Hello and welcome back to Second Chance to Live my friend. I am happy to have you around my table. Last night I was in a meeting where the topic of powerlessness was discussed. Someone shared that feeling powerless made them feel helpless. When the time came for me to share I spoke to hopefulness. I went on to share a principle that I learned from my martial arts instructor. My Sensei said to me, “How can I fill your cup when it is full.”
“Empty your cup so that it may be filled; become devoid to gain totality.” Bruce Lee
My Sensei shared this with me because I had been used to training in a certain way before starting to train at his martial arts school. Because I had some awareness of the concept of learning from Bruce Lee’s writings, the concept became practical. I had to let go of my expectation (s) — for the way that “it” should be — so that I could learn a new way. By emptying my cup and the way that I thought “it” should be, I became willing to learn a different way.
Life can provide changes that we do not like. We can be angry at people and the world because of these changes. The reality is that our anger, disappointment, and disillusionment may not change anything. Instead, our anger, disappointment, and disillusionment will only leave us feeling stuck and isolated. In my experience, I discovered that by emptying my cup, I was able to let go of the expectation (s) that kept me stuck. By letting go…
I was able to see a different way. I was able to try something new. In the process, my helplessness was traded for hope – not because anything changed, but because I became willing to try a new way. By trying a new way, I discovered what could be. I am in the midst of emptying my cup in an area of my life so that my cup can be filled in a new and different way. In the process, I am finding hope and encouragement.
Today’s Thought
When I feel stuck, I think of what Sensei shared with me nearly 10 years ago. When I feel stuck I need to step back and examine my cup. I need to empty the cup of the “it” of my expectation (s) so that my cup can be filled in a different way. By emptying my cup, I become willing to try a new way. By emptying my cup, I trade helplessness for hope and encouragement.
In the event that you feel stuck in anger, disappointment, and disillusionment, emptying the cup of the “it” of your expectation (s) can be the start of something different. By emptying the cup of your expectation (s), your cup can be filled in a different way. By emptying your cup, you can become willing to learn a new way. By emptying your cup, you can trade your helplessness for hope and encouragement.
Although we may feel helpless at times, the good news is that we longer have to feel hopeless.
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