From a party to basic training, from play to discipline, from pleasure to command. Isn't it wonderful that our souls have the capacity to move so elegantly between these poles. Tonight we look at the poles of training, discipline and command.

Freedom in thinking does not serve the thinker or the future if it lacks strength and discipline.

Thou as drill-sergeant! This is the Thou that calls up our will into our thinking, disciplining and strengthening our thought activity with clear intentions, orientations, boundaries, practices and outcomes.

Freedom in thinking requires discipline that develops a slow strengthening of I Am as "commander-in-chief." The strengthening begins in an imagined basic training. The Thou as drill-sergeant presents us with possibilities for a basic training. But it is the I Am within that commands us to form and then follow the training.

In ancient times, we would find a guru to obey and many of us still want to obey laws and commands determined by someone else or some rigid dogma.

In our individual evolved souls, we find in others their Thou that unselfishly and without domination teaches, questions, invites, and strengthens us in our ability to awaken freedom in our thinking.

The Thou as drill-sergeant is the strengthener.  Often this means they point to weaknesses and imbalances. They may challenge those of us that are too right-brained or idealistic to bring more grounding to our thinking. Or they may challenge those who have great capacity to clearly think in a mechanistic, left-brained way to lighten up and become more fluid.

How do you appreciate the Thou as drill-sergeant? Do you let them inspire you to take up drills and exercises in your thinking that bring a creative and grounded uprightness?

As you plan your new year begin with imagining your goals, but then become clear about how you will motivate your intentions, orientations, boundaries, practices and outcomes. If you find yourself unable to be clear, then seek out the friend in whom you find the Thou as compassionate drill-sergeant and have a conversation.