Dr. Hanson observes that faith is akin to a feeling of optimism and that it is grounded in what we know to be reliable and nurturing. He also observes that it helps us stay on our chosen path.
Faith is also belief in the consequences of actions (law of cause and effect) and the individual ownership of actions. It means that we are personally responsible for our own enlightenment and it cannot be conferred or bestowed without committing ourselves to actual right-minded practice.
So for the developing musician or athlete, this is akin to having faith in the power of regular practice rather than blind faith that "it will be okay." For the aspiring meditator, it means you can't just talk about it, you actually have to do it. For everyone who talks about peace or ecological stewardship or social justice, you have to be doing something on a regular basis.
You have to walk the walk to get results.
So if you have been following along on this blog, ask yourself "have I been doing any of the things suggested?" If not, maybe you are not ready to take responsibility for your own well-being. If you are looking for answers (i.e., quick fixes) from outside sources, maybe you need to look inside. The person who will give you the answer is yourself. And the answer is to simply commit to regular practice of something, anything. It is all in the actual 'doing' that you will find what you are looking for.
