Live Up... To Your Potential
Despite each
acorn
having the seed
within itself
to grow
into a mighty oak,
only around 1 in
10000 actualise
their potential.
Perhaps it’s the same with humans. In focusing on the struggle to survive, we have forgotten that we exist in order to reveal something radiant.
We agree with Ernest Becker when he said, “This is the only real problem of life:
What is one’s true talent, his secret gift, his authentic vocation?”
Take the example of Bob Marley. Others of his generation played music in order to attain fame and power, but he took a more elevated approach. Marley saw music as more than entertainment, he saw it as a force of healing, a means of fighting oppression, a way of giving a voice to the voiceless and most importantly, as a medium which united people.
By realising his unique potentiality as a musician, he became the most influential artist of the second half of the 20th century according to the New York times. As well as his lasting legacy, he became the first international superstar to emerge from the so-called Third World, causing countless people to also dare to dream, no matter how difficult their circumstances.
In one of his songs, ‘Live up’, he says:
Keep your culture, don't be afraid
Of the vulture, grow your dreadlocks
Don't be afraid of the wolfpack
Living up to our potential requires that we step away from the vulture of conditioned thinking and refusing to give in to the wolfpack of our own fears, doubts and tendency to want to play it safe in life.
Consider Martha Graham. Upon finding her passion to dance she was quickly dismissed as being too old and too short to make it professionally.
It may be that our greatest challenge in life is in choosing which of the two roads to take. Mythology describes it as the choice between following our bliss, or the wasteland. Poets state it as the choice between the road less travelled or the familiar path. In contemporary terms, it is the choice between passion or monotony and the red pill (truth) or the blue pill (amnesia). Then there are the spiritual traditions which suggest we live either a sacred or profane existence. Rastafarian's used the concept of Babylon (exploitation) and Zion (freedom) to describe the choice.
The esoteric strain of Judaism (Kabbalah) prefer the term Tzion:
"The word 'Tzion' is best defined as 'distinct.' When we say that all of life is based upon Tzion, we mean that
every item in existence comes to project a particular idea."
What unique expression is lying latent within you?
Had Martha Graham yielded to the voice of the naysayers or her own inner critics, the world would have been deprived of one of the most innovative dancers and choreographers to have ever lived.
Not only did she ‘live up’, she suggested we each have something exceptional to offer, which no one else can:
“There is a vitality, a life force, an energy, a quickening that is translated through you into action, and because there is only one of you in all time, this expression is unique. And if you block it, it will never exist through any other medium and will be lost.”
One of the greatest enjoyments we find as dreadlock artists, is hearing our clients share their tales of how they have found their bliss and are carving out a life of authenticity.
This section of our website is dedicated to sharing the stories of these remarkable sojourners. We hope they inspire you to consider where you stand when it comes to making the choice to live up.
With my partner and I having studied self-development extensively, we look forward to the opportunity of working with you and playing a small part in helping you find your distinct expression.
Anneke’s Story - Phoenix rising
Coming from a family of scientists, she pursued a science degree and found that while it came easy to her, it wasn’t fulfilling.
Martial Arts on the other hand, proved the exact opposite. What first began as a hobby, quickly evolved into a passion.
Turning your back on the professional career track to work as a Martial Arts instructor is a radical decision in a world that places so much emphasis on security. But following the path of the heart leads to surprising things.
While Anneke loved teaching Martial Arts, she began thinking there was a better approach than simply training people in self-defence. She saw Martial Arts as a way for young people to gain self-mastery and help them grow.
Taking a huge leap of faith, she went out on her own, and with the support of her partner, created a Martial Arts studio with a difference. A big part of their approach is having young people instruct other young people, giving them a sense of confidence in their leadership abilities and leaving them feeling more empowered.
Having come to believe that the goal of Karate lies in the perfection of the character of the participants, students are set challenges to demonstrate their knowledge of particular character traits and learn how to apply it at home, school and in the Martial Arts.
Other points of difference include the creation of family programs, having witnessed how the bonds of parent and child have been fracturing due to our fast-paced existence.
Juggling a family while creating a new business, should have been enough to contend with, but life then blindsided her with another epic challenge. While riding her motorcycle she was hit by a car. Not only did she have to undergo extensive rehabilitation, she still had to continue building and operating her business.
Robert Walter said we each choose one of three attitudes to life:
“You can either surrender to victimhood – and a lot of people do – or you can surrender to a fundamentalism – you can basically give your responsibility to someone else and say, ‘Tell me what to do and I’ll do it’ – or you can say, ‘I have a choice here and I’m responsible’. What does it mean to be the hero of your own life? It means to be responsible for your own adventure.”
Which is precisely what Anneke did. Rather than allow unfortunate circumstances to keep her down, she viewed the experience as one more of life’s opportunities to learn from and grow through. In doing so, she embodies a sense of equanimity and strength.
Interestingly, before the accident occurred she named her studio Fire Phoenix Martial Arts. In mythology, the Phoenix was a fabulous golden-red feathered bird whose body emitted rays of pure sunlight. It became reborn through rising from it’s ashes, a fitting metaphor for how we can undergo trials and become more than we were.
"It was of the size of an eagle, but its eyes were as mild and tender as those of the eagle are fierce and threatening. Its beak was the color of a rose, and seemed to resemble, in some measure, the beautiful mouth of Formosante. Its neck resembled all the colors of the rainbow, but more brilliant and lively. A thousand shades of gold glistened on its plumage. Its feet seemed a mixture of purple and silver; and the tail of those beautiful birds which were afterwards fixed to the car of Juno, did not come near the beauty of its tail."
- Voltaire
With greater and grander aspirations seizing her imagination, we look forward to hearing about her next chapter.
