DoaD #7 - Calm, Fluid Centre
Wow, listen to those parakeets.
That's beautiful.
This is episode six, of Diary of a Daoist.
It's going to be a short one because today was a lot of learning, sitting under a master in the art of coaching. Absorbing the ways to help develop a child mentally, physically, and technically, in terms of parkour and activity. It's fascinating to see this beautiful structure behind how these coaches direct their programs and help kids develop in these three different areas. How can it also be applied to me and how can I self-reflect and see where I want to develop and grow? A helpful opening up of the curtain to this new level of responsibility that I'm going to be handed. Taking the lead and planning lessons for a whole year of coaching for a class of kids. It's a blessing to be able to inspire these kids and hopefully have a positive impact on their lives. Seeing the journey that Seb’s been on and the level of clarity and focus he has charging headfirst towards his mission in this life is inspiring.
Showing me that I do not need to rush at all. Just take my time. Plan and be patient, be willing to change the plan and make another plan and be even more patient. Seeing how over the years Seb has picked up these amazing coaches and this team of people that I'm around and everyone's willingness to help kids grow mentally, physically, technically and expressively as well.
I'm coming to understand that Daoism is just a language. It's a form of expression for these deeper feelings and connections to nature that we have but can't quite explain. It provides the language and it gives a mode of cultivating that essence. This is what I'm learning how to do and how to pass on those teachings to kids non-verbally through physical and mental development.
It's beautiful, to be given the chance to manifest these beliefs and ways of understanding the world I picked up and infuse it into my teachings and lessons to kids. It's beautiful, such a blessing. Wow.
I never knew that my path would lead this way. I just have to thank Dao. Thank the way. The path I chose to carve out for myself and that's it, it's not some higher thing I'm praying up to wishing and hoping that I'll get the best thing for me and will grant me all of my wishes, and desires and dreams. It is something that came from returning to my centre. Right back to the Well the child in me loves to play around and one of those things is parkour. Choosing that to go forth with has taken me down an avenue that's allowed me to discover all this about myself. So that now I can have a small impact on my tiny part of the world.
I am seeing the importance of building a team around me it does not have to be many at all. I need to let go of this weird fantasy in my head that I've either got to do it alone or have a whole corporate team or I don't know what it is maybe the infection of social media and seeing all these massive businesses and teams and thinking that's what I need to aim towards. When I've got a reflection right in front of me of how powerful a small team of warriors can be when that force is all directed in a focused point.
Whilst I've been finishing my time at uni, my centre, my aim of this bow has been skewed to focusing too much on the target. It's become less about how I’m standing. How's my shoulder raised? How calm is my breath? How's my tension on the bowstring? The focus on the actual practice of lining up the bow has been lost a little bit. Focused too much on this target, this outcome. Where will this outcome from my uni project take me? Where can I take the next one? Then, I’m thinking about the next outcome. It's lost the process, the journey, the preparing of the arrow for the shot, for whenever it comes. That brings me back to why I've gravitated so much towards the Well and this image and the whole purpose of….
that
…providing people with some space. Some silence. Curiosity and confidence to see what lies beneath the surface. Invite people to look within that Well, whatever that means. I don't think I have a definitive answer even myself what that means but I know it simply means looking within and listening to the [noise] and the silence. The less I do that, the more I realise I'm focused on these illusions that exist outside myself, that outward purpose and desire of needing to be seen by other people from the outside. Forgetting about this process, that’s constantly changing within and if only I could tap into it and reflect what I see. All I want to do is have these different nodes and touchpoints that bring people closer towards this sincere, calm, fluid centre.
Yeah, no rush, no rush.
Take time…. because
“to the mind that is still, the universe surrenders” - Laozi
Beautiful.
Peace
