The Zen of not knowing: "Do it anyway"

There is a truth about where we are and where we want to be, and that is the subject of this essay.  There are a lot of things we don’t know which sometimes make it difficult to achieve our desired goal.  On the other hand, there are many things that we do know…or think we understand…that can derail us just as easily. Midway through a series of classes it is not uncommon for students to start arm wrestling with self doubts. Encrypted messages left on unwritten pages of life, tucked on dusty shellves sudedenly spring forth, and personal ghosts and goblins come tumbling out to haunt us. Pertaining to practice

• Perhaps this class is too hard for me.

• I can’t remember what to do when I get home.

• I don’t have a good memory these days.

• I’’m not very well coordinated. I’ve always had two left feet.

• I’ve never been successful at any pysical fitness endeavor in my life.

• I don’t have enough energy. I tire easily

• I get confused easily.

• I’m in too much pain to do anything.

• I’m too busy. There’s too much going on today.

• I’ve always been directionally challenged. I don’t know my left from my right.

• I’m too old.

• I’m too stiff.

• I don’t have very good balance.

• I’m too stiff.

• I don’t like exercise.

• This is too hard.

All kinds of doubts start cropping up, the most pervasive underlying messages being, “I don’t know what I’m doing, and I don’t think I can do this.” 

This year Dr. Erlene Chiang, Director of Wen Wu School challenges us to greet convenient doubts, fears, old habits or laziness with patience. “Listen to it, and then . . . talk yourself into doing something positive anyway.” Come to class, practice, stretch or meditate anyway, even for a short while.

And pertaining to worldly affairs and personal conduct, Mother Teresa offered similar guidance:

“Do it anyway” is the theme of this year’s Wen Wu School challenge to us all. Let us know how you are doing.

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