Day 9: The Power of 'No'

Day 9 was a Work From Home (WFH) day, and honestly, the physical exhaustion of the first week finally caught up with me. I woke up at 8:00 AM, my body feeling heavy and demanding rest.

The Changing of the Guard

The morning was spent with Amma. Since I have to prepare to cook for myself for the next few weeks (as per Deeksha rules), she began handing over the kitchen "keys" to me. Learning the nuances of her cooking felt like a different kind of ritual—a transition from being cared for to taking full responsibility for my own Sadhana.

The Test of Entertainment: IPL and Movies

As a massive cricket fan, this is the hardest time of the year: IPL season. I made a conscious decision at the start of this Deeksha to stop watching cricket and movies, as they are sources of sensory entertainment.

The Pressure: My peers pressured me to join for a movie, but I stood my ground.

The Sacrifice: Not checking the IPL scores or turning on the TV was a test phase, but I passed. I chose to spend that time watching devotional content instead, nourishing my mind rather than just distracting it.

Learning in Fast-Forward

Even while tired, I’m sticking to my Sandhyavandanam. I’ve been watching tutorials at 1.5x speed to catch the rhythm of the mantras. I’m learning slowly, but I’m learning surely.

Today’s Lesson:

"Discipline is the ability to say 'No' to what you want now, for what you want most." Giving up IPL or a movie night isn't about "missing out"; it's about making space for the peace I felt during my afternoon nap and my evening pooja.

Current State:

Body: Very tired, but recovering through a much-needed nap.

Mind: Proud of the "No" I said to the distractions.

Spirit: Getting closer to the mantras, one 1.5x video at a time.

Swamiye Saranam Ayyappa