Stable Instability
As we move deeper into 2019 there may be subtle thoughts that each new month will bring back some sense of familiar stability and peace amidst the chaos in life. Life seems to continue irregardless of how we feel things should be. The state of instability can be unsettling for our egos whom grasps anxiously at any sign of stability. Be mindful with what your ego is grasping at, that it’s not just something familiar and comfortable to satiate or numb out the turbulent waves of change and the unknown.
In weapons training the other week, we practiced a technique with the jo stick that incorporated a quick change in technique from the technique that one began with to a different one. In short, it looked like one was meant to attack from the right side, but instead at the midway point of executing that technique one turned that technique into a parry. The complete technique was about committing to the initial attack as if one was to execute it fully and at the last minute one was to change and turn the technique into the parry for the final attack.
When one is moving as the attacker executing this full technique it becomes challenging to not want to bypass the initial form of attack knowing that one isn't going to fully execute it. Yet one must commit to the initial attack so fully that the uke (receiver of the attack) is compelled to defend her/himself in that one moment, the moment of instability, which is what the nage (attacker) is seeking to exploit. By utilizing that one moment of instability from the uke preparing to defend or deflect the attack is when the nage commences the parry and takes uke's center to win.
If one can train in life this way, fully committing to something be it a relationship, one's health, well-being, or one's career while also holding the ability and fluidity to change at a moment's notice, from an unstable place then one learns how to have stability amidst instability. This is the Spiritual Warrior's state of mind, where each aspect of one's life is a utilization of growth, winning, and empowerment no matter the odds stacked up against you.
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Some helpful tips on how to apply stable instability into your life:
1. Be open to adventure. Stay curious.
2. Accept life as it is and not how it should or could be.
3. Let go of wanting or desiring people, places, and things to act or be a certain way.
4. Offer compassion to yourself and others. Here is a great article on how to generate metta (compassion) for oneself and others.
5. Play. Let creativity flow by doing something you enjoy and is fun!
6. Verbalize gratitude to yourself and others.
7. Take one small courageous step towards your dreams and goals today.
Key components in the application of stable instability are recognizing the fluid constance of change and in staying playful and open to the process by giving yourself the opportunity to laugh and experience joy amidst turbulence is another act of parrying off an initial attack. Joy and laughter resides in the heart, the place of balance and love. Laughter many times can help us right ourselves after we’ve lost our balance and been displaced by another force. Play and openness doesn’t mean one can’t still be present and focused in what is happening in one’s life. Just like when one is training on the martial arts mat with weapons, there is a keen focus and presence of mind in order to execute the techniques successfully without getting hit, while also having a heart-felt joy in learning and moving the body in new ways to address the infinite situations that life can present within the format of nage (attacker) and uke (receiver).
As spiritual warrior we use everything in our lives to further ourselves along the path of Self-discovery. We experience turbulence and groundlessness and ask ourselves, “How can I use this for my spiritual growth and refinement?” “What beliefs or behaviors do I need to let go of that are holding me back from experiencing peace and joy right now?”
Once you receive the answer then it’s taking those courageous steps forward of change. Each new step offers a new point of reference; a new perspective that brings about stability amidst instability.
Life is ever a joyous mystery to be discovered. Remember the joy in the journey -turbulence and all.
On June 4th, I will be leading a meditation workshop in Orange County. I look forward to sitting with you! Click here for more info or register here.
Heart Light,
Hathor (Hui)