Thanks for the great advise. I know about all this, I have not had the courage and fortitude to just get on with it. I will try to make another go of it, baby steps and start with the breathing program.
For some reason, the lyrics to a Buddhist chant (iti pi so) came to mind. There's a paragraph that describes how to recognize the practice of the Path, what we might call effective work -
"Svakhatto bhagavato dhammo,
sandhittiko, akaliko, ehipassiko,
opaneyiko, paccatam veditabo viññuhi'ti"
It says, "Well-expounded by the Blessed One is the Path,
To be seen here & now, timeless, inviting all to come & see,
Leading inward, perceivable by any wise person."
The reason I thought about it is, in (Theravada) Buddhism, a great emphasis is put on the distinction between Pariyatti (setting of a jewel, the theory) and Patipatti (the gem itself, the praxis), and that both are helpful but praxis is more critical than theory. The tradition would underline that practice is necessary and
could be 'necessary and sufficient', but pure theory never suffices. Therefore, it cannot make sense to say 'I
know about all this', when one cannot truly know without practice. Really, it means, "I
think I know about all this'.
So I heard the lyrics to the second sentence of that paragraph. Sandhittiko. Akaliko. Ehipassiko. They specifically describe proper practice - to be witnessed within one's own experience, bearing instantaneous fruits, inspiring you to share and invite others to see for themselves.
What that means, practically, is that reading about Eiriu-Eolas, or reading about the Romantic Fiction type of Work, 'knowing
about them' is not full or 'proper' Knowledge. The practice has to be carried on so as to witness it oneself. The fruits of the practice are inherent to it - you'll practice in and
instantaneously perceive fruits in your inner poise. And when you practice such a proper practice, and you taste the fruits, you naturally hope to share it to all who may benefit. These are some listed characteristics of proper Work.
I'll invite you to dig deeper into it than 'try to have another go'. Just
have an actual go at it, say for a week. Even if only 30, 15 minutes a day, actually
do it, and
as you practice feel into how your own inner state responds to it. These are the fruits that you'll have to take a bite into if you want to know the flavor. Once you've done so, you'll naturally want to keep building momentum :)