Overlooking the Atlantic, I thought about Bruce Lee. Without my parents’ permission, I remember watching his martial art movies at my uncle’s house as a child. Not understanding Bruce Lee’s significance to the martial art film industry, I regarded him as another actor who could play fight.
My thoughts about the legacy of Bruce Lee resurfaced as I observed the ocean and remembered his metaphors involving water.
The book, Artist of Life, edited by John Little, includes essays, poems, training notes, and photos of Bruce Lee. It captures a significant amount of his general philosophies on life and the martial arts, with specific attention to Jeet Kune Do.
In an essay titled “A Moment of Understanding,” Bruce Lee writes:
This water, the softest substance in the world, which could be contained in the smallest jar, only seemed weak. In reality it could penetrate the hardest substance in the world. That was it! I wanted to be like the nature of water.
With this statement, Lee is suggesting that a goal of his training and life perspective is to consistently reflect strength, flexibility, and the ability to adapt while remaining authentic to his self.
Bruce Lee’s words resonate with me as I wrestle with my work, which now includes responsibilities as an entrepreneur and employee. In the evenings, weekends, and breaks, I pursue writing, consulting, and coaching opportunities that do not interfere with my university duties as a professor. This heavy workload presents some challenges, but I learned from my time in Mexico that obstacles often provide pathways aligned with success.
I am now required to transform myself into Lee’s interpretation of water, and that includes developing skills aligned with adaptability.
It’s been two years since I had to manage responsibilities as a loving husband, a devoted father, dedicated employee, and driven entrepreneur. Through the discipline that I cultivated while living abroad, I rediscovered my callings in life. As a partner, father, writer, teacher, Capoeirista, and leader who serves underserved people, I know that I possess the strength to accomplish my professional goals without abandoning self-care or the needs of my family.
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With this week’s post, I want to extend an optimistic perspective to you. It is possible to achieve unfathomable levels of success without damaging your health or personal relationships. The process is not easy, but it is worth every phase of the journey.
I can share this insight with you because I remain working toward the realization of my full potential. With every day of work and consistent efforts to stay mindful while at home in the presence of my wife and children, I take one more step in the direction of achieving success in every area of my life.
Some days are more challenging than others, but I remain committed to making the most of the skills, gifts, and talents I am equipped with to enrich the lives of others.
On Tuesday, I co-instructed my first class of medical students from underserved communities. I shared with them the importance of knowing their reasons for attending medical school with the intention to pursue a career in the medical field.
It was my goal to push them beyond the superficial purpose of fulfilling an imposed dream by mom or dad. I wanted them to identify their unique contribution to the field, and why making a personal connection to the medical field is crucial to achievement.
It is clear to me that people like Bruce Lee, who leave a positive legacy after their death, were driven by beliefs that included knowing they were suited for a purpose larger than themselves.
Whether your job is sweeping floors or performing neurosurgery, it is imperative that you make time to gain clarity of your life’s significance. It will require nothing less than your ability to embody strength, flexibility, and resilience.
You must become the water.
If you need help in identifying your unique set of talents, skills, and abilities, explore my course that provides a foundation for positive and uplifting behaviors.
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