Getting Energy for Mastery

"A human being is the kind of machine that wears out from lack of use. There are limits, of course, and we do need healthful rest and relaxation, but for the most part we gain energy by using energy... It might well be that all of us possess enormous stores of potential energy, more than we could ever hope to use." ~ George Leonard from Mastery

That's beautiful.

How about you? Are you playing full out? How can you step it up a notch or two (or seven? J)?

Leonard offers a variety of tips to get energy for mastery. Some of my favorites:

• Set priorities and make decisions. He says, "Indecision leads to inaction, which leads to low energy, depression, despair." What have you been putting off making a decision on? Make a decision. Get clear on what you're going to do. And do it.

• Take action! As an aikido master, he says, "It's instructive to watch the immediate surge of clarity and energy during training that comes from the simplest act of writing one's name on a notice." Love that. What notice do YOU need to write your name on?!?

• Get on the path of mastery and stay on it!! This is perhaps the surest way to fuel your energy. As Leonard advises, "Much of the world's depression and discontent... can ultimately be traced to our unused energy, our untapped potential." How can you tap more of your potential today?!?

As we set off on our path of mastery and practice developing our (noun) practice, let us remember the wisdom of Fritz Perls, the founder of Gestalt therapy:

"I don't want to be saved, I want to be spent."

And, can't keep George Bernard Shaw out of this chat!! J

"This is the true joy in life, the being used for a purpose recognized by yourself as a mighty one; the being a force of nature instead of a feverish selfish clod of ailments and grievances complaining that the world will not devote itself to making you happy. I am of the opinion that my life belongs to the whole community and as long as I live it is my privilege to do for it whatever I can. I want to be thoroughly used up when I die, for the harder I work, the more I live. I rejoice in life for its own sake. Life is no ‘brief candle' to me. It is sort of a splendid torch which I have a hold of for the moment, and I want to make it burn as brightly as possible before handing it over to future generations."

Or William James, eh?!? J

"Most people never run far enough on their first wind to find out they've got a second. Give your dreams all you've got and you'll be amazed at the energy that comes out of you."

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