One of the things I noticed in myself, and then in the people around me is that as we grow older we tend to become teachers instead of learners. What I mean by that is that our minds start to sound off whenever we’re about to learn something.
Our mind butts in and says, “I know this already!” It’s as though we are trying to save time and cut to the chase, but lately as I’ve been practicing I noticed that you really miss things if you’re not open to them.
Luckily, I have a few life experiences that remind me on a consistent basis why it’s important to have a beginner’s mind. Here are some of them…
1. Martial Arts
When practicing Tae Kwon Do, I know that no matter how many times you’ve practiced the basic punch, you have to focus and make it your best one… as if you were learning it for the first time all over again.
2. Spiritual Practice
I consider myself to be a nature lover, with a keen mind for new ideas. So when someone from a different cultural or religious background shows up in my life, I like to learn about their beliefs without judgment.
3. Raw Food
When I first heard about raw food, it sounded a little crazy. But it wasn’t until I suspended my disbelief that I was able to really give it a try, and once I gave it a go there was no turning back.
4. Computers
Some of you know that I’ve got a degree in Software Engineering, and yet every time I catch myself saying “oh yeah, I know that already” when it comes to programming or new software, I need to stop. Once I remind myself that I learned the best when I was a kid soaking up computer lingo, I can learn much faster.
5. Relationships
Ahhh relationships! Honestly, I don’t know anyone who knows everything they will ever need to know to have “perfect” relationships. That why I am constantly learning from and with my boyfriend Robin, so we’re forever evolving together.
What better way to be a student of life?
That’s exactly why when my friends Jonathan Mead and Charlie Gilkey came out with their productivity un-system, I told my mind to be quiet for a moment. Even though I’ve studied and learned from a lot of teachers over the years, and I consider myself to be pretty productive, I knew I had to quiet my mind and pay attention to what they had to say.
Boy, am I ever glad I did! The program is called “The Dojo” and it comes with a 40 page downloadable PDF and 7 short audio recordings that you can listen in whatever order you like. The design of this thing is incredible! You can tell the amount of love and intention that went into this program, and that alone was enough for me to dive in and absorb the material.
What I found as I listened and read was that it was more than applicable for me, but also that it could really help anyone who has a goal or a project that they want to undertake but never seem to get done. I loved the martial arts theme that is weaved throughout, from the name of the program (The Dojo) to the 7 tenets, and of course the yin and yang graphics.
After reading just a few pages I already felt more at piece. I realized that there is no perfect “productivity” gadget or system out there. But that it’s all about training myself, here in The Dojo, to do the work that will have the biggest impact for me personally and for the world at large.
The quote that got me off my butt, writing this right now was this one: “The constant urge to move, change, and grow needs to be balanced with the necessity of being, stillness, and acceptance.”
It’s powerful stuff. And I don’t recommend stuff unless I think it’s useful for other people, and I’ve tried it myself. If you buy the program and give it a go, I make a percentage, but that’s not the reason why I wanted to share this with you.
Trust me when I say that I am really grateful for the work that both of these super tuned-in gentlemen put into The Dojo. They’re clearly onto something too, because they were able to put together this project amongst their busy lives, spending time with their significant others, and training for martial arts fights in Jonathan’s case.
So if you’ve got a project, business, or piece of work that you feel drawn to bring into this world – pick up a copy of The Dojo and see what you’re capable of.
