Being Point

Tag: Mastery

  • “The Happiness Of A Man In This Life Does Not Consist In The Absence But In The Mastery Of His Passions.” – Tennyson

    Do ALL humans have a driving desire to transform something in their lives? In my profession, by definition, everyone with whom I come in contact is seeking positive change – but I don’t assume that that applies equally to all of us.

    How strong is your desire to transform? What are the burning issues that you know would alter your life for the better if you were able to transform your relationship to them? “Everyday” examples like health, diet, exercise, work-life balance, finances, romance, career, family . . . these are the primary places where most of us strive to make progress.

    What is your number one, absolutely most important area of transformation? Most likely, that’s an area where you not only desire transformation, but mastery.

    Alfred Lord Tennyson wrote:

    “The happiness of a man in this life does not consist in the absence but in the mastery of his passions.”

    What does your primary area of desired transformation have to do with mastering your passions? Assuming that you agree with Tennyson, which of your passions are most relevant to your intention to transform?

  • How Has Perfection Affected Your Life?

    This week’s topic – perfection – has caused much suffering among so many people because it has been interpreted to be the only acceptable way to be – even though being perfect is a completely unrealistic goal.

    Most likely, what we are really talking about when we speak about perfection is a high degree of excellence or mastery in a particular activity where “perfect scores” are attainable. Neither of those terms is absolute, yet “perfection” connotes the ultimate ideal – the best there is or ever could be.

    In the rational light of day, perhaps nothing is perfect . . . with the exception of love if it is unadulterated and unconditional and pure.

    How have you been affected by visions of perfection? Have you felt pressured by family, friends, peers and / or our culture to be without flaw? Even though you might have questioned the true ability of anyone to be perfect, how have the messages about perfection affected your self-image your self-assessment, and your assessment of others? Is there a rational alternative to our cultural addiction to perfection?

  • Surrender In Its Most Powerful Form

    Surrender of our limitations frequently leads us to expand ourselves as human beings. For example, we can surrender isolation and embrace feelings of compassion . . . or even surrender being average so we can embrace a desire for mastery in a given situation. We can choose to surrender old limiting beliefs and prejudices in favor of openness and acceptance.

    So, if surrender is so great, why have you and I been afraid to surrender? Ego perhaps . . . or concern over losing ourselves in surrendering to something perhaps bigger than we are? Fear of the unknown?

    Surrender in its most powerful form is our opening up to forces to which we are highly attracted, but which simultaneously frighten us in some way.

    Consider the example of parenting: there is a simple and poignant surrender of the old way of life for the new. Or the example of a person who may have a talent and be fearful of surrendering to expressing it because it may turn out to be “not good enough.”

    Would you like to cultivate a habit of surrendering to your higher values? How does this apply to your profession, your health, your family, your friendships? How can surrender be related to mastery? What specifically would you ultimately benefit from surrendering to?

    Copyright 2009. E. B. Hutt Bush and Coaching for Results, Inc.