of “maybe today I will, maybe I won’t.” That clarity brings peace — and a quiet sense of self-respect that’s worth every early morning. Hide full comment

I was an elder in my first grade class, already seven in November…(Mother held me back due to reading issues.) Well, I heard at church children aged seven were eligible to receive their first communion. After Mass, I cornered the old, cranky pastor and asked if I could make my First Communion in May and not wait the year to make it with my class in second grade. He gave me a slip of paper that said YES and I joined the parish class preparing for the event scheduled for the first Sunday in May. All was going well until a day in April. I was quite active in our local park (Peers) in Palo Alto. The director, Miss Kay, called me into her office and showed me a beautiful purple cape with a lace collar, a diamond crown and a gold scepter. “Marcy, you have been selected to be the queen of Peers Park in the Palo Alto May Day parade! You will ride on our float and wave to the crowds.” I ran home to tell my mother. “Marcy, this is wonderful but it is on the same day as your First Confession. You can postpone your First Communion until next year and make it with your class and be queen or give up the crown.” I remember contemplating my choice. I chose my first communion. I am grateful to my mother for trusting me. But looking back, I treasure the opportunity I was handed at this young age to prioritize my values. Thanks, mom. Hide full comment

This is a wonderful story, I guess I am able to relate this story to the first chapter of Bhagwat Gita. Where Arjun decided not to fight a war, and Krishna gave Gita to him and said "stand and fight a war like a Shatirya" we all share space in this first chapter of Gita. I guess it's not about being 100% or 98% commitment to routine. Sometimes adjusting with the routine and falling back to it is worth living.. there is learn and understanding in these unusual situations, which we may not get from our routine. It may happen after such adjustments we may find more depths and determination and energy to follow that routine. Arjun was natured by Bhismapitama and Dhraun, he was been loved unconditionally by them, they were his guru who made him skilled worrier. He was highly committed toward them infact he loved them deeply. Still for higher good and betterment for mankind. For Dharma staphna, Krishna encouraged him to this higher task. If I relate this to this basketball team tournament, so many people were involved, it may not be just a basketball team of Oxford but the people and country involved. Commitment towards Sunday's is an individual aspect. In one situations you are not an Individual but the part term, state, country to give your bit for the success or failure. On the other hand as an individual committed to the routine towards their God, who will anyways going to be there whether you are able to visit him everyday or someday. He will still love you and help you in odd situations. Falling such routine may just become fule to your ego. On the other hand I just read a reflection about smoking that was very good reflection someone tried to give up and when tested himself got a general idea that he had not got that control over self to eradicate that habit, at the same time when he decided he could manage to give up wonderful.. these are just a perception to view the situation. I would enjoy to read and understand more perception on same story Thank you Hide full comment

We didn't hear the end of the story—did Clay's team win or lose the championship?? If they won, they didn't need him anyway. If they lost, maybe his choice not to play contributed in his team's loss. Did he incur scorn from his team after the game was over? That would have been tough to endure. Could his greater test be that sometimes showing up for God means showing up for the team? Only Clay will know the answer, but it sounds like he had no regrets. Looking back on my life, I know that I have made promises to myself that I certainly didn't keep. It's as if, as soon as I make a strong commitment to something—some ideal or some boundary—Life offers me a temptation to break my commitment. I have watched myself cave to such temptations again and again. When I caved, I felt like I failed a test. I understood that my commitment was only talk; I wasn't ready or strong enough to really put my money where my mouth was—to really make a sacrifice. But other promises to myself, business partners, and close friends I have, even surprisingly to myself at first, been able to keep. One of those promises came after I had a dream about drinking alcohol. Mind you, I don't think anyone would say that I had "an alcohol problem"; alcohol never really did anything for me, so I just drank with friends, and seldomly, and never more than a glass or two. But after a dream one night showed me vividly what happens to us when we drink—how we become disconnected from our intuition after the first sip, and shortly afterwords, from our sense of judgment—and how, by imbibing alcohol, we unintentionally cut ourselves off from the divine spark within us and, through that spark, to connecting to an entire spiritual community—I decided to never knowingly drink even a sip of alcohol again. At first, I received a great deal of social pressure from friends. "But this is exceptional stuff! Just have a sip!" and "Oh, you can break your promise now, for US." Nope. It's not worth it to me to give up that connection I saw in my dream. And my friends don't ask me anymore. They know I'm serious and adamant, and they know that I won't judge them for drinking, either. I had that dream in 2019, so it's been over six years now that I haven't touched alcohol. A couple of years later, my wife stopped drinking too. We both feel better for it, certainly. And I have a greater sense of myself, too: I know that I can hold fast to a commitment, make a sacrifice, and hold a boundary—at least for something, and at least so far. So I resonate in that regard to this story. But I also feel just how much of a sacrifice he had to make. Playing on a team is another kind of commitment, and that one, he dropped, and likely incurred the anger of his coach and friends in the process. If they lost the game, some might never forgive him. That's a very serious sacrifice to make. Hide full comment