| A Seventeenth Century Samurai maxim states:"A | | | | Others were highly skilled calligraphers. Others |
| man who has attained mastery of an art reveals | | | | became very skilled in the art of the tea |
| it in his every action"This saying is one of my | | | | ceremony. Some became master |
| personal favorites. There is so much depth to its | | | | carpenters.Have you noticed how these "ancillary" |
| meaning. Allow me to discuss it a little and explain | | | | skills are so diametrically opposed to their military |
| how it will be able to benefit you.First, a question: | | | | expertise with the sword? So how and why did |
| What is the single greatest thing that you can do | | | | they engage in these things? Could it be that they |
| with mastery and excellence? Don't say: "nothing." | | | | were "balancing" their lives? Were they following |
| Everybody is good at something. Just think for a | | | | the concept of "yin and yang?"If you are not sure |
| moment.There will be one thing that you can do | | | | what yin and yang is I will outline it briefly for you. |
| perfectly time and time again. It is the thing that | | | | Basically, it a Japanese recognition of the duality of |
| is so ridiculously easy for you to do that you can | | | | all things in nature. For instance, night and day, |
| do it with your eyes closed, almost standing on | | | | female and male, black and white and so on. |
| your head - so to speak. It may be a simple thing | | | | Further, there is some night within day and some |
| or it may be something quite complex, but | | | | day within night and so on.Time for another |
| whatever it is you make it look easy.In fact, you | | | | question. Are you so set in your ways that you |
| are so good at it you make other people think | | | | refuse to develop other skills? Can you not |
| that they can do it easily too - until they try. It | | | | broaden your horizons? Might you be able to |
| might be a sport like tennis or something as | | | | "balance" your life a little more?Think back to that |
| mundane as making scones or cupcakes.It's | | | | one thing that you are able to do very well. Why |
| amazing how a champion tennis player can make | | | | not take that mindset and transfer it to |
| the game look so simple. Or how a master cook | | | | something else? You can create a persona that |
| can seemingly slap ingredients together and come | | | | shows other people that you are a special person. |
| up with an absolute masterpiece of culinary | | | | Others have done it. You even know them. Some |
| delight.So what is it? What are you a master at? | | | | of them might even be your close friends. They |
| Keep that thing in mind while I diverge back to | | | | are the people who seem to be good at |
| the samurai for a moment - a little bit of | | | | everything they turn their minds to. I'll bet you |
| history.The samurai lived by the sword and died | | | | are thinking of somebody like that right now.Now |
| by it. They were so adept at reading body | | | | you know how they do it. They are using the |
| movement that they were able to draw their | | | | samurai maxim.And just to balance the genders |
| swords and use them with deadly effect against | | | | (yin and yang):"A woman who has attained |
| opponents in the mere blink of an eye. Their | | | | mastery of an art reveals it in her every |
| observations and reflexes were finely honed, | | | | action"Develop yourself. Improve your abilities. |
| principally because their very existence depended | | | | You can do it. All it takes is discipline and a |
| on it. But did you know that they were able to | | | | willingness to expand your mind. The samurai did |
| transcend their ability with the sword into other | | | | it. So can you. |
| arts? Many of them were also master poets. | | | | |