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**Small Steps = Big Results**

At this point my process of uncovering, discovering and honing of self-mastery* and more specifically superpowers can look pretty mundane. It’s happening in the small moments which as it turns out, are deceptively powerful.

Much of my focus these days is to being present or mindful in as many moments as possible so that I can make the necessary shifts to stop leaking power and to build it instead. Mindfulness can feel like a buzzword these days, but don’t be fooled, it’s powerful and its effects are profound.

When building power, there can’t be warring parts of the self divided against the whole. All of the parts and voices need to be on the same team working together with a common interest otherwise energy and focus are dissipated. Having my attention pulled in many directions at once is exhausting and works against effectively applying myself to anything. 

To create this unified whole I have to be increasingly more awake and aware rather than going through the familiar motions as usual. 

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***I tend to rubber band between forcing discipline or giving in to indulgence. 
But the answer is neither.***
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I’m amazed each day to see how many of my habits perpetuate a cycle of self-destruction. This sounds dramatic, but it doesn’t take a big action to undermine the whole. A series of small decisions, thoughts and actions can easily create a significant loss of power. 

For example the everyday choice of what to eat. Do I choose something that my mind and mouth love but is less nourishing and might even weaken me or do I choose something that will build my energy? 75% of our energy each day is used for digestion so a food choice that compromises the body can waste a lot of energy. Conversely a life-giving choice might even decrease that 75% used and make it available for use elsewhere, like for practicing Jedi mind tricks or some extra love-making. 

Take something as seemingly benign as a sandwich, even if it doesn’t give me an immediate gut ache, I know that if I eat bread today my body will need to work harder to digest it and maybe even activate my immune system. This of course uses extra energy so that today and tomorrow I’ll be a little more tired and more vulnerable to whatever challenges may arise. Feeling compromised may even result in my making another poor diet choice that compounds the problem. Reaching for caffeine when I’m feeling tired in the day is a good example of this. I love coffee but too much of it overworks the adrenal glands which will cause tiredness tomorrow causing more coffee cravings. It will steal from tomorrow’s life-force to give more energy today which is the opposite of building power!

Most of my habits aren’t about food and have to do with behaviors like being a total jerk to myself. The voice of criticism and self- evaluation can be a constant and potent tirade of inadequacy, failure, powerlessness and uselessness.This is a kind of violence against the self and frankly, I’ve given far too much of my life-force to these voices and the arbitrary standards they’re based on. Slippery they are though!

These kinds of habits are each such small decisions with small effects, but together can have a significant impact on physical, mental and emotional vitality. Even though I may know what is the right choice and why, I have over and over almost everyday made at least some choices against myself. And the war, the inner-conflict that results with each mini-decision is in itself an energy-leak. I tend to rubber band between forcing discipline or giving in to indulgence. But the answer is neither. 

My answer is listening, feeling, giving myself attention. And it actually doesn’t take much time or energy to do this and certainly less than criticism, and other energy stealing habits that suck my life-force.These inner rebellions and warring voices become amazingly quiet and even work together when noticed and heard. The angst, the worry, the anger, the fear melt away as I breathe through them. Yes it’s uncomfortable, but so is feeling crappy and just because it’s what I know doesn’t mean it’s easier. 


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***Mostly what I’m doing these days is being present or mindful in as many moments as possible so that I can make the necessary shifts to stop leaking power and to build it instead.***
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And I’m learning that although neither the disciplinarian nor the inner Bacchus are right, each holds a truth that helps me find the the best decision for now and for the longterm if I listen. Harmony is restored in the moment and slowly but surely self-destructive behaviors present less frequently.

The cool thing is that mindfulness, this observant non-judging awareness gives back very quickly. Awareness seems to bring about a whole string of inner workings and I’m continually impressed at how well I, we, anyone can integrate the complex effects of mindfulness. Somehow choosing wellness rather than just staying in “the familiar” becomes possible more often. And then the wellness itself becomes the most effective motivation to stay feeling well, to continue to make the choices that build power and wellness.

This is a process and is not a quick one. I am by no means making good choices all day everyday, but I’m making them at least 25% more often. Overall I’ve been feeling better - more than 25% better - in the past month and yes more powerful. I’ve noticed increased vitality, better sleep, higher sex drive, emotional resilience and a very sweet effervescent happiness that is more readily available than it has been in years. 

The stakes are higher for me now and habitual indulgences don’t always seem worth it. The loss of power and happiness I’ll feel for a day or 3 are a waste of precious time and energy. And let me be clear, this isn’t about self-deprivation, I love pleasing my senses and in fact need to in order to be happy. It’s about actually giving to myself more fully and giving in ways that don’t undermine me now nor steal my vitality from tomorrow to burn today.


*Self-mastery:
For me self mastery means developing myself to a state of luminous wellness - body, mind, emotions and spirit. Most definitions of self-mastery stop there, but for me the real magic happens in the second part of my personal definition = and then harnessing all of that energy and potential and merging it with the power and energy provided by nature and the cosmos. With personal and universal forces aligned, one can access super concentrated power and energy to achieve amazing things with very little effort.*

Previous superpowers posts:
[01 superpowers?](https://steemit.com/health/@natureofbeing/super-powers) 
[02 Some Personal History](https://steemit.com/health/@natureofbeing/superpowers-a-look-at-some-personal-history)

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