Don't Think; Feel

These three words are spoken by Bruce Lee's character in the 1973 martial arts film Enter the Dragon, when reprimanding a newcomer to the Shaolin temple. I’ve heard this line reappropriated in countless different forms of media. Qui-Gonn Jinn says it to Anakin in The Phantom Menace before the pod race. It’s become one of those stock martial arts phrases that, on the surface, doesn’t mean a whole lot; worse yet, it can rouse you against the notion of foresight and careful consideration. It’s never resonated with me at least.

Until now.

The deeper meaning of this phrase isn’t tied to the context in which it’s said, either. You might be inclined to think, “do I need to watch the movie to get it?” In truth, this imperative will only make sense to you if you’re already transmitting on the same wavelength as a martial artist.

When I was in primary school, my religious education teacher mused that sometimes the anticipation of suffering is far worse than the suffering itself. Your imagination begins playing tricks on you; instincts creating an image of failure that addles your mind. It doesn’t really matter what’s going to happen; what matters is you’ll be hurt. A disappointment, an accident, a badly handled business transaction, a friend disenchanted by your actions. It is natural to worry and carefully plan ahead, so that mistakes won't happen. The desire to wrap every facet of your life in a meticulous net of reassurance.

I would like to put forth an idea that doing anything out of fear, attachment or paranoia is bound to adversely affect one's judgement. A decision born out of hesitation, out of doubt in one's own ability, will not and cannot be a healthy one; it's predestined to lead one down the path of misery, the path of mitigating risk and embracing mediocrity; the path which shrivels one's sense of 'who' for the sake of security. We must never forget that it is our own strength of character that keeps us going towards whatever goal we fancy for ourselves... and that strength cannot manifest, unless our performance is steeped in relentless courage. Courage to change, to adapt and to face challenges head on without ruminating on the outcome.

Bruce Lee advocated that one should train oneself to be adaptive, rather than prepared by second guessing the possible outcomes. He frowned upon the old, well-established schools of martial arts, as from his point of view they focused too heavily on dogmatic principles, whilst neglecting the practical application of their teachings. One may not be able to well prepare for everything but one can be prepared for anything.

It takes a surprising amount of effort to remain truly unphased in the face of everchanging circumstances. All too easy to lose grasp of who we are when things go awry. One may even stoop to blaming something else for their misgiving, or cease to pursue their newfound craft altogether. The tiniest of details begin to lodge themselves in the psyche, spoiling focus and further diverting one's attention from the goal. Sometimes when my drawings aren't coming along well, I am tempted to sacrifice my good night’s sleep, so I can crunch myself to death, cursing my inability to get things right, when in reality I simply need to step away from the easel. The moment that my fear of failure begins to shape my reasoning, I know it is my anger that has gotten the best of me. Whereas my essence, the one teeming with joy and pride over my gorgeous, unique art, is put by the wayside, clouded in a mire of impatience and selfishness. Through discipline, however, one can avoid bracing for defeat altogether and instead focus on the essence. To know oneself, to know what holds one back and what brings one forward, is the meaning of ‘feel.’

I also wish to stress that this does not equate to staying positive in the face of defeat or danger. It’s fine to be negative, so long as one can use negativity as a boon to the progress. I don’t personally consider myself a very positive person; I'm impatient with people, I hate losing, I’m easily frustrated and my enthusiasm wavers fast whenever things don’t go my way. More than anything, however, I loathe being prodded into elaborating why I feel the way I feel. There is no shame in being a buzzkill.

To this end, we have to abandon the idea that we're either perfect or imperfect. Thinking in those extremes only diverts our attention from the task at hand; it makes us think of the implications of our merits, rather than of what we are. If one's perfect, then why should they blame themselves when things do not go their way? If one's imperfect, then why should they deserve anything other than contempt? Or is the path to mastery some kind of insufferable tax they owe to the cosmos, before they can relish the sweet fruits of their labor? Is hard work an inherent evil that we have to accept, if we wish to enjoy our time within this mortal realm?

Not many people are keen on the idea of acknowledging they’re subpar at something they sincerely care about, and I don’t think they should, either. To admit your incompetence is discouraging in a very unconstructive way. To judge yourself, good or bad, is self-defeating; it fails to acknowledge the myriads of elements your very psyche is comprised of. In art, you shouldn’t allow your shortcomings to determine the image of who you are, even if you struggle to grasp some seemingly obvious, basic things.

“Real life is a process; not a state of being. It’s a direction, not a destination.” (Bruce Lee)

It’s for this reason that I do not evaluate art of any kind (paintings, books, movies, music, video games) in linear terms. I don’t believe in whatever-out-of-ten scales and the like. There are works of art I cherish more than others, but sometimes the subpar art is exactly what I need. I think the Star Wars prequels are pretty dreadful films, but they nevertheless offer experiences that the original trilogy doesn't. I would rather live having experienced and internalized those movies than if they had never been made to begin with.

I need to stress that it might take you a long time to develop the attitude necessary to approach life as such. Some people really don’t like themselves enough to draw on that inner strength and carry on. Some people like themselves so much that they become decadent, no longer seeking to better themselves. I think the answer lies somewhere in between; where you like yourself, but you aren’t in love with yourself. You should, however, be in love with your positive qualities; wear them on your shoulders, make them part of your image. Keep telling other people about your favorite movies or songs; make your passion rub off on them. It takes a substantial amount of wisdom to understand who you are and what do you stand for, but once you do, the entire universe becomes an endlessly sprawling, fascinating place. No matter who you are, no matter who do you identify yourself as, do not let close-minded people tell you what you should and shouldn't stand for.

If you speak with truth, kindness and confidence, then your voice will always be valuable. Speak insincerely, with prejudice and fear, and you will forever rot in the prison of your own mind. Be true, kind and confident. Don't think; feel.