“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.” - Marianne Williamson
The best Aikidoists aren’t afraid of being great.
One of the most interesting phenomenons that happens in training is that people leave just as they are getting good. As a teacher, I want to refine my craft of teaching, so I naturally think, “Is it me?” or wonder, “Did I do something wrong?” But then I try to remember that the world doesn’t revolve around me and that my job isn’t to make people good. My job is to teach to the best of my ability, nothing more. Therefore, the outcome is not up to me but solely within the purview of the student and their efforts.
We often say that one “follows” the Way or is “on” the Path of Aikido. So, it helps to remember that every person is on their own journey, me included. Normal people see difficulties, challenges, or adversities as reasons why we should not be doing something and quit. Aikidoists are different and we see those trials and tribulations as the catalysts for kawaru (変わる) or “to change.” Kawaru also means “to be transformed” or “to be uncommon.” Thus, the extraordinary person that we are to become is born out of the adversities that we face.
Furuya Sensei once wrote, “When we suffer bad times, we always think that the world is against us. Actually, we can look at it in another way. The bad times that we suffer are actually a blessing in disguise. Only the purest gold is tested in the hottest fire, lesser metals cannot take the heat. Dogen Zenji said, ‘The greater the aspiration, the greater the enlightenment.’ Aspiration is always tested and polished by hardship.”
Sometimes, it is not failure that we fear, but rather the challenge to be great. Being great sets up an expectation and we fear that expectation or, on the other side, that fall from greatness. So, we hide. We hide our talent, ability, or greatness. In Japanese, “to hide one's true talent or knowledge” is referred to as wakoudoujin (和光同塵). Wakou means “peace and light,” dou means “same as” and jin means “garbage” or “dust.” Thus, we hide ourselves because we think that our greatness is somehow not worthy enough.
No matter who we are, our rank, or how much time we have on the mat, there will always be some adversity staring us in the face. Some of it is physical like aging, injury, or a lack of skill. Others will be mental like temperament, self-doubt, or a lack of confidence. Regardless, there will ALWAYS be something that we will have to overcome. Fear and adversity are the paths. They show us where we need to put in the work and their existence is pointing us in the direction toward not only our growth but our greatness.
Aikidoists see everything as a challenge that needs to be overcome. They don’t shrink and they don’t hide. Aikidoists follow the Way of Aikido which means that they don’t resist adversity but see everything as a stepping stone or a forge that is helping them become better and better. The best Aikidoists aren’t afraid of being great and so they never hide and actively seek out opportunities to grow. When adversity rears its head, don’t run away or hide, allow yourself to be great.
Today’s goal: “Do the thing you fear the most, and the death of fear is certain," - Mark Twain