Fill Your Cup

My teacher would often say that it was his job to fill my cup.  He told me that in the beginning, you start off with a small cup.  It is easy to get overwhelmed and lost in what you are learning because it is so new.  You may feel that it is too much to learn or that you will never understand.  However, over time your cup gets bigger and you understand a little more as your knowledge grows deeper and deeper.  

 The analogy was comforting, but I thought for a long time about one simple question, how do I get that bigger cup?  The answer is patience, consistency, and mindfulness.  

You need patience to allow the time needed for significant change to take place.  Patience with yourself to not give up or get frustrated when you don’t know how to do something or when you feel overwhelmed.  Patience with the process, to slow down and enjoy it.  
    
You need consistent practice for change to happen.  Make yourself and your well-being a priority.  Be consistent in what you practice.  The greatest improvements come from the repetition of your core practice.  

And maybe most importantly, be mindful in what you do.  Don’t turn off your brain, don’t distract yourself in your practice.  Be present and think.  Pay attention to your body and what it is telling you.  Listen to your teachers and try to apply what they tell you to your own practice.  By being mindful, you add depth to everything that you do.  

As teachers, we are on the same journey as you, but it is also our job to help you fill your cup.  We are continually working to deepen our practice and understanding so that we can keep our own well of knowledge alive and evolving.  We share it with our students openly and as we get to know them and their needs better, we can give them the support that they need to fill their cup. ​

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