Accepting Reality

I've previously discussed the legendary samurai, Miyamoto Musashi. He was undefeated, much like Floyd Mayweather, but his battles were literally life and death. My interest in Musashi has led me to explore his teachings beyond "The Book of Five Rings," thanks to a client's recommendation.

Musashi's principles for living are encapsulated in a work known as the "Dokkodo," consisting of 21 rules. Today, I'll focus on the first rule: Embracing reality as it is.

Let's delve deeper into the idea of "accepting the moment as it is." This concept has been a challenge for me since I embarked on my business journey six years ago. Even now, I occasionally find myself resisting the present circumstances. It seems this struggle is a universal aspect of the human experience, as I've encountered similar sentiments from individuals across various backgrounds.

When I first encountered the notion of accepting the present moment in "The Power of Now," my initial reaction was one of resistance. My thoughts were, “Why should I accept my current situation when I’m unhappy?” I worried that acceptance might hinder my ability to effect change.

However, through reflection and reading, I’ve come to appreciate the significance of embracing the moment. Constantly battling against reality creates a rift between our desires and the present, leading to unnecessary stress and suffering. Surprisingly, we often become so accustomed to this tension that we only recognize it when we finally find peace.

It was only about two months ago that I began to experience a breakthrough. My typical routine involved waking up with a sense of uncertainty, which I tried to channel into motivation. In reality, I was merely masking my discomfort without addressing it. Accepting the present moment brought about a curious feeling of emptiness at times, which was startling initially, but it ultimately led to a newfound sense of peace.

While there are still days when I wake up feeling uneasy, I now have the awareness to manage my emotions more effectively. The most intriguing development has been the progress I've made since ceasing my resistance to reality; I feel as though my progress has accelerated.

In recent weeks, I have encountered challenges that would have previously derailed my day, but by accepting the moment, I've been able to navigate through them more smoothly. Previously, such disruptions would have impacted my mood for days.

I've been delving into materials that explore the intersection of psychology and quantum physics, and while these ideas are not scientifically proven, they resonate with my experiences. There’s a theory suggesting that the more we fixate on a desired outcome, the more we inadvertently push it away, creating distance from what we want. Ironically, when we relinquish that desire, we often find ourselves closer to achieving it.

Consider this: Reflect on moments in your life where you were fixated on a particular goal. Did achieving it bring you lasting happiness? I can think of several instances where I thought that attaining something would lead to joy, only to find that the satisfaction was fleeting.

P4P Week 49 Updates

After a week of remarkable momentum, this week feels comparatively stagnant. However, I accept that momentum is not always consistent.

Currently, I've paused content creation for my personal brand outside of this newsletter, uncertain if I'll return to it soon. While it sometimes feels necessary to stay busy, I also appreciate the space to think.

Despite the slower pace, our community is still growing: 2,122 (+78) subscribers, bringing us to 2,200! Additionally, a client of mine just surpassed 1,000 subscribers on his newsletter, which is an impressive milestone.

Next week is particularly significant for me—Week 50! That's half a year of consistently writing this newsletter without missing a week. Shortly thereafter, Week 52 will mark a full year of dedication to this endeavor.

It’s been an enlightening journey. Until next time, remember to trust the process and embrace it fully.

Kevin

P.S. If you're interested in exploring more of my writings, check them out here. Currently, I’m on Episode 65.