“Experience teaches that nature among
mortals cannot operate in any other way than that in which reason teaches it to
work.”
~ Leonardo Da Vinci (1452 –
1519)
REFLECTIONS ON “MASTERY” …
I have been
reflecting on the concept of Mastery lately. I realized that I had an
underlying mindset, unconscious until I was reflecting, that I think has its
roots in the distant past, when one could actually master all the knowledge
that was available about any given subject. This was perhaps even less than 100
years ago.
Of course now, with
the global technological ever-expanding access we have on pretty much any
subject, along with the ever-expanding knowledge being gained on any subject,
this type of mastery is impossible. Mastery now would be a possibility to live
into for any given subject, but most likely not a finite venture.
So given my
underlying “historical” mindset, “mastery” of anything seemed impossible.
I then wondered: Is
there any subject or any place in my life where I feel I have accomplished any level of mastery? The one area that kept
recurring to my thoughts was in the consulting work I do. I definitely feel a
level of mastery in a couple of the professional areas I have trained and
developed myself in over several decades. One area of mastery I have developed
has to do with an ability to stay focused and grounded with others, often in a
group, in spite of any reactivity and/or emotionalism on their part. Even if I
get triggered in some way, I can count on myself to manage my reactions in the
moment and deal with myself later.
So, I thought, well,
if I can stay grounded in the face of my and other’s emotional reactions in a
professional setting, why do I not always stay grounded in the face of my own
and other’s reactions in my personal
life, and with my significant others?! If I can do this professionally, I have
the capacity to do it. So, why do I not
do that?!
Good question, eh?
And then it struck
me.
I am clearly
committed to a larger purpose when working with others professionally. I am
clear that I am committed to being a contribution to them, such that they are
free from many of their own constraints from the past. It is not about me. I am
committed to being of service, so I am able to interact impersonally and thus
access my own innate wisdom in any given circumstance.
What I then saw was,
in my personal life, I get sloppy. I am not willing to sustain a commitment to
myself to stay grounded in spite of external circumstances. I allow myself to –
through habit and consequent engrained brain patterns – forget my own personal
commitment to be free from the past and profoundly present. I consciously
choose that for others, but in the world of how I “should” be treated, how
people “should” act towards me, I am of course disappointed in what others say
and do “to” me, and take it personally. This then allows me to experience being
that most delicious and seductive of human experiences: The Victim!
Tune in to the July blog to hear the rest of this exploration of the
rewards and pay-offs of being The Victim … as well of course as the price! … With
some helpful thoughts on how to extricate ourselves – if we so choose!
