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Become The Ocean

Published on June 26, 2024

“If you don’t become the ocean, you’ll be seasick every day.”
Leonard Cohen

Try and sail forward without consideration or respect for the almighty waves and winds and depths of the ocean—and you’ll undoubtedly lose.

There is no straight line across an ocean just like there is no straight line across life.

And the more you try and force a straight line or fight the ocean’s almighty currents… the quicker you’ll fatigue, get “seasick,” and fail.

As it is in water: the harder you fight the greater the resistance—so, too, is it in life.

So, don’t fight the ocean and don’t fight life—surrender instead.

And no, I don’t mean give up or quit. Surrender to the forces of the ocean—the forces of life—and learn to align with those forces so you can more smoothly flow.

Learn how to set your sails so the wind is always at your back. Learn how to steer your ship so that the power of the waves is either split down the middle (and mitigated) or aligned with the direction you’re heading anyway. Learn how to rest and recover so that your energy levels are always replenished and ready to be deployed on even the stormiest of days.

In short: learn how to become one with the ocean, as opposed to being a rebellious little ship.

P.s. The above quote was my inner work prompt for the day. What comes to mind for you when you read that quote?

Mastery Is Not An End

Published on June 25, 2024

Eight years ago, on this day, I tested for my 4th degree black belt in ITF Tae Kwon-Do—the rank of master in our martial arts system.

The title “master” can mean many different things to many different people and there were plenty of schools of thought and opinions that were passed along my way that helped me uncover my own.

To me, this step is similar to the step that’s taken when a young person graduates from school and enters “the real world;” when the child moves out of their parents’ house and learns to provide for themselves; when the sheltered homebody is sent off on a worldly adventure to learn how to make it on their own.

What I see in that title is a symbolic shift in responsibility from being a student within the school to being a student of the arts. From being a dependent on the teachers’ knowledge to being an independent seeker of knowledge. From being a disciplined practitioner to being a self-disciplined ambassador and leader.

Look at it as an ending… and you’ll quickly lose the habits and skillsets that got you there in the first place.

As it is with any skillset that’s “mastered” in life.

Mastery doesn’t represent an end to learning.

It doesn’t represent an end to training.

And it definitely doesn’t represent an end to what can be uncovered within the art(s).

Mastery, as is the case with every stage along our journey, should be looked at as yet another beginning. One that should be taken with an increased sense of responsibility, a heightened sense of pride, and a stronger than ever devotion to realizing one’s potential.

Onward.

You Parties

Published on June 24, 2024

I’ve been remembering lately how I used to crash on my bed at the end of a long day and scroll through my social timelines for 30 minutes to an hour each night before falling asleep.

…And how that isn’t even a thought that occurs to me anymore.

Now, it’s always either crash on my bed at the end of a long day and read or crash on my bed at the end of a long day and sleep.

And what an incredible victory worth celebrating that is.

One that, let me tell you, I haven’t really celebrated at all.

It was a challenge that I worked hard to integrate into my lifestyle that slowly, slowly, became a part of my lifestyle which, by definition, meant it was something I didn’t have to think about once it was established.

Upon reflection, I realized that I focused on other things I wanted to challenge and change about my lifestyle instead.

…And so it goes in life, eh?

If we always only think about what we’re lacking, not doing, or could be doing better… we’ll always feel bad about where we are—if we even remember to think about where we are at all.

Which isn’t to say thinking about how we can grow is bad… it’s just to remind you to balance it with some gratitude and awareness for how far you’ve come and to throw a little party for yourself every now and again.

I mean, seriously…when’s the last time you threw a little party for yourself, eh?

There Isn’t Much Time Left

Published on June 23, 2024

…To unleash all that you are inside.

Each day that passes that doesn’t involve you realizing more of your potential, sharing your unique gifts, expressing yourself more authentically, and/or connecting more deeply with others is a day that fades to black in the timeline of your life.

…A day that vanishes from your memory.

…A day that never makes it to your eulogoy.

…A day that may only permeate into the well of your regret.

There isn’t much time left.

Do something today that’ll help you realize all that you are inside.

P.s. In case you missed it, you can read the best of what I posted to MoveMe Quotes last week, here.

Simplify People Gatherings

Published on June 23, 2024

Don’t complicate people gatherings.

Time… place… a thing or two to do…

And let the magical depth of our incomprehensible existences express themselves and connect (once again) for a while.

So much of the loneliness we feel can be solved by simplifying our formula.

Inner Work Prompt: What’s a problem in your life that’s being made worse by complication? How can you simplify your approach?

On Keeping Your Grass Green

Published on June 21, 2024

The grass is greener on the other side—particularly when you’re comparing your grass to others’. Someone’s grass will always be greener than yours by comparison. But, if you stop comparing your grass to others, you might be able to reallocate that time to caring for your own… thus making it greener than it ever could have been before.

The grass is greener where you water it—especially when water comes in finite quantities. If you spray your water on other people’s lawns all day… don’t be surprised when your lawn is dying and yellow. Water your grass first, invest a little extra where it’s struggling, and gift the rest to others—in that order. And don’t be stingy with your water when you’re done taking care of yours… the beautiful thing about tomorrow is you’ll always get a full refill to use once again.

Finally, one more… but first, context: I uploaded a quote today to MMQ that said: “Maybe you don’t need to move abroad, dump the boyfriend or quit the job. Maybe you just need to learn to appreciate what you have. The grass is greener where you water it.” To which I’d encourage you to consider another equally important variable: The grass is greener where it’s less toxic—sometimes you do, indeed, just need to either move or get some new grass altogether… And not because you’re not thankful… but because you’re smart and know that environmental health is just as important as any other variable.

Inner Work Prompt: What would you say is the state of your “lawn.” How healthy/unhealthy is it? Why? What do you need to do (really) to make it greener?

Mistakes Aren’t Mistakes

Published on June 20, 2024

In martial arts, mistakes aren’t deviations from the training—they’re a fundamental component of it.

In other words, learning how to recover from mistakes is just as important as learning how to properly punch and kick in the first place.

The reason is because in self-defense—one of the fundamental focuses of any martial art—there are no do-overs. You don’t get to ask your attacker to stop and re-attack you because you made a mistake doing your self-defense or you weren’t ready.

The self-defense must go on. Your thinking must carry on. Your movement must flow on.

And if that’s the end goal, then that has to be the way in which we practice—because the way we practice IS the way we’re going to perform.

And so it is in life.

Mistakes aren’t deviations from the path—they’re a necessary part of the path.

They’re opportunities for us to learn how to think quickly on our feet… to look for openings in unexpected circumstances…to practice being calm and collected even when we’re flustered or confused.

We learn to roll with the punches, both in martial arts and in life, because fighting is never perfect. It’s messy, ugly, and surprising… and preparing for THAT—practicing when it IS that—is preparing for life.

Preparing for perfect is planning for fantasy. And planning for fantasy is the REAL mistake.

Category: Archives