What the Samurai Can Teach Us About Self-Improvement

A Seventeenth Century Samurai maxim states:

"A man who has attained mastery of an art reveals it in his every action"

This saying is one of my personal favorites. There is so much depth to its meaning. Allow me to discuss it a little and explain how it will be able to benefit you.

First, a question: What is the single greatest thing that you can do with mastery and excellence? Don't say: "nothing." Everybody is good at something. Just think for a moment.

There will be one thing that you can do perfectly time and time again. It is the thing that is so ridiculously easy for you to do that you can do it with your eyes closed, almost standing on your head - so to speak. It may be a simple thing or it may be something quite complex, but whatever it is you make it look easy.

In fact, you are so good at it you make other people think that they can do it easily too - until they try. It might be a sport like tennis or something as mundane as making scones or cupcakes.

It's amazing how a champion tennis player can make the game look so simple. Or how a master cook can seemingly slap ingredients together and come up with an absolute masterpiece of culinary delight.

So what is it? What are you a master at? Keep that thing in mind while I diverge back to the samurai for a moment - a little bit of history.

The samurai lived by the sword and died by it. They were so adept at reading body movement that they were able to draw their swords and use them with deadly effect against opponents in the mere blink of an eye. Their observations and reflexes were finely honed, principally because their very existence depended on it. But did you know that they were able to transcend their ability with the sword into other arts? Many of them were also master poets. Others were highly skilled calligraphers. Others became very skilled in the art of the tea ceremony. Some became master carpenters.

Have you noticed how these "ancillary" skills are so diametrically opposed to their military expertise with the sword? So how and why did they engage in these things? Could it be that they were "balancing" their lives? Were they following the concept of "yin and yang?"

If you are not sure what yin and yang is I will outline it briefly for you. Basically, it a Japanese recognition of the duality of all things in nature. For instance, night and day, female and male, black and white and so on. Further, there is some night within day and some day within night and so on.

Time for another question. Are you so set in your ways that you refuse to develop other skills? Can you not broaden your horizons? Might you be able to "balance" your life a little more?

Think back to that one thing that you are able to do very well. Why not take that mindset and transfer it to something else? You can create a persona that shows other people that you are a special person. Others have done it. You even know them. Some of them might even be your close friends. They are the people who seem to be good at everything they turn their minds to. I'll bet you are thinking of somebody like that right now.

Now you know how they do it. They are using the samurai maxim.

And just to balance the genders (yin and yang):

"A woman who has attained mastery of an art reveals it in her every action"

Develop yourself. Improve your abilities. You can do it. All it takes is discipline and a willingness to expand your mind. The samurai did it. So can you.

About the author: Gary Simpson is the author of eight books covering a diverse range of subjects such as self esteem, affirmations, self defense, finance and much more. His articles appear all over the web. Gary's email address is budo@iinet.net.au. Click here to go to his Motivation & Self Esteem for Success website where you can receive his "Zenspirational Thoughts" plus an immediate FREE copy of his highly acclaimed, life-changing e-book "The Power of Choice."

---

Affirm Actions: Stop Lying to Your Soul and Make It Real!

I hear of so many people using affirmations as the... Read More

The Top 10 Roadblocks to Attracting Prosperity and what We can Do About Them!

If it were easy, everyone would do IT; everyone would... Read More

The Laws of the Universe

What I am about to tell you will take a... Read More

The Likeability Factor ? Do You Have It?

Growing up, we all had a mental picture of the... Read More

Break the Cycle

The other day I was walking out of a store... Read More

Why Do We Lack Character

Our people have no character" is acknowledged universally, at home... Read More

What Did I Do? Will Someone Tell me?

There are many systems, psychology analyzes and personality typing in... Read More

The Magnetic, Attracting Power of the Mind

The power of the mind draws certain events, circumstances and... Read More

The Power of Focusing on What Vs. How

We see it and do it enough times to know... Read More

Knowledge is Power... So, Keep Your Mouth Closed To Keep It From Getting Away!

Did you ever wonder why it sometimes seems that communications... Read More

The Art of Perfecting the Life

First of all, you have to trust that you are... Read More

Achieving Your Vision of Abundance

How can we have more abundance in our lives? It... Read More

10 Common Money And Success Myths ? Part 1

For the longest time, people believed that the earth was... Read More

You Can?t Seek for Change and Control at the Same Time

I saw a coaching client recently who wanted to get... Read More

Avoid a Life of Regrets With Your Yes List

How many times have you told yourself "yes!" today? Not... Read More

Become a Practicing Artist

At heart, everyone's an artist. In practice, of course, this... Read More

Are You Living?

Disclaimer: All the thoughts expressed are my views only! Your... Read More

The Modern Geek - Changing the Stereotype

The day of duck-taped glasses, suspenders and pocket-protectors are quickly... Read More

Manifest Your Desires Using Natural Hypnosis

Seth, the very high level, spiritual teacher and guide channeled... Read More

The Mechanic

(Channelled)Roy? What value comes of a mechanic that fills his... Read More

5 Tips To Increase Your Personal Power

1. The most important one: Have at least one person... Read More

A Life of Adventure?

In a conversation recently, a friend remarked to me: "Every... Read More

How The Power of Attraction Can Help You Get What You Want?

"Success is not to be pursued; it is to be... Read More

Better Tame The Bull, Or, Youll Eat The Crow!

A man can stand a lot? as long as he... Read More

The Power Of Charisma

You have seen them on television your entire life: the... Read More

Make A Superb First Impression

It is extremely important that people have a good first... Read More

You Teach People How to Treat You

So often we hear people ask the question, "Why does... Read More

Who is Directing You?

Recently I had the opportunity to meet a long term... Read More

Relationships - 9 Never-Changing Rules

In a relationship, your ability to understand and respond to... Read More

Become a Babe Magnet Without Surgery or Drugs!

"I'd like to find a partner who dances. Do you?"... Read More

What Do You Want This Year?

Christmas is all around us, and many people are making... Read More

Give The Wrong Words An Inch And They May Take A Mile!

What do you do when circumstances seem out of control?... Read More

Your Vibrational Meter

Have you ever felt 'stuck' in life? I mean totally... Read More