Mastery in Life

What does mastery in life mean to you? To some people it means having life work for them. To others, it means living an ordinary life in an extraordinary way! Let me invite you to consider mastery in life another way - a way you have not, perhaps, considered before.

"As we interact with our environment, we are immersed in a sea of change where nothing is static, linear, or separate. Outcomes are determined by fluid interactions. In order to stay afloat effortlessly, we must be able to act from more than intellect, information and past experience. We need to evolve to the next level of human development where we are in touch with the source of our intellect, knowledge and experience."
...excerpted from Walk on Water: How to Make Change Easier

What if mastery in life meant being able to be successful navigating change? People who thrive in change find that peace of mind is a byproduct rather than a destination. I like to think of mastery in life as being open to possibility within change, where everything we need is available to us in each moment.

But to reach this kind of mastery in life, we must hone our awareness by developing certain skills such as concentration, focus, and adaptation (the ability to shift perspectives). Honing these abilities takes consistent effort. The effort itself is the easy part; it's the consistency that is the challenge! That's why I recommend to those I coach that they invest in putting environments in place that will inspire and support them along the way to mastery in life.

What environments will you put into place that will help you be consistent in honing the skills of awareness? Here are a few suggestions from Walk on Water:

Create or join a network of others who want to make the same change
Observe your thoughts, rather than getting caught up in them
Schedule time for yourself to refuel
Take on a challenge
Practice breathing consciously

What is the benefit of investing in yourself in these and other ways? Mastery in life can show up in many ways, big and small. Here's an example from my life:

One Friday night, when my son was approximately 11 years old, he left to go to the movies with a friend. We lived in a small town and the movie theater was about a block from our house. My husband and I remained at home (peacefully) watching television. Suddenly, about an hour later, my son and his friend burst into the room screaming, "Somebody is chasing us with a knife. You have to call the police!"

It was quite a scene! It would have been an easy knee-jerk reaction to call the police right then and there, but because we were stunned, there were a few moments of silence. During those suspended moments, my training in self-awareness through the practice of meditation surfaced and I realized a cogent point: My son was obviously not at the movies, even though this incident was within the timeframe of the movie! The logical question then became, "Why weren't you two at the movies?"

When asked this question, my son turned three shades of red while his friend looked down guiltily at his feet. There was a long silence. It was obvious to them that they had broken a trust. I asked, "What do you think I should do?"

My son answered, after some introspection, "You should send me to my room."
"And what should your friend do?" I asked.
"He should go home," my son answered as he headed for his room.

We dealt with the incident of the knife wielding teenager later. Meanwhile, both my son and his friend had learned a valuable lesson about being responsible for their behavior. As a parent, I didn't have to lecture my son or his friend or even present a consequence for their actions. Everything unfolded naturally as a result of asking the right question.

Presence (the ability to be in the moment fully without distraction) is a skill that helps us navigate changing situations. When we practice the skills of self-awareness and create environments that sustain us in being consistent with our efforts we naturally unfold mastery in life.