Water: The Way of Writing – Part 3
Water is fluid, flowing with the crashing waves. It is one of the most powerful elements. When a river is blocked, water finds a way around the obstacle. Water takes on the shape of a container without losing its essence. It erodes stone mountains, reducing them to pebbles. It might take time, but water perseveres and finds its course.But how do you persevere? Do you stay calm and keep pushing ahead, or do you panic and let the whirlpools drag you under?
When you run across a difficult situation, it’s so easy to panic and lose your head. Losing control is also the easy solution when the moment seems lost.
Musashi said “Even when your spirit is calm, do not let your body relax, and when your body is relaxed do not let your spirit slacken.” In the world of freelance writing, you have to stay on your toes if you want to keep your head above water.
Show No Pain
During my days of karate, one of the hardest lessons for the white belts to learn was the concept of showing no pain. We’re not talking about the broken bones or emergency-room type pain but the little aches and pains that are a normal part of a tough workout.
I have to admit that I was a hardcore martial artist and went to the extreme, continuing to train with a cast on my wrist after I broke it during a training session.
Showing no pain means pushing through despite the hurt. The moment you let another person see you sweat, he or she might view you as weak. If you complain about every little ache or pain in your business, clients won’t have the best impression of you. You’ll come off as a whiner and difficult to work with. You’ll be seen as negative.
If you maintain the proper attitude and accept everything in stride, you’ll stand a better chance of increasing your credibility and gain a reputation of being able to handle anything that comes along.
Of course, a strong reputation does have its drawbacks. People will have high expectations and you’ll have to constantly live up to them.
That’s okay, though. Take each day slow and steady and learn when to say no.
No Design, No Conception
This is one of the most difficult concepts to put into practice. “No design, no conception” means staying calm in the face of adversity.
Have you ever been in a crisis situation where your mind goes on auto-pilot and you just react? When you run into a serious problem, over-thinking can cost time and money. Sometimes, you have to stop thinking and just do. Your words and your actions need to be spontaneous. Instead of fighting the tide, flow with it.
The concept of water means slowing down and taking situations step-by- step without being overwhelmed by the flood of problems. Musashi said, “Step by step, walk the thousand mile road…Today is victory over yourself of yesterday; tomorrow is your victory over lesser men.”
17 Responses to “Water: The Way of Writing – Part 3”
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This is a great tip. I wish I could stay calm in all situations, but I still struggle a bit with some things.
For some people I know, the slightest little thing is a major crisis and they seem to waste so much time thinking about silly little things.
Thank you for dropping by my blog by the way. And for your kind words.
CatherineL’s last blog post..The Recipe: 26 Practical Resources For Starting An Online Business
That’s deep.
Good post!
John’s last blog post..8 Drawbacks to Free Web Hosting
@Catherine: You’re welcome. It’s okay, I still struggle too. No matter how steady we are, we still get blind sided.
@John: Of course it’s deep, it’s water
Glad you liked it.
I think one of the best ways of applying Water to writing is in staying fluid. Yes, have an outline if you need it, but when you come to an obstacle in following your outline, just flow around it, writing what springs from within.
(I know. Probably too many puns/analogies, but they were accidental. I swear!)
Joshua Clanton – Design for the WEB’s last blog post..Linklist:Building Business, Finding Business, Geometry, and Audacity
There are some things your rational mind is good at, and some it isn’t. When push comes to shove, I trust my instincts more than anything else.
But I think the “pushing through pain” stuff can be over done. Sometimes you need to pull back and lick your wounds in order to come back stronger. Again I trust my instincts on that.
Anthony Lawrence’s last blog post..Programmer Games by Anthony Lawrence
@Joshua: Agreed. You might have the best plan in the world, but you don’t have to stick to it, you might end up changing things around a little once you actually get into the project. What was that saying? Something about the best made plans never surviving first contact with the enemy?
@Anthony: Yes, it can be over done. Pain is, after all, your body’s way of telling you something is wrong. There’s a difference between whining over a broken fingernail (I’m not being a typical male here, I did see one of the female white belts in the class actually do this to the Sensei of the dojo in the middle of a training session), and having a serious injury. Everyone’s pain threshold is different. Some can push through where others will simply stop. It’s very important to listen to yourself and know your personal limits. Live to fight another day, right?
Water will also turn those pebbles into sand. In time.
But great analogy!
However, I have to think that when it comes to doing, instead of thinking, a lot of it will come from practice and training. The reactions, the moves, the counters, the writing, or whatever, comes immediately from being part of one’s muscle memory, developed from countless practice sessions.
It is only then can one easily get into the flow (or the “zone”) when the time comes, yes?
Nez’s last blog post..We are Creatures of Habit
@Nez: Exactly, and it’s that zone I’ll discuss in the final installation of this series: The Void.
@ Joshua – My mother is constantly baffled by my lack of plan. I have plans, yes, but as each day passes, my plans change slightly and adapt in accordance with either additional information, changes, or new events. There is no single plan in anyone’s life, because we never know what may happen tomorrow. And so, fluid flexibility that strives to reach a goal – but that may achieve another goal – is important to nurture.
@ Anthony – I agree. Some people like pushing through pain – because it is painful. They thrive on it, be it physical, mental or emotional. They create situations that case more pain and dig themselves deeper, because it fills a void they cannot competently fill on their own with something healthier. I do not push through pain at any time. I find the easiest route that I can live with to achieve what I must, and that is the path I take. I do not seek the more painful route that achieves the same goal.
@ Nez – And that is water, my friend. The new stream wanders and overflows the land many times before digging its bed deeper into a more established pattern. It wears against rocks, its winding bends straighten, and by water continually flowing over the best path, so is the deep river made.
@Harry, two notes you made above I really loved.
Your words and your actions need to be spontaneous.
I’m sure you learned this in Karate. Just do, don’t think. In Kung-Fu we called it muscle memory – I’m sure you’ve probably heard of it. It takes practice. But the more you practice what you do, the more it’ll become second nature and you won’t even have to think about it. That was a great note.
Water takes on the shape of a container without losing its essence.
I think that’s a great analogy to use when comparing the way water adapts to its environment and how entrepreneurs, content writers, etc. must adapt to their situation. As content writers, you guys have to adapt your writing style and thought process to who you’re writing to (kids, a church, marketers, etc.).
I think that could be a blog post all on its own – how you must adapt to your situation and the people around you.
John’s last blog post..8 Drawbacks to Free Web Hosting
@John: Yes, I did learn that concept in karate. The Japanese call it Mushin (no mind). It’s one of the most difficult concepts to practice because by consciously thinking about having no mind, you’re doing exactly the opposite of what you’re supposed to be doing!
My water analogy is one I’ve had for a long time. Being a partial water sign (Saggitarius with Cancer rising and a Libra moon) I’ve often found myself adapting to fit my surroundings. My roommate calls me a chameleon. It’s not so much changing who you are in various situations, but rather, retaining the essence of who you are and fitting in with your surroundings. Very handy.
And you’re right, that is a blog post in the making, the ideas are churning as we speak…
I love this concept. Reminds me of a Bruce Lee quote about fighting technique:
“Be like water making its way through cracks. Do not be assertive, but adjust to the object, and you shall find a way round or through it. If nothing within you stays rigid, outward things will disclose themselves.
Empty your mind, be formless. Shapeless, like water. If you put water into a cup, it becomes the cup. You put water into a bottle and it becomes the bottle. You put it in a teapot it becomes the teapot. Now, water can flow or it can crash. Be water my friend.”
Awesome post, great series!
Best,
Kyle / OnYourBusiness
Kyle / OnYourBusiness’s last blog post..The Cost of Poor Service
@Kyle: Welcome to MwP! Bruce rocks. Glad you enjoyed the series, it was fun to do.