There Is No Try

I have learned a lot about mastery over the years and in the process I have learned a lot about myself. Or perhaps it is the other way around — learning about myself taught me a lot about mastery. Chicken or egg, it does not matter, mastery and self-realization are intimately intertwined.

As a martial artist I have dedicated myself to mastery. For me it was all about the discipline, the effort. No effort, no matter how small, is ever wasted. I worked hard, stayed in great shape, and pushed myself to my limits. Time plus effort would equal mastery.

Ironically it was not until I was given the title of ‘master’ in the marital arts that I realized how little i had mastered or even understood of mastery. I realized that I had been accepting mediocrity by equating effort to accomplishment. Intent is an important starting point but that is all it is — a starting point. In order for intent to become desired result, a lot has to happen in between. I wasted many years, not because of what I was doing in between, but what I was not doing.

How many nights did I justify taking off because of other commitments or priorities? They were countless but I hardly noticed because I was giving myself too much credit for trying. When it comes to working towards mastery, either you are or you are not. There is no ‘try’. While effort and intent are commendable, intent has done as much harm as good for me over the years. The good it brings is obvious. Everything worth working towards begins with intent. The harm it brings is less noticeable and thus quite sinister. How much time have I lost by confusing effort with intent? Planning on doing something is not the same as actually doing it.

I now understand that mastery is only achieved through relentless focus. This means not just working toward mastery but, more importantly, eradicating mediocrity. It is easy to dismiss the two approaches as being merely a matter of quibbling over the semantics of saying the same thing, but I have learned to never underestimate the power of words. The words I use influence my perspective and my perspective is usually the only thing that stands between me and success.

“Good intentions never change anything. They only become a deeper and deeper rut.” - Joyce Meyer (b. 1943)

Pebble Meditation - Space

“Breathing in I see myself as space, breathing out, I feel free. Space, free.”

The fourth of the four Pebble Meditations to cultivate happiness as taught by Thich Nhat Hanh. I appreciate this meditation as it has taught me the value of keeping my physical space clear. In my case, a cluttered environment cultivates a cluttered mind.

This meditation is all about creating space in my mind. I am reminded to leave my problems and worries where they belong and immerse myself in the present moment — fresh, strong, and with absolute clarity. I visualize my mind as a room. If that room is full of clutter, it is difficult, if not impossible, to move around freely. Likewise when my thoughts are cluttered, it becomes difficult to accurately interpret events, stress begins to be less manageable, and staying in the moment almost impossible.

Creating space in my mind, creates freedom. Freedom from stress. Freedom from worry. The freedom that comes from being in absolute control.

“The most beautiful things can only be created by the most free minds!” ― Mehmet Murat ildan (b. 1965)

Pebble Meditation - Still Water

“Breathing in, I see myself as still water. Breathing out, I reflect things as they truly are.”

The third of the four Pebble Meditations to cultivate happiness as taught by Thich Nhat Hanh. This my favourite meditation because it is so visually reinforcing.

The image of a calm mountain lake can’t help but provide a calm, relaxing foundation to my state of mind. Physically reconnecting with nature is so important for mental well-being but circumstances do not always allow such opportunity. This meditation goes a long way to help me cultivate a calm mindset.

The image of a calm mountain lake always includes the undistorted reflection of the lake’s surroundings. The lake only reflects reality. Everyday brings emotions and attitudes that can distort my interpretations of events. This meditation provides me with a constant reminder to be mindful to not distort my experiences with my ego and emotions. There are always alternative ways of interpreting events and the more mindful I am to listen and watch with an open mind, the better chance I have of seeing things for how they truly are.

“We don't see things as they are, we see them as we are.” ― Anaïs Nin (1903 - 1977)

Pebble Meditation - Mountain

“Breathing in, I see myself as a mountain. Breathing out, I feel solid. Mountain, solid.”

The second of the four Pebble Meditations to cultivate happiness as taught by Thich Nhat Hanh. Of these four meditations, I find this one to be the most difficult, and as such, maybe the most useful.

The idea is that when I feel strong, nothing can knock me over. When I feel stable, emotions do not overcome me. I may sway but I return to my centre, even in the midst of a storm. Alone, this meditation is a challenge. However, when practiced with the other of the four meditations, it is reflective and supportive of the other three.

“Sometimes your joy is the source of your smile, but sometimes your smile can be the source of your joy.” - Thich Nhat Hanh (b. 1926)