“Set patterns, incapable of adaptability, of pliability, only offer a better cage. Truth is outside of all patterns.”
“Using no way as a way, having no limitation as limitation.”
― Bruce Lee (Tao of Jeet Kune Do)
The world at large is quick to tell us what we cannot do. What we are not qualified to do. It’s quick to try to dent our confidence. It can even lead to us not starting a thing at all.
Yet every single one of us will be able to point to many personal examples of where ‘the world’ has been wrong. Examples where this worldly ‘sense’ has failed to hold true. We will have overcome the odds in our own way. Done many things others told us we couldn’t, or wouldn’t, or shouldn’t, be able to.
Reconnecting with the Beginner’s Mindset
There is a concept in Zen Buddhism called Shoshin, meaning ‘beginner’s mind’. It refers to cultivating an attitude of openness and eagerness. Treating everything as fresh and new, through the eyes of the beginner.
With this mindset we avoid our obsession with looking forward or looking back. Instead, we approach what we are doing with open curiosity. Unburdened by social conditioning, herd mentality or past experiences.
We realise that just because someone says a thing is so, it doesn’t necessarily make it so. We realise that accepting the limitations others put on us, or themselves, is a personal choice. We can accept these limitations as truth, or we can choose to dig deeper and search for something else. Committing to finding our own edges in life, through exploration. Through first-hand experiences and adventures.
Along the way, we’ll learn that we can often replace cannot with can. We will find possible in amongst the impossibles. We will learn that oftentimes we can reject second-hand theory and dogma, finding our own way instead. Developing our own theories as we do.
We’ll hit hurdles and challenges along the way of course but we will also feel an overwhelming sense of empowerment. We will take extra pride in our achievements as they will feel much more like ours to truly own.
We can use no way as an invitation to find a way.