Mastery
We connect mastery with control these days. But really that is not it at all. To control something is really to exert a dominance over it,for what we are trying to control, either an action,person, or an object has to some degree be submissive.
To master something is to understand it, to work with it, to become one with it. There is no dominance,only peace and calm as you become one with what you are trying to master. It can be anything from a skill for work, getting the best from your staff or team, to physical endeavors of running, swimming, cycling, tennis,or golf, kettlebells and barbells. Mastery though, is a never ending process. It does not stop when you feel "comfortable"with that skill. There is still a long way to go, and you pass through different levels. The 1st few are taken very easily, and you pass through these lower levels of competence quite often with ease, but then with each successive gain in mastery it takes longer and longer, and requires more and more work, attention and concentration to attain the next level. It is like an eagle soaring on a thermal, sometimes gaining high quickly sometimes not, but it knows with patience that it will keep rising.
Patience aha!!There is that word that so few of us have so little of. Patience is the 2nd piece in the quest for mastery. As I have mentioned before, we live in an unsustainable world, rushing here, there, bosses breathing down your neck to do more with less, or to make that deadline, 30 second grabs of information here, bolt down the meal there. The US Navy SEALS have a great answer to this. In their training they are trained to slow down. In training every action is pulled apart, and slowed to the nth degree. Practice each element of the movement slowly over, and over, and over and in time put all the pieces of the movement back together,and then they do become fast, because there is mantra they use and it's "slow is smooth, smooth is fast". Notice the word speed is never used. The actions are an extension of themselves, not only their physical being, but it is a projection of their mind, their focus, and their spirit. They are so focused that they essentially become the movement. Sayings like "be in the moment" is really what this is all about, and unlike the 30 second world we live in, this other world of mastery takes excruciating patience, commitment, discipline, and practice, sometimes over years. Masters of yoga and meditation will attest to that.
A great way to practice this is when you are driving a car. Firstly relax and forget about time. Be very consciously aware of all that is around you. Feel the car, the engine, tyres, driveshaft, see it in your mind and be aware of them, and your ability to manipulate all those things. Bring into your consciousness all that is going on around you. Traffic, road signs, people, noise, smells, colour, and when driving be deliberate, be smooth. You need a good dose of patience to be in the moment, to be at one with your surroundings.
The same goes with physical training. Whether it is swimming, cycling, running, golf, tennis, what ever you enjoy. Take these same skills. Be aware that practice, and slow practice will make you fast. You want to master your golf swing. Be aware that this is your goal, then leave it up there to look at occasionally, and then concentrate on the journey. Breakdown the elements of your swing and practice those elements. Bring patience, focus, commitment, discipline, concentration, because only with those tools will you attain some degree of mastery with your swing, whether it takes 6 months or 6 years it does not matter. Sometimes you will progress, other times you will plateau, sometimes you have to go back a few steps, but patience and the enjoyment of the journey will keep you interested and moving forward.
Mastery through physical challenges is the gateway to your spirit, which is not your mind. It is all encompassing, of which the mind is only but one part. Mind, body, spirit all need to be together in unison to become a better whole person, to progress in your development as a whole person. Be aware that there are plenty of seemingly intelligent people that really are quite stupid and arrogant because their is intelligence is projected as the be all and end all. But you need to connect with other aspects of yourself, not only to master yourself, but all that you do. Physical activity achieves not only fitness and health which brings accountability to yourself, but a single focus where your mind is intent on what you are doing. Yes, you can sit in front of a computer with half a dozen Excel spreadsheets, and be in the moment. But where is your body, where is your spirit, where is your whole person. Through physical development you connect with your other aspects to develop the whole. I love kettle bells because it involves mostly rhythmic movements which I find very relaxing and compelling (maybe it is why I like about trails and ultra endurance events) the rhythmic movements of running or kettle bells or anything that you enjoy, is a great mastery tool in that the movements are repetitive, and enable you to nail that repetition then the next one is not so good, the next one is better, and damm, really stuffed the next one right up!!!! Patience, patience, break down your actions, be in the moment, put it all back together, and then after a few days you can get 10 repetitions just right. Return to the practice, be patient, get better again, stick at it and you will be a better person. Why? Patience, practice, awareness, mental focus, knowing yourself better equals a better whole person in all aspects of your life. Parts are not so good? Go back and practice. Yoga, meditation, physical practice, then try again. Mastering yourself is a lifetime of practice of being patient and focused and enjoying the journey. Mastery, the way to be a better balanced person and to live a better balanced sustainable life.
BULLS EYE
We connect mastery with control these days. But really that is not it at all. To control something is really to exert a dominance over it,for what we are trying to control, either an action,person, or an object has to some degree be submissive.
To master something is to understand it, to work with it, to become one with it. There is no dominance,only peace and calm as you become one with what you are trying to master. It can be anything from a skill for work, getting the best from your staff or team, to physical endeavors of running, swimming, cycling, tennis,or golf, kettlebells and barbells. Mastery though, is a never ending process. It does not stop when you feel "comfortable"with that skill. There is still a long way to go, and you pass through different levels. The 1st few are taken very easily, and you pass through these lower levels of competence quite often with ease, but then with each successive gain in mastery it takes longer and longer, and requires more and more work, attention and concentration to attain the next level. It is like an eagle soaring on a thermal, sometimes gaining high quickly sometimes not, but it knows with patience that it will keep rising.
Patience aha!!There is that word that so few of us have so little of. Patience is the 2nd piece in the quest for mastery. As I have mentioned before, we live in an unsustainable world, rushing here, there, bosses breathing down your neck to do more with less, or to make that deadline, 30 second grabs of information here, bolt down the meal there. The US Navy SEALS have a great answer to this. In their training they are trained to slow down. In training every action is pulled apart, and slowed to the nth degree. Practice each element of the movement slowly over, and over, and over and in time put all the pieces of the movement back together,and then they do become fast, because there is mantra they use and it's "slow is smooth, smooth is fast". Notice the word speed is never used. The actions are an extension of themselves, not only their physical being, but it is a projection of their mind, their focus, and their spirit. They are so focused that they essentially become the movement. Sayings like "be in the moment" is really what this is all about, and unlike the 30 second world we live in, this other world of mastery takes excruciating patience, commitment, discipline, and practice, sometimes over years. Masters of yoga and meditation will attest to that.
A great way to practice this is when you are driving a car. Firstly relax and forget about time. Be very consciously aware of all that is around you. Feel the car, the engine, tyres, driveshaft, see it in your mind and be aware of them, and your ability to manipulate all those things. Bring into your consciousness all that is going on around you. Traffic, road signs, people, noise, smells, colour, and when driving be deliberate, be smooth. You need a good dose of patience to be in the moment, to be at one with your surroundings.
The same goes with physical training. Whether it is swimming, cycling, running, golf, tennis, what ever you enjoy. Take these same skills. Be aware that practice, and slow practice will make you fast. You want to master your golf swing. Be aware that this is your goal, then leave it up there to look at occasionally, and then concentrate on the journey. Breakdown the elements of your swing and practice those elements. Bring patience, focus, commitment, discipline, concentration, because only with those tools will you attain some degree of mastery with your swing, whether it takes 6 months or 6 years it does not matter. Sometimes you will progress, other times you will plateau, sometimes you have to go back a few steps, but patience and the enjoyment of the journey will keep you interested and moving forward.
Mastery through physical challenges is the gateway to your spirit, which is not your mind. It is all encompassing, of which the mind is only but one part. Mind, body, spirit all need to be together in unison to become a better whole person, to progress in your development as a whole person. Be aware that there are plenty of seemingly intelligent people that really are quite stupid and arrogant because their is intelligence is projected as the be all and end all. But you need to connect with other aspects of yourself, not only to master yourself, but all that you do. Physical activity achieves not only fitness and health which brings accountability to yourself, but a single focus where your mind is intent on what you are doing. Yes, you can sit in front of a computer with half a dozen Excel spreadsheets, and be in the moment. But where is your body, where is your spirit, where is your whole person. Through physical development you connect with your other aspects to develop the whole. I love kettle bells because it involves mostly rhythmic movements which I find very relaxing and compelling (maybe it is why I like about trails and ultra endurance events) the rhythmic movements of running or kettle bells or anything that you enjoy, is a great mastery tool in that the movements are repetitive, and enable you to nail that repetition then the next one is not so good, the next one is better, and damm, really stuffed the next one right up!!!! Patience, patience, break down your actions, be in the moment, put it all back together, and then after a few days you can get 10 repetitions just right. Return to the practice, be patient, get better again, stick at it and you will be a better person. Why? Patience, practice, awareness, mental focus, knowing yourself better equals a better whole person in all aspects of your life. Parts are not so good? Go back and practice. Yoga, meditation, physical practice, then try again. Mastering yourself is a lifetime of practice of being patient and focused and enjoying the journey. Mastery, the way to be a better balanced person and to live a better balanced sustainable life. BULLS EYE