Mastery and Perfection

The pursuit of mastery is unforgiving and relentless and I suspect that is why it is a most rewarding and fulfilling undertaking. Apply mastery in one area and it will invariably permeate into other aspects of your life. It is the gift that keeps on giving.

Mastery is not something that can be negotiated or compromised. It is a binary proposition. Excuses have no effect in persuading mastery to give ground. Either you are on the path or you are not.

Perfection may sound similar to mastery but it is not the same thing. Mastery is a journey, perfection is a destination. So many students of mastery overlook that fact and find themselves pursuing something that is impossible. Perfection is a great motivator to keep one on the path but if success is only measured by the end result, failure will always prevail. Only in the pursuit of mastery will we ever approach perfection but perfection implies stasis which is impossible. Everything is changing, especially ourselves.

Perfection is a goal, not a state. Mastery is a journey, not a destination.

“Perfection is not attainable, but if we chase perfection we can catch excellence.” - Vince Lombardi (1913 - 1970)

Covid-19 State of Affairs

We are now in phase one of the provincial relaunch after the pandemic shutdown. This relaunch is happening at a time when we are still at peak infection rate so there are some important things we all must remember:

• Our infection rate is half of that of Sweden so our response to the pandemic is working for us and saving lives. Regardless, neither Sweden or Canada has come close to herd immunity levels.
• Without herd immunity or a vaccine, flattening of our infection curve is 100% due to the preventative measures we have undertaken. Social isolation is working to slow the spread but now that we are implementing our relaunch strategy, it is even more important that we adhere to the safety guidelines that have got us to this point. 
• Wearing a mask, limiting travel, and practicing social distancing is not about fear, it is about personal responsibility and managing risk. 
• This pandemic will have a second wave of infection. The intensity of this second wave will directly determine whether or not another shutdown will have to take place. Remember, there are a limited number of ventilators available in our system and you do not want your loved ones to be at the losing end of the ventilator lottery if demand exceeds supply. Be smart and make sure we all do not all get infected at the same time. Respect the virus. 
• Your lifestyle, rights, and freedoms are not for free. Each comes with responsibility. Have gratitude for what you have and take your responsibilities seriously. 

What we can learn from San Francisco's Spanish Flu experience in 1918

Responsibility

As a business owner of a business that has had to shut it doors because of COVID-19, it can get frustrating when you see people flaunting going against the protocols that are in place to stop the spread of the virus. Either the virus miraculously stops spreading or we are going to have to follow through with the proper guidelines to help stem the pandemic.

It is not conjecture - social distancing and limiting travel are tried and proven methods to combat a pandemic. Check out San Francisco’s and Philadelphia’s responses to the Spanish flu. If you want this pandemic behind you, follow the government’s guidelines as your absolute minimum approach.

Yes I know you are being cautious and I know you are not stupid. I am here reminding you that not everyone is as smart as you. Those who are not up to your IQ may be inspired to copy you breaking protocol without taking all the precautions you are taking. More deaths can be prevented if the smart people like you step up and take responsibility for showing some leadership by setting a pandemic-safe example for the idiots.

 “This was unexpected. … And it hit the world. And we’re prepared, and we’re doing a great job with it. And it will go away. Just stay calm. It will go away.” - Donald Trump (b. 1946)

Mother’s Day

Mother’s Day during a pandemic. I have not seen my mom for a couple of months now. It is a good reminder that our isolation is not about protecting ourselves, it is about protecting others who are more vulnerable.

My mom has been a source of strength for me my entire life. She has given me the confidence to take chances and to pursue my dreams. I would not be who I am today if it were not for my mom.

There is no responsibility more important than being a mom. Thank you all for what you bring into this world.

“Perhaps it takes courage to raise children.” - John Steinbeck (1902 - 1968)

Training

One thing that has absolutely improved since the pandemic has been my training. Having to narrow my focus on producing new content for online lessons every week has altered my mindset and allowed me to spend more time doing what I love - train.

It is ironic that at a time when the business side of things is in its most precarious position ever that I actually am doing what I want to do instead of what I have to do.

Sometimes all you need to do is shift your perspective two degrees to the right or left for things to change for the better. Unfortunately it can take something monumental like a pandemic to get you to initiate that shift.

 “A miracle is simply a shift in perception.” - Gabby Bernstein (b. 1979)