In search of Excellence

Not a day goes by that I don't ask myself: "How can I make this better?" or "What can I learn from this?" or "What's the best advice I can give my readers?"

These questions always remind me I'm on the path of Mastery.

Not always an easy path to be on.

This path has many Plateaus but nevertheless, I've learned to enjoy Plateaus.

You've certainly reached, at some point in your training, a place where you feel like you're stagnating or just barely making improvements.

Depending on how you view this, the plateau might be a bad thing or a good one.

In a society based on instant gratification, reaching a plateau might be viewed as a sign that you're not training hard enough or maybe, what you're doing isn't working.

Not so.

For a student on the path of mastery, plateaus are welcomed and required.

I've talked before about drills you can do to "stretch the brain" and create new neural pathways as well as using keywords to enhance your performance giving you a slight edge over someone who's not using them.

But using these techniques and getting the results you're looking for won't happen over night.

Just repeating a mantra or affirmation, blindfolding yourself or playing Sudoku once isn't enough to cause the mind to, in a sense, re-wire itself to be more efficient.

Just like how getting Fat or losing it doesn't happen in a matter of days, they are habits you've maintained that eventually led to a result.

If you quit at the first sign of a plateau you'll never succeed at anything. There are many quick fixes available but none of them are of interest to the student that's on the the path of mastery.

You are willing to wait for your ligaments and muscles to thicken over time through diligent, specific strength training.

You realize like walking, you eventually became successful at it and you realize the challenge of moving your body in a new movement or technique is only a matter of time before your mind, body and nervous system work together to make those movements natural and effortless.

You also realize flexibility, is an "acquired taste", the first few times you try it, it ain't so fun but with persistency, flexibility will lead to greater speed and will actually get you in a very calm state.

The student on the path of mastery also learns to reap great joy from the mere act of doing, fully embracing the moment, not allowing the mind to wander where it's been and where it's going.

There's no rush. If you focus all of your attention on that climactic day where you actually GET what you were looking for, you just might realize like I have, that the journey is way better than the destination.

Enjoy the process, a plateau simply points out you need a bit more time to absorb what it is you're working on.

For you it might be Flexibility.

Maybe it's finally getting fit and following an effective Fitness Program.

Whatever it is you'll find something of interest here to start your journey.

Master Yourself,

Sifu Martin