Be Like Water

by Kirk Miller

I studied Karate and other martial arts for several years and have always been a huge admirer of Bruce Lee. Bruce Lee was widely held as the foremost expert in martial arts. I have also been intrigued and fascinated for most of my life by the Eastern philosophy and approach to life. Not only was Bruce Lee the individual who introduced Martial Arts to America, he was also an avid student of philosophy and was way ahead of his time in terms of his views and philosophies on life.

In one of his last interviews, Bruce Lee talks about his approach to martial arts and life. He says, “Be like water. Empty your mind. Be formless, shapeless….like water. You put water in a cup and it becomes the cup. You put water in a bottle, it becomes the bottle. You put water in a teapot, it becomes the teapot. Now water can flow, or it can crash. Be water my friend.” He speaks of water as the ultimate metaphor for being fluid and adaptable to whatever comes.
He also emphasizes clearing your mind. In martial arts, if you are not operating from a clear mind or you allow yourself to become distracted, you could wind up flat on your back. In our course, Getting the EDGE, we teach the daily Mind Sweep exercise and use a similar metaphor with water. Water represents stillness and peace. The daily Mind Sweep allows us to empty our minds, get everything out of our heads and onto paper, and to flow more peacefully throughout our day. It frees up our energy and creativity.

Be like water. Water is alive and sometimes flows, with a sense of power. Water cannot be held down or forced. When you see a stream with rocks put in its way, the water simply flows peacefully and quietly around it. It does not meet it with hard resistance. Over time, water will quietly wear down even the hardest of rock. Be like water. Empty your mind at least once a day with the Mind Sweep exercise and get your commitments, to-do’s, appointments and responsibilities into your Outlook Tasks. Turn them into Actions and execute, freeing your mind to flow peacefully in a state of ease and tranquility.