Bruce Lee's Lessons for Life

I watched Bruce Lee movies growing up, we used to all run out into the garden and become little ‘Bruce Lee’ imitations, thinking we could perform the amazing physical feats that the man did in the movie. We must have looked silly but it was great fun, we didn’t care, in our minds we were all just like him.

There is no doubt when we look at Bruce Lee’s physical achievements, that the man was exceptionally talented. I was always amazed at how fast he was, how light on his feet he was, how agile and flexible and yet powerful at the same time.

The man had no great muscular size. He was apparently 1.72m (5foot 6 inches). Google tells me he was only 58kg.

Among other physical feats Bruce Lee could:

Kick 6 times in one second.

Punch 9 times in one second.

Had the same punching power as Muhammad Ali a man twice his weight.

Could do 1500 push ups, in a row.

source: https://rapidleaks.com/sports/7-world-records-held-by-bruce-lee-the-martial-arts-guinness/

All of the above, even exaggerated, are majorly impressive.

His physical prowess aside, what he said in some interviews that I watched struck me as very wise.

He said “Be Water, My Friend.

Empty your mind.

Be formless, shapeless, like water.

You put water into a cup, it becomes the cup.

You put water into a bottle, it becomes the bottle.

You put it into a teapot, it becomes the teapot.

Now water can flow or it can crash.

Be water, my friend.”

source: https://brucelee.com/podcast-blog/2016/7/20/2-be-water-my-friend

I got to thinking about applying that to everyday life.

Being water is the ultimate in flexibility and adaptability. Water adjusts to it’s environment so well that it takes the shape of that extrinsic environment. Yet when water has no structure it finds its own way.

You cannot grasp water, yet we all need it for life. It is water that makes this planet unique, amongst a myriad of other factors, but water is what space explorers look for when looking for life elsewhere. It is key to life and sustenance. Water is the universal solvent.

How do we all adapt to our current environments, are we flexible and comfortable, do we provide sustenance to those around us? Do we have qualities that people cannot grasp, but that they just know that there is something missing when we are not there?

If we have no structure no barriers do we find our own way? Can we be powerful and show our worth when the going get’s tough? (water can flow and it can crash)

Do we flow with our team members and those around us, to create more powerful outcomes, forging our path to our goals and objectives.

Many of us, myself included are contained within structures, like water in a cup. But I believe that all of us have the ability to continually seek a path that we were uniquely made for. Water always seeks the lowest point, it finds its way.

We all have a unique make up, we have unique skills and talents, nobody else can do what you can do in the way that you do it. As writers we get to think on the deeper meaning of situations and introspection takes place a lot more as we search for the creativity inside of us. Our creative power unique to us. There is no right or wrong if your product is for the greater good. There is just your product. The product of your inner self, unique and beautiful.

Flow like water, keep searching, remain in the cup when you have to but find your way when you have to. You know when it is right to do so. Most of all keep your unique creative power in flow, so that it cannot be grasped but it can be felt. Let your creativity add value to those around you, and let them miss your uniqueness when you are not there. Let them ponder the essence that is you, that they cannot grasp.

Wherever you are in life, let your creativity out, not doing so is a disservice to all of us.

Be the powerful creative force you are, always seeking, always compliant, but most of all life sustaining. Let them miss your uniqueness when you are not there.

Learnings:

Bruce Lee was an amazing physical achiever with his own wisdom

Being able to adapt and be flexible in an ever changing world is crucial

Seeking knowledge and flowing with it, and using it powerfully, finding your way when the protections are removed is critical

Adding value, a value that cannot be grasped but is felt, that stems from the essence of your own unique power of creativity is essential, do not hide it from the world.

There is no right or wrong, as long as what you produce adds value.

Be life sustaining water to those around you

Be powerful when you have to, stand up for what you believe.

Seek, always seek like water, seek truth.