In martial arts we talk about using our training to help us achieve our “true potential”. That certainly sounds good but what does it mean?

Well first off, I think we have to get in touch with our own beliefs and priorities. For me this this started out with identifying what things in my life had real value and meaning versus what thought and activities served no real purpose. Then tossing out most of those non essential activities and replacing them with ones that served me better.

Perhaps some of those things we do, are just to please others. Generally, speaking I think little good ever comes from doing something strictly to please someone else. Eventually don’t we learn to resent or dislike it? Maybe even ultimately rebel against it? Best to find some common ground - some give and take rather than completely setting ourselves aside just to make someone else happy. 

Having said that, once one has a firm grasp of what truly makes them happy (and unhappy) they can start to evaluate what things they are doing that is congruent with their own goals and beliefs. Just as an example, over the past 6 months to a year I have gotten back in touch with the fact that I enjoy writing. Yet, because it is not my profession, it never really ocurred to me I had anything of value to share or that I had the talent to do it. But recently, I have started to think differently about that. Perhaps I do. Perhaps we all do. I recalled how much I enjoyed telling and writing stories. People seemed to enjoy those stories and my mom always used to say I should do something with “that”. Whatever “that” is.

You see, I don’t think if not for the time I have spent meditating, practicing and taking the time to sit and enjoy nature if I would have found that piece of me again. But I am glad I rediscovered it and recently I have decided to pursue something that I have always wanted to try my hand at which is writing a book.  Why not? What have I got to lose? I even strongly suspect, that this is part of the journey I am suppose to taking. That this decision and the act of doing it is part of my “reaching my true potential.”  I guess over the next months or years I will find this out.

Some may automatically assume I will measure my success or failure in this writing venture based on whether or not I get the book published. Then if I do, the next “test” will be how many copies it sells. But I already know that this is not where I will get the value from the process.

Just one step toward reaching that “true potential”. But then again, that is all we can do. Take one step at a time and enjoy the ride along the way. Never forgetting that it is “the enjoyment of the ride”, with all of its ups and downs, that is the whole point.