I recall this moment when many of us sat down in a summit classroom to hear one of my mentors speak. He instructed us to put away our notebooks, close our laptops, and silence our phones. He wanted us to sit as we were and listen to what he had to say.
Being an avid note-taker, I was distraught and freaking out! What if I miss something he says? What if he throws out a nugget that will make the next advancement in my learning and teaching as a martial artist? I was afraid I would miss something, but then he explained.
At every conference, a speaker will ask the audience, “What one thing will you implement on Monday?” We are there to learn, and often it is a lot. Realistically, how much information can we process? We can write down all we want; however, what will we remember? Maybe, one or two things strike a nerve or bring an “ah-ha” moment? If we sit back and merely listen, we can absorb the most significant part of the lesson that speaks to us at that moment.
“Mindfullness is simply being aware of what is happening right now without wishing it were different.” James Baraz
This concept is unique to everyone because we create filters that each experience passes through on a moment-to-moment basis. What we see, hear, taste, and even smell triggers a time warp to specific memories. That is why two people can smell the notes and taste identical wine or whiskey yet come up with two completely different explanations for what they are tasting.
Sometimes our filters are created by those we are around the most. We adopt certain words or mannerisms, thoughts, and perspectives from those closest to our lives. What we watch, listen to, and experience repetitively creates these filters across a period. If we want to experience something fresh, we should try new things, visit new places, listen to new music, and taste new foods. We should allow ourselves to become a child again and enjoy more first-time experiences.
When my wife and I first started dating, we kept a journal together. Each entry was when we experienced a first together. It didn’t matter that we had visited a place separately or even with a former significant other. It was new to us; therefore we were to share the experience for the first time.
We must acknowledge our filters and carefully watch them as experiences pass through them. In doing this, we can keep an open mind and make sure our filters don’t become barriers that impede the process of our growth. Our filters are what can help us continue to evolve as a person, or they can create a lid on our potential. Remember, our path is our path. Our experience is unique to each of us because it is our experience. We don’t have to know everything. We only have to be willing to learn.
“The same boiling water that softens the potato will harden the egg.” Russian Proverb
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