We usually understand Devotion in a spiritual or religious context. But devotion is an inner quality which has the potential to change the texture of everything we do. Devotion propels our ordinary action into an extraordinary performance.

It’s necessary to understand what devotion means and what it is not.

Just having a goal in not devotion. Wanting something badly does not convert to devotion. Applying ourselves as we feel like and at our convenience is not devotion. Saying the right things, knowing what needs to be done but not following up is not devotion. 

Devotion is the single pointed commitment towards a goal with the discipline of consistent self-application in achieving it. 

Federer is devoted to his tennis. Tendulkar to his cricket. Gandhi to achieving freedom. Swami Vivekananda to realising his true Self. 

So what helps build this wonderful and essential quality of devotion which is the one ingredient that can unleash a power and potential such that nothing can stand in our way of achieving greatness. 

Intellectually we understand what’s needed but our mind plays truant. Disciplining the mind builds devotion.

To achieve something we have to let go of things that are not aligned to our goal. Finding clarity to drop the non-essential builds devotion.

Nothing compensates for daily discipline. Tennis legend Andre Agassi writes in his book how he initially detested tennis but was forced to play by his father. He reached the top because from age seven he would hit 2500 tennis balls every day. Every day ! Consistency builds devotion.

Being devoted means our purpose is bigger than our ego. Subordinating our ego to our purpose builds devotion.

And when we visualise in our minds eye the glory of what we are trying to achieve, our inner inspiration builds our devotion.

But the one factor that can develop, sustain and build our devotion is Love. We may not all be fortunate to do what we love, but we can learn to love what we do. Love overcomes the negativity and distractions of the mind, bringing it under the influence of our intellect. Devotion is an expression of Love.

And with an integrated approach driven with love and purpose, whatever we do is no longer ordinary. Every act becomes an act of Devotion.