When it came to martial art, Bruce Lee was concerned first and foremost with function and cultivating what he referred to as “real-world application,” and used to tell his students, “No amount of ‘dry-land’ swimming will prepare you for the water, if you want to learn to swim, you’ve got to get in the water and get wet.” To achieve this, non-rehearsed, free-lance sparring while wearing protective head-guards, shin-guards, and open-hand gloves topped the list of his martial art training,
In the same way that a swimmer needs to get into the water to experience the truth of swimming, so too, must we dive into the pool of life to experience the truth of it. Some people spend much of their lives engaged in ‘dry-land’ swimming. They stand by the edge of the pool, rehearsing all their strokes in their mind, testing the temperature of the water with their toes, thinking about how it will feel when they get in, or allowing their mind to conjure up fears and anxious speculations as to what it will be like, or to come up with reasons why they shouldn’t get into the pool. Fearful of actually getting wet, they develop a concept or idea of what they want their life to be like or what they want to do then spend their time and energy rehearsing for it, missing the point that the essential quality of living life lies in the living.
Life isn’t a spectator sport. No amount of standing on the sidelines watching life go by and rehearsing is going to prepare us for living. We can read about it in books and magazines, we can listen to audiotapes or watch DVD’s telling us how to do this and that or achieve what you want to achieve. But sooner or later we’ve got to jump in the water, get wet, and swim. In martial arts, there’s a saying that states, “If you want to learn how to kick, kick.” The same can be said with regard to life. If you want to learn how to live, live. Getting into the water is about engaging and participating fully in life. It’s about:
· Combining our knowledge with action
· Taking what you know out onto the floor and testing it
· Choosing targets and setting goals
· Developing laser-like focus
· Immersing ourselves in the moment
· Learning to control self-consciousness and “ease the burden of your mind”
· Stepping out of your comfort zone
· Developing our ability to counter negative attitudes, beliefs and attitudes
Dive into life ... get soaking wet.... swim and enjoy!
(Excerpted from LIBERATE YOURSELF! - How To Think Like Bruce Lee by Chris Kent)
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