Bugger that word... perfect. Perfect is a state of mind. How about rather than focusing on that, let's look at the first two words... Self Discipline.

Self discipline is the driving force to practice. You have to be willing to focus on achieving and surpassing your goals and nothing else when engaged in the practice. Everybody has their passion. For me, martial arts fills that gap. I've been at it now for over 30 years. At this point honestly self discipline has gone a bit lax. I practice now because it's what I do, but the only time my self discipline to train really kicks in is when I'm doing something new. The material I teach is so engrained in my mind and body... I admit, I slip a bit.

BUT... on the new stuff to learn and do... ooooohhhhh... razor focus comes back, hard edged training mentality surfaces. Nothing else matters except what I am doing exactly at that moment.

Last night in my Chen Taiji Quan class, that showed up happily again. After performing warm ups and a bit of tui shou (Push hands), we performed the Yi Lu (first road or form) routine. We picked two movements to practice. There's a total of four motions. So for the next 90 minutes, I gladly & happily did four motions. Over. And over. And over. Then we grabbed a partner practiced for a while longer.

I left sweaty, a little sore and feeling more fulfilled than when I walked in. Was it an endorphin dump? Yeah sure. Was it self centered accomplishment? Yep. You betcha. Was a light cardio workout? Got that too... More than anything, it was the overriding sense of self discipline radiating. That sense of right then, right there, my focus and determination to do a thing was sharper and more pointed than any other time during my day. I could have done anything, literally anything, better than I normally could at that time.

Now the next thing to do... increase that self discipline arena to more than just one aspect of daily life.

But as with everything practiced... ONE STEP AT A TIME!

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Comments

  • Hi Sean, Thank You for a practically brilliant insight! Best, Shakti Saran

  • Trust me I know about busy. Some days it just is not going to happen, no matter how you try.

    The important thing (in my experience) is doing something. Obviously, you should try to do the planned work out. If that's just not going to happen, do a piece of it or maybe only "x" minutes of it because that's all you can squeeze in.

    Then pickup as normal on your next workout. Don't "make up" for what you didn't get to do because that will throw the routine (and your body) out of balance by overcompensating as much as not getting it in did. Better to work off a deficiency rather than struggle through an overage.

  • Hi Sean, Your post is of high value. I've been very busy for a while now and that I couldn't go to gym this Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and today (Monday). However, at home I did martial arts based workout yesterday and that I would do the same today. I realize that going to the best gym possible has its own values including by learning from the instructors and also by getting value from the group classes. Hence, even if I can make it to the gym 3-4 times a week, it's worth it. Moreover, working out at gym also helps when working out at home. Thank You for such a valuable post which is also highly motivating! Best! Shakti Saran

  • Some more valuable quotes on

    http://quotes-motivational.com/Motivational/Vince-Lomardi-Quotes.html including 

    "Perfection is not attainable, but if we chase perfection we can catch excellence."

    "Practice does not make perfect. Only perfect practice makes perfect."

  • Also, a few quotes that seem to be of value:

    From http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/keywords/perfection.html

    A perfection of means, and confusion of aims, seems to be our main problem.
    Albert Einstein

    A principle is the expression of perfection, and as imperfect beings like us cannot practise perfection, we devise every moment limits of its compromise in practice.
    Mahatma Gandhi

    A day spent without the sight or sound of beauty, the contemplation of mystery, or the search of truth or perfection is a poverty-stricken day; and a succession of such days is fatal to human life.
    Lewis Mumford

  • Thank You Sean! This is of high value! I wish you the best in your pursuit of perfection in all aspects of life!

    Also, I would like to share this which I think has its own value:

    From http://www.zenguide.com/zenmedia/books/content.cfm?t=tao_te_ching&a...

    TAO TE CHING - Chapter 27. Perfection

    The perfect traveller leaves no trail to be followed;
    The perfect speaker leaves no question to be answered;
    The perfect accountant leaves no working to be completed;
    The perfect container leaves no lock to be closed;
    The perfect knot leaves no end to be ravelled.

    So the sage nurtures all men
    And abandons no one.
    He accepts everything
    And rejects nothing.
    He attends to the smallest details.

    So the strong must guide the weak,
    For the weak are raw material to the strong.
    If the guide is not respected,
    Or the material is not cared for,
    Confusion will result, no matter how clever one is.

    This is the secret of perfection:
    When raw wood is carved, it becomes a tool;
    When a man is employed, he becomes a tool;
    The perfect carpenter leaves no wood to be carved.

    Best!

    Shakti Saran

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