Anarchistbanjo's World

Physical competency or mastery is no big secret. It’s like changing dirty diapers on a newborn baby. Everyone makes a mess of it the first few times and through practice and experience gets better at it. Instead of being emotionally distasteful it simply becomes an action or a chore that is done mechanically and efficiently.

In fact, doing something well feels very good! It makes us feel good about ourselves and who we are. In the final stage of risk-taking our actions are no longer hindered by emotions. We are skilled at encountering and creatively resolving challenging situations. Through the long and difficult process of trial and error we become resourceful and even look forward to the next challenge and the rewards it may bring.

This is the stage of personal mastery. In moments of crisis our reserves of creative power automatically take over and do what is needed. This is seen time after time. When our brains shut down our training takes over. Have we been given the training that we need? How do we become trained? We learn by doing and taking risks.

Trying things we have never done before is both exciting and frightening. We don’t know if we will be successful or not. When we first try something we are not successful unless we are very lucky. The key is to have small successes. Small successes teach us the feeling that comes with being successful and develops habit patterns that promote larger successes.

You need to have successes to be successful. Small successes are the steppingstones that we can measure our progress with. Each day contains a small gain or success we have earned, something we have done right that brought a reward. Take a few minutes to think back on the day and remember something that turned out right for you. What was it that you did that allowed the experience to be successful?

Being successful can be just as much of a habit as failing can. The voice of our conscience will instinctively guide our physical actions in ways that keep negative situations from arising if we learn to trust it. First we must learn to listen to it. Are we being true to our inner nature? Are we listening to our inner authority or blindly following some external authority because that is what we are supposed to do?

Physical empowerment comes from having a keen awareness of our physical environment and being deeply sensitive to the possibilities that exist within each moment. Every day is filled with natural closure points and natural beginning points. Are we sensitive enough to sense them or do we push blindly ahead when all the signs say to wait for an hour or two. The voice of our conscience will tell us these things.

When you are in a conversation and realize someone is not paying attention should you continue pouring your heart out? Or would it be better to wait until they are in a more receptive state? Forcing things never works well. Just ask yourself, is this a good time to do this? And listen to your gut feelings and what comes from inside.

For the Master not one moment is wasted or spent uselessly in counterproductive efforts. They are sensitive to the feedback others are giving them and let things go when the time is not right. When things are going well they take advantage of the natural timing and find ways to advance their position.

The Master first passed through each of the previous stages like you and I did. They have risked and risked again. They have been a victim; learned from repeated mistakes; became friends with lead feet, pounding heart and the inability to breathe and to resolutely go forward to physical mastery. This is a natural process and they gladly followed it.

Let us ask again if the phrase “no pain, no gain” applies to the spiritual path and the path of self-mastery. Do things need to be effortless and handed over on a silver plate or is it worth personal discomfort to take the harder path? Is the reward worth the greater effort? Does it feel good to earn things? I guess each one of us must answer this question individually as we come to it.

If I haven’t earned something I don’t want it. We most value those things that we have fought and struggled for. We take for granted those things that have been given to us and not earned.

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We are all part of each other at some level. We are all part of the human collective and on another level humanity is a single organism. Ultimately we cannot hurt someone else without hurting ourselves. But the opposite is just as true. The most powerful way that we can help others is to do what we are truly meant to do in this lifetime. When we do what we are meant to do, the entire world and all of humanity benefits. To be ourselves is the greatest gift that we can give another person and the entire world!

The same consideration holds true for allowing others to follow the still small voice of conscience and the Christ spirit that dwells within their hearts. So take joy in the advancement of your brothers and sisters. Think well of others and give them the benefit of the doubt. Be a good friend in times of need and they will be there for you when you need them.

We are not born for ourselves alone, our families require a share, our country requires a share, our friends require a share. Don’t set yourself above others. Don’t gossip about others, but share your own stories and listen to the stories of others.

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Each person is given a unique perspective based upon past experiences and current beliefs. It is entirely possible to be right or correct in your own mind and dead wrong to someone else.

It is important to recognize the truth and validity in each individual’s viewpoint. Piece by piece we gather knowledge from others and add it to our own to develop a personal belief system.

Given our individual life circumstances, or personal backgrounds, and our past experiences, we are all trying to get through life the best we know how to do.

We all have blind spots, things that we just are not naturally aware of and other people can give us insight into those blind spots because they might not have those blind spots! By learning about our own blind spots we can improve our grasp of reality and become more effective in achieving our goals.

One way of doing this is by developing both the male and female perspectives within our conscious awareness. Males and females perceive the world in very different but equally valid ways. Accepting insight and perspective from the opposite sex will always enrich and balance our personal belief system.

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When we see a person at work or on the street do we know if they act that way at home? Do we always know how our kids act away from home? Do we act differently at home and when we are away from home?

Each individual is very complex with many hobbies, interests and life experiences. Even if we know someone very well we can still be surprised at some of the things they do.

We use the limited knowledge we have about people to form images or stereotypes. We use these images to help us understand and deal with every person in our lives. Because of these images or stereotypes we are sometimes surprised when people don’t respond in the way we are expecting them to. We may even need to reevaluate others and treat them differently as we learn more about them.

One of the most powerful ways to achieve our goals and to experience the things we want in life is to act, dress, and live in a manner that will create the image or stereotype that is appropriate for achieving our goals. Through repeated exposure to the image we are projecting others will stereotype us in a manner that is consistent with our own goals and treat us the way we want to be treated. They will help support us in achieving our goal!

When people don’t recognize the image we project they will create one of their own and we probably won’t like it. Who wants to be labeled as a loser or a freak? We have to give people clues about how we want to be treated.

First we create a general image or stereotype that is recognizable to others. Then we can create a subcategory that is unique and individual that reveals more of our true inner self. We must be true to the stereotype that we project and at the same time remain true to ourselves. Remember an image or stereotype tends toward self-fulfillment because everyone else constantly reinforces it. It is up to us to choose what we want to be in life and let others know how to treat us.

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