Awaken to Your Full Potential

– Chief Instructor Brett Wagland

It is easy to become programmed by our upbringing, education and working environment. Every day, the media bombards us with many different sets of values, trying to influence us in some way. With so many opinions and beliefs running through our minds, it is little wonder that we become mesmerized by our own thoughts.

Old habits and beliefs become deeply ingrained and often go unexamined. Some can be very limiting and prevent us from growing. Once we stop growing, we stagnate and our lives become dull and predictable, as if we have seen it all before. In fact, if you carefully watch your breath, you will discover that each one is different. Essentially, every moment is different.

Most of us look for answers to our problems from outside ourselves. We believe our happiness has to do with others. If certain conditions prevail, such as good weather, great friends, good food, we feel happy. If these conditions are not there, we feel unhappy. Of course, these pleasant circumstances can add to our enjoyment in life. However, the source of our happiness is beneath the waves of mundane thinking. To tap into this rich reservoir of joy, we need to let go fears and worries and lose our attachment to believing that we are our thoughts.

Thoughts are constantly bubbling up and they are unpredictable. As an experiment, try to predict your next thought and you will soon see how little control you have. In fact, if you observe closely, you will notice there is an observer of the thoughts. This shows that we are more than our thoughts. Of course, thoughts have their role but they are not the whole picture.

Looking into the Mind

In the Calming Meditation course taught by Fontane, her students commented on how they gradually go beyond the thinking mind to a state of deep calm. In this state, they are able to see their thoughts bubbling up before they become stories or conversations. This experience is transformative and frees us from the mental prison we build for ourselves, which is formed from our beliefs. As Fontane tells her students, meditation is not merely an activity in our lives; it in fact teaches us how to live. When you become skilful in dealing with your own thoughts, you will be able to use that same skill to deal with confronting situations.

As with most things, we need to practise - the more we do, the deeper we go. Meditation is no exception. At times, you may feel that you are making no progress. However, each time you meditate, you are making a dent in your resistance, negative thinking and emotional conditioning. You will become more aware of your negative thoughts and your reactions to challenging events.

Eventually, you begin to have glimpses of a different reality, one of calmness and clarity. Once you become aware of these deliciously subtle mind states, you will want to dwell in them as long as possible. When practising meditation, learn to be patient with yourself; understand that it is a journey. The process is also the result. Eventually you will look back and see that you have transformed yourself on a deep level. You feel happy for no particular reason.
 

Mind-Body Harmony

Tai Chi, Qigong, Wu Dao Gong and meditation all teach us to discover our full potential, revealing a rich world full of wonder and inner joy. First, we learn to quieten the mind and relax the body. This enables us to feel the connection between the mind and body.

Most people view the mind and body as separate. They see the mind as superior to the body and develop a disconnection between them. This causes an imbalance and a lack of sensitivity to the body's needs and functions. Consistent regular training in Tai Chi or Wu Dao Gong enables us to feel the intimate relationship between the mind and body. We can feel what the body-mind needs. When you are feeling tired or unwell, you are more able to remedy the problem. A relaxation technique or the practice of some movements will address weaknesses in the body such as neck or back problems.

Most people are unaware of the influence of the mind on the body and vice versa. When you train regularly in Tai Chi or Wu Dao Gong, your emotions become more balanced and you can concentrate more deeply. This is due to the balancing of the nervous system and the left and right hemispheres of the brain. The movements in these arts stimulate the nervous system which helps to activate the dormant parts of the brain, giving rise to new neural connections. In other words, we are awakening to our unrealised potential.

These arts change us on a deep level and enable us to see ourselves and our lives differently. I have found that over the years of training, my view of myself and the world has changed radically. I am no longer a victim of circumstances. I take responsibility for my actions and thinking. I no longer seek to blame others or the world for my situation. Instead of seeing lack, I see abundance. Instead of seeing difficulties, I see opportunities. Instead of seeing limitations, I see growth. It may sound like a Pollyanna view of the world. However, the alternative of seeing the world as negative or totally beyond my control is very disempowering. Which one do you choose? One is the attitude of a victim, the other is one of taking responsibility for what happens. One attitude will free you while the other will imprison you.

The Power of Intention

There is a saying in the martial arts, “The mind leads the energy.” When you train in Tai Chi or Wu Dao Gong, your intention determines the result of your training. If you have a weak intention, you will produce a weak result. In other words, if you train your punch with half hearted resolve, your punch will be expressed in that way. You will find that when you really need to use it, you will not have the power you think you have.

The nervous system is programmed by input from the mind. If you train in a positive, passionate manner, it will respond accordingly. Without the right attitude, the job will not be done well. Ultimately, the training is about changing the body-mind from a tense, uncoordinated and unhealthy state into a relaxed, harmoniously vibrant, healthy human being. This same principle of intention can be applied to all areas of our lives, from work to relationships. If the mind is clear and focused with good intentions, we can accomplish more than we realise.

Purpose of Training

Ultimately, our training is mind training. The slow relaxed movements of Tai Chi harmonise the mind and body. This enhances the relationship between the mind and nervous system. Masters of internal arts have been known to control their breathing, regulate their heart beats and other automatic body functions. They have shown that the possibilities of the human mind, body and spirit are limitless. Their legacies are there to inspire us all to go beyond our perceived limitations and explore the untapped potential that lies beneath the surface of mundane levels of existence. We can use these arts to enrich our lives and the lives of all those whom we meet in our day-to-day contact.