The Student Has Become the Master
Ten days after a surgery requiring a year-long recovery, my guy Wy here, began his college “athletic” career.
Due to Covid, he can’t so much as work out with the team. Every day he watches his roommate go off to practice, while he suffocates in their hundred degree apartment alone, doing online classes far beneath his academic capacity, at the junior college - the one he only went to so he could play ball.
When I ask him how things are socially, I get a resounding “Meh.”
Yet, when people ask me how he’s doing, I say "Great!" Because, due to his diligent practices, he is!
I thought about this in meditation today.
When we’re asked how we’re doing, the answer directly relates to what is happening in our lives at the time.
I recently asked someone how their daughter was doing.
The response was:
“She’s in hog heaven! She’s gotten into every sorority she pledged!”
When I ask folks how things are, I'll hear:
“We’re getting by. My teenager is a pain in my ass, I’m still looking for work…”
Or maybe:
“I’m Amazing! I just got a promotion, and met the love of my life, and I'm retiring!”
But Wyatt is doing well despite disappointment in essentially every area of his beginning college experience. How is this possible?
He’s practicing something that isn’t taught in school (or particularly valued in society) - being happy, joyous and free regardless of his circumstances.
He says things like, “I think the reason this has happened is to give me some time to figure out who I am and what I want,” and “I’m really working on getting over my FOMO (Fear of Missing Out).”
By training his brain, he’s affording himself the opportunity to shift his automatic, internal response when his buddies make fun of him for meditating, or when they go play basketball or spike ball or any and all of the activities from which he’s restricted (he has discovered he can still dominate in beer pong with one arm however).
He’s learning to be alone with himself. He’s calling his mother (who is very wise and who is shamelessly enjoying this perk of him not currently living the life of his dreams).
Imagine if you felt inspired or grateful regardless of what happened or didn’t happen to you today?
Imagine if you maintained this state of being even though everything and everyone around you is irritating? To no longer be a victim to the people, places and things in your life, to be the master of your life, rather than a slave to it, takes commitment, will power and time.
BUT, it can be done and there is a proven formula.
Time is running out to sign up for my class, but I’d love have you, and see your life transform.
