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-   -   Defeating my own ego (http://www.aikiweb.com/forums/showthread.php?t=13097)

Mike Hamer 08-20-2007 04:35 PM

Defeating my own ego
 
Hi everyone, recently I've been getting depressed in aikido class at my own lack of ability....I keep thinking to myself "I've been training for over a year, why arent I any better?" Well this kind of thinking completley made any technique I had acquired at that point useless, and that just fed the self loathing fire even more. It got so bad that my Sensei e mailed me about it, asking what was up....I told him it related back to a poor self image, blah blah blah....He replied back with some very insightful words that I wanted to share with all of you, hoping maybe they could help someone else like they helped me :) Here it is.

"The first thing you have to realize is that there is nothing inherently
wrong with you and second that it is most skillful to live in the moment not
the future, the past, or some conditional "what if". Aikido demands
"beginner's mind" and how your ego deals with this is a reflection on how
your ego deals with other issues. This is one of the many levels of training
that are called out in the course of Aikido training.

Self judgment and negative self talk is due to fear and it only serves as a
hindrance. You are no more or less deserving and certainly no less capable
than any one in our Aikido class (including my self). Right training and
effort leads to some small successes that eventually grow to big successes.
No effort will lead to no success. The secret technique is to just show up
and put in good effort. All the rest will come on its own."


Thanks for listening!
:cool:

crbateman 08-20-2007 04:42 PM

Re: Defeating my own ego
 
There is wisdom in those words. Your only opponent is yourself, and your only goal should be to improve every day in some way. Masakatsu Agatsu. Look it up.

justin 08-21-2007 04:19 AM

Re: Defeating my own ego
 
we are often our own hardest critic you have been only training over a year dont be to hard on yourself.

dalen7 08-21-2007 04:32 AM

Re: Defeating my own ego
 
reminds me of the words of a great philosopher 'Eckhart tolle' - he travels down the same 'path', at least from what I gleamed in the words spoken by your Sensei.

I have to admit, its easy to get out of the present and to always search for something that once you get there you want more.
But at the same time, your 'always' in the present moment - so getting there is quite easy...just have to 'remember'.

My aikido training is very wavy...sometimes excellent, and other times like a beginner...not one session the same, kind of weird.
Im learning something, so I stick with it.

Anyway...enjoy

Peace

dAlen

Christopher Gee 08-21-2007 05:40 AM

Re: Defeating my own ego
 
'The secret technique is to just show up
and put in good effort'

IMHO a good teacher and good advice. Get on the mat and do it.

SeiserL 08-21-2007 06:55 AM

Re: Defeating my own ego
 
IMHO, we are the ones that create the ego and we are the ones that defeat ourselves with it.
Self-discipline is the training and the art, the journey and the distintation.

Chuck.Gordon 08-21-2007 09:59 AM

Re: Defeating my own ego
 
Ego needn't be "defeated" ... rather, it needs to be balanced and integrated. It IS after all, part of what makes you "you" ...

Bronson 08-21-2007 10:22 AM

Re: Defeating my own ego
 
Mike,

Would it be possible for you to provide your sensei's name so that we can credit him with this piece of writing?

Thanks,

Bronson

Karen Wolek 08-21-2007 01:18 PM

Re: Defeating my own ego
 
Hi Mike,

My sensei has been saying pretty much the same thing to me for 5 years now.

It is finally starting to sink in. I'm a slow learner. ;)

Listen to him.

Qatana 08-21-2007 01:53 PM

Re: Defeating my own ego
 
My ego is my most important training partner. It is certainly my most difficult ukemi.

Mike Hamer 08-21-2007 04:04 PM

Re: Defeating my own ego
 
Quote:

Bronson Diffin wrote: (Post 187022)
Mike,

Would it be possible for you to provide your sensei's name so that we can credit him with this piece of writing?

Thanks,

Bronson

His name is Scott Vogel, and he is a doctor as well as my Sensei.
(dont know what that had to do with anything lol)

heres our website
http://www.shinki-aikido.com/

Mike Hamer 08-21-2007 04:06 PM

Re: Defeating my own ego
 
Quote:

Clark Bateman wrote: (Post 186941)
There is wisdom in those words. Your only opponent is yourself, and your only goal should be to improve every day in some way. Masakatsu Agatsu. Look it up.

So true, so true....I am quite familiar with masakatsu agatsu.....In fact I have this tatooed and my right arm, as a constant reminder, hehe.

http://hikari.hit.bg/pictures/caligr...tsu_agatsu.jpg

not saying Ive achieved it....just for a reminder.

dps 08-21-2007 04:31 PM

Re: Defeating my own ego
 
Quote:

Clark Bateman wrote: (Post 186941)
There is wisdom in those words. Your only opponent is yourself, and your only goal should be to improve every day in some way. Masakatsu Agatsu. Look it up.

In Aikido we learn to make our opponents our partners.

David

Irv Lachow 08-21-2007 05:29 PM

Re: Defeating my own ego
 
Quote:

Mikel Hamer wrote: (Post 186940)
Hi everyone, recently I've been getting depressed in aikido class at my own lack of ability....I keep thinking to myself "I've been training for over a year, why arent I any better?" Well this kind of thinking completley made any technique I had acquired at that point useless, and that just fed the self loathing fire even more. It got so bad that my Sensei e mailed me about it, asking what was up....I told him it related back to a poor self image, blah blah blah....He replied back with some very insightful words that I wanted to share with all of you, hoping maybe they could help someone else like they helped me :) Here it is.

"The first thing you have to realize is that there is nothing inherently
wrong with you and second that it is most skillful to live in the moment not
the future, the past, or some conditional "what if". Aikido demands
"beginner's mind" and how your ego deals with this is a reflection on how
your ego deals with other issues. This is one of the many levels of training
that are called out in the course of Aikido training.

Self judgment and negative self talk is due to fear and it only serves as a
hindrance. You are no more or less deserving and certainly no less capable
than any one in our Aikido class (including my self). Right training and
effort leads to some small successes that eventually grow to big successes.
No effort will lead to no success. The secret technique is to just show up
and put in good effort. All the rest will come on its own."


Thanks for listening!
:cool:

Mikel,
Great post. I've been struggling with the same issue myself and your sensei's words are a useful reminder to let go of fear, stop "striving" so much, and just enjoy the ride. Of course, my default approach is to demand that I stop being so demanding... :p

Reminds me of the old joke: "Dear Lord, please bring me patience, but hurry!" :D

Cheers,
Irv

Jess McDonald 08-21-2007 10:13 PM

Re: Defeating my own ego
 
Ego can be a real pain! On one hand it can be the only thing that gets me over an obstacle and on the other, it stunts me from true progress. I've actually been dealing with a bad case ego-titus during the last month or so (not at the dojo but at work). I can get very sensitive and over react or over compensate in a particular situation all for the purpose of "proving" myself to others around me even if their not particularly important in my life. It's probably going to be a life-long struggle for me to get and keep my ego in check. Good Luck to us all!!;)

Roman Kremianski 08-21-2007 10:46 PM

Re: Defeating my own ego
 
I had a bit of trouble defeating my ego. Had to get other people to do it for me in competition. That did the trick for me. :)

jennifer paige smith 08-23-2007 08:16 PM

Re: Defeating my own ego
 
Quote:

David Skaggs wrote: (Post 187059)
In Aikido we learn to make our opponents our partners.

David

and we learn that there is no enemy. we learn to see our previous perceptions were incomplete and only a step on the way.

thanks for the jumping point, david.

en

Suru 08-24-2007 01:13 PM

Re: Defeating my own ego
 
Through my intuition, not extensive demographical research, it's difficult for we Aikidoka to overcome ego when, especially in the West, most people outside the dojo have egos. The ever-elusive mind state to attain (which I had for awhile 'til "somebody turned the Light off"), is to live free of ego in an ego-dominated society. It is possible. I've done it for about a year. But that was 7 years ago and I don't know how to get back. Granted, I was training in Aikido back then and now I can't, but it is possible and the peace-of-mind is a hell of a lot of fun.

Drew

Mark Uttech 08-24-2007 04:05 PM

Re: Defeating my own ego
 
Quote:

Jennifer Smith wrote: (Post 187368)
and we learn that there is no enemy. we learn to see our previous perceptions were incomplete and only a step on the way.

thanks for the jumping point, david.

en

Onegasihimasu. On the contrary, we learn in aikido and in buddhism that the enemy is within.

In gassho,

Mark

jennifer paige smith 08-25-2007 10:59 AM

Re: Defeating my own ego
 
Quote:

Mark Uttech wrote: (Post 187477)
Onegasihimasu. On the contrary, we learn in aikido and in buddhism that the enemy is within.

In gassho,

Mark

Until we realize that was an illusion, too.

I don't take your comment as contrary, just not at the same point on the map.

There is no enemy for Ueshiba of Aikido. You are mistaken if you think that budo means to have opponents and enemies and to be strong and fell them. There are neither opponents nor enemies for true budo. True budo is to be one with the universe; that is to be united with the Center of the universe.

Mark Uttech 08-26-2007 07:24 AM

Re: Defeating my own ego
 
Quote:

Jennifer Smith wrote: (Post 187520)
Until we realize that was an illusion, too.

I don't take your comment as contrary, just not at the same point on the map.

There is no enemy for Ueshiba of Aikido. You are mistaken if you think that budo means to have opponents and enemies and to be strong and fell them. There are neither opponents nor enemies for true budo. True budo is to be one with the universe; that is to be united with the Center of the universe.

I think I mean to point out that beginners in aikido learn that the enemy is not out there but within to give them something to work with. The true competition in aikido is always with oneself. So, until we become enlightened, there are many enemies and opponents all generating from the source of oneself. This is true whether you train or practice aikido or anything else. I get some inspiration from sharing the same birthday as Harry Houdini.

In gassho,

Mark


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