Devotion Applies Inward

All I know about devotion I apply to my own insides.

I do not ask for my devotion to be refracted back at me.

I share with you in my writing how I do it, and you seem to love it.

But I only give instruction on how I do it, the way that's for me, and I only do it inwardly, to myself.

Outwardly, devotion is not a directive, it is a matter of recognition.

I seek devotion where it is already in practice, praise, nourish, network, and appreciate where I see practices of devotion in the world. I move closer when those practices are similar to and compatible with my way.

But I do not direct the world to practice devotion, least of all in the way that I practice it.

The world does not need such a directive, we are ALL practicing our devotions all day every day.

I do not ask that my loved ones do it my way. I share the way I do it and witness the way they do it, and we find harmony in our ways.

I do not ask that those close to me enact devotion, I assume they are, and recognize the way they are. I am so busy with enacting my own devotions I only have time to notice the way their devotions are blessing up my life.

If I think they should do something, I am the one.

If there are dishes in the sink, I am the one.

If the trash needs to go out, I am the one.

If someone needs to consider xyz, I am the one.

I take responsibility for the devotional element in every space, devoting to my experience of taking the everyday actions life asks of me. I ground my feet, enjoy the feel of the water, move the trash with good form and a slow pace.

I take responsibility for what I see happening in a space. If I want a different outcome, I provide the nourishment that outcome requires.

If I want a different culture, I behave in that way.

If my loved one seems to be failing, I look again for how I might be failing them, and I never come up short for solutions when I look on my own side of the fence.

There is a double standard at play here: I ask myself to hold my own highest standard, which includes respecting and playing according to the standards of those I choose to have in my life. I ask nothing at all of the other, I position myself according to my own standards, according to what is on offer.

There is ALWAYS something I can do, always some way I can be, always somewhere else to take my body if a situation truly has nothing nourishing to offer me.

But I do not make directives of devotion outward. I do not offer, even "here is how you may devote to me." I show up for what is devoting already to what matters to me.

Asking for it is my first signal it isn't there.