Eknath Easwaran observed that "many, many failures in daily life are no more than failures of the will".  As I embark on a new beginning with someone today, I found myself fighting demons of the past again. These demons, if allowed to overwhelm me, will ensure that this new beginning will never flower into its potential. Why new beginnings with a person should be fraught with difficulties? Expectations and self-centered desires. Especially, if that person is of the opposite sex.  So, how can I conquer these demons? I have a sneaking suspicion that my will and self-centered desires are the demons' battlegrounds. So, to continue on with the observations of Eknath Easwaran, he stated that "there is a powerful exercise for strengthening the will - resisting any conditioned, self-centered desire". Furthermore, "whatever it is, if we yield to that desire, the will is weakened, if we resist, the will is strengthened". Sharing this is one way that I am resisting my self-centered desires and strengthening my will. Being in the present moment and not focusing in either the past or future is another way of resistance. By strengthening my will as if it was a muscle, I will make it "uniformly strong". And to end with the words of Eknath Easwaran, "those whose will is uniformly strong can always adapt; they can function beautifully no matter what life deals out. Such people are free. They enjoy life, ups and downs".