Never Enough

We are celebrating our second Christmas season during the COVID-19 pandemic. Many had assumed and predicted that the pandemic would launch a reset to our untethered drive to accumulate more and more but it is difficult to maintain a proper perspective when it comes to conspicuous consumption. We are constantly bombarded with advertising telling us that we need this product or that and we are conditioned to think that what we have is never enough.

Christmas or not, my daily gratitude practice provides me with a constant reminder that I have everything I need and everything I want. Life is good.

“In eastern traditions, such as Buddhism, the belief is to withhold judgement towards yourself. “You have what you have.” Acceptance of that truth is what allows you to set yourself free from the suffering of never being enough, or never having enough. Being content with who you are and what you have in the present moment can be your key to shutting down that empty feeling. You already hold the key to fulfillment, and that key is acceptance of yourself.” - Chase Jarvis (b. 1971)

Strength and Energy

Kung fu, while being a great way to get get into shape, is so much more than a physical activity. Of course there is all the character development that comes from learning discipline and respect, and there is the obvious self-esteem benefits: followers become leaders and angry people become calm and compassionate. The less obvious benefits from practicing the art, at least for those who never achieve the higher ranks, comes in the form of cultivating your chi, your internal energy.

Energy. Everyone has it but not everyone can use it. It takes years to develop your awareness of your chi and decades longer before you can control and use it. Using chi comes from mindfully practicing the six harmonies or more specifically, practice the three internal harmonies: sprit with intent, intent with chi, chi with strength.

From my experience, the biggest thing in the way of a person mastering those three internal harmonies is their attitude. When I say attitude, I mean the intent behind their actions — what is the thought process behind what they are doing?

Physical output requires engagement. Engagement of the muscles, and the alignment of the skeleton. Internal output (energy) requires letting go and releasing. Yes, a very abstract concept but nevertheless an important concept.

“The purpose of abstraction is not to be vague, but to create a new semantic level in which one can be absolutely precise.” - Edsger W. Dijkstra (1930 - 2002)

Effort and Right Effort

Mastering anything requires effort. The great thing about effort is that it is never wasted. The discipline you develop from applying yourself, even if you are unable to attain your goal, has value. The great thing about discipline is that it is transferable to all aspects of your life. 

There is effort and then there is right effort. Again - no effort is wasted BUT if you are not mindful in your effort, there is a risk that you may confuse effort with progress. For sure effort is needed if you want to progress but like an engine running at 10,000 rpms, effort does not always mean you are getting traction and making progress toward your goals.

Right effort is mindful effort. You are not just actively working but you are mindfully working to maximize the benefits of your effort. This is where a mentor can be priceless. A mentor can help you refine your efforts and fine tune them to help you achieve your goals faster and more efficiently.

I have been blessed with many great mentors in my life. I have learned that having a good mentor is like having a good tool. It is has value if you use it. Put in the effort and use your mentors to help you direct it correctly.

“We all carry the seeds of greatness within us, but we need an image as a point of focus in order that they may sprout.” – Epictetus (50 - 135)

Connections

The pandemic has lasted longer than anyone expected and I think everyone is suffering from the relentlessness of the situation. As we approach another lunar new year without the likelihood of being able to celebrate together for the second year in a row, I am becoming more aware of how much I rely upon special events to maintain and reconnect with my friends and mentors. 

Yesterday the Canadian Ging Wu celebrated the grand opening of their new location. I had no idea how much I missed connecting with my peers and mentors right up until I arrived at the event. Seeing Sifu Bok Koh, Sifu Ben Mah, Sifu Bill Gee, Sifu Dale Lee, Sifu Michael Yong, and Sifu Brendan Lee reminded me of how important they all are in my life. At a minimum we tend to reconnect at Chinese New Year events every year but it has been two years since any such event has been possible so yesterday’s event really nurtured my soul.

Kung fu has made me who I am and I owe everything in my life to the art. Nothing though is more valuable to me than the connections I have made on this journey.

“Invisible threads are the strongest ties.” - Friedrich Nietzsche (1844 - 1900)