A LITTLE SECRET THAT’S OFTEN MISSED
By Dr. Grant Kruhly
One of the most important elements to life well lived is a powerful desire and passion for something; something that gives life purpose, direction, satisfaction, and joy. From the Zen Monk who desires Enlightenment so much he renounces the whole world, to the aspiring entrepreneur who wants to build his or her own idea of freedom, the common element is deep desire and single minded focus.
Whatever your dream, desire, or purpose, whether simple or complex, there are 3 elements which you must take care of or frustration and failure will result.
I say that with authority, from direct experience spanning decades.
I am not going to write them in any particular order because, simply stated, life is not linear. So today’s piece of the triad is patience. Patience is so elusive, especially today. It is a true quality and virtue which must be cultivated by us, for modern life today does not teach it, show it, or explain it. On the contrary, speed is of the essence and attention spans are now so fleeting that even movies made 10 years ago seem unbearably slow to most people. In modern life slow is equated to boring. Interestingly enough, the definition of boring is a lack of attention.
If you reflect for a moment you will easily recognize the signs of impatience and the life style conditioning that reinforces it. Take computers. We all must use them to live these days. Ever notice how frustrated or impatient you become if the response is slow or delayed? We all do it, we want, expect, and demand speed of response in everything we use and do, and everywhere we go.
But as nice as having speedy responses and instant gratification is, nature doesn’t show that model does it? Acorns don’t instantly become mature trees. The Sun doesn’t rise in 1 second. Fruit doesn’t ripen in 1 hour. Babies aren’t in their Mom’s belly for 1 week. Nature shows us rhythm, process, and patience, never haste.
Typing on a computer is one thing, speed is good and appropriate, but let’s think of patience and gratification in terms of human crafts. For instance, I am a professional Sensei of Japanese Martial Art. As a teacher I learned for 16 years before I ever taught basic movement. During those 16 years I trained between 3-5 hours per day, 7 days per week, 365 days per year. I waited till I had trained over 20 years before opening a Dojo of my own, and had way over 20,000 hours of mat time. Today, in commercial schools they call kids who have taken 2-3 classes per week for 3 years a Sensei. In that case, speed is bad, and the de-professionalization of Martial Art today is a perfect example of the harm that can be done. Same case today with many of the arts. Pity. How about successful businesses, ever seen one built in a day?
Where I am going with all this? The relevance comes in the pursuit of your dreams and goals. As you focus on your work, your life and your passions, resist the temptation to impose time limits. I know many of the guru’s today say to specify time lines, but don’t. Leave that to the universe; there are too many variables that you cannot see or know that will come together in myriad ways to deliver your dream to you. Just as you trust your body to breathe as it needs, trust that the seeds you plant are growing. Attend to them, but let time takes its own course. Happiness comes from the process AND the end result, not just the result. Ninety nine percent of your life is process, 1 percent is the end point so immerse yourself in the process and the end goal will be a natural outcome.
Time lines create clarity, we all know that, but the secret fault line of that protocol is very subtle and attractive to the rational mind. It easily creates a fear of not getting done. That vibration of fear/stress undermines the attractor field your passion and excitement created. The two can cancel each other out. I know, been there, done that, a thousand times till I was taught the secret myself. It is so very subtle, you start thinking, “I don’t want to be late, I don’t want to fail, what if this happens or that?” And of course that is exactly what happens, or you do get the goal but with enormous costs to your health and happiness. I lived that way for years!
In another couple of days from now I will give you another piece to the puzzle. Life isn’t hard, but thinking can make it so. Sit down with yourself and really examine what you really like, admire and respect. I don’t believe you like mediocre, shallow, or mindless stuff, or you would not have read my article this far. So if you’re like me, seeking the fine, the rare, the beautiful, the deep, then apply yourself!!! Learn, study, and APPLY what you’re acquiring to yourself and your world. That is why I call my school of thought APPLIED Samurai Wisdom.
It is always our choice. As the great Grand Master of the Bow, Awa Kenzo said, “It is our choice, live like a sage, or exist like a fool.”
I hope this message is useful to you, and if you find it so, please forward it to those you care about. If you have any questions or comments, please visit my blog or face book pages, Applied Samurai Wisdom, or Grant Kruhly, I would be very happy to help. Also, if you no longer wish to receive my articles, just let me know.
Sincerely,
Dr. Grant Kruhly, Sensei & Founder
No comments:
Post a Comment