A few days ago, my meditation app reminded me of the difference between obstacles and the path.
Once we decided on a path and got started we lose control of what is going to happen. There will constantly be things popping up and happening that differ from our expectations. We might assume that we are free from expectations, and yet there are these moments in the here and now when a surprise appears.
Years ago I learned to drive the motorbike. The most important lessons where the ones teaching us how to use the breaks and how to shift the bike to be able to easily drive around obstacles. These lessons were so important because they taught us to never expect a hassle-free driving.
The unpredictability of driving circumstances combined with the danger that comes along with sitting on a bike makes it relevant to expect problems. Keeping the uncertainty of driving in mind is the best we can do to create a safe driving experience.
By training how to react to obstacles and find a way around we create the skill to live with uncertainty. It changes the way we relate to obstacles.
It needs a bit more to change the way we relate to things we can’t control.
As trained a person might be to drive around the obstacle, there still is a moment of surprise when it appears suddenly. When the situation suddenly feels dangerous. It’s a moment of immediate focus fueled by the fear that danger triggers. While the fear serves to enable a quick reaction, the way we react to it might not always be optimized. This often means that after dealing successfully with the situation the fear continues to be present in a different form. It now is there as mental tension. One used to blame the source of the danger or blame oneself for one’s driving.
Little things happen. They are unexpected. We can get swept away by them or we can let go of the mental tension.
Mental capacity complements physical ability. Both require training.
It’s up to us to create the conditions allowing us to follow the path around the obstacles. It’s creating the conditions helping us to be at our best in the here and now.
