First You Must Be Able to Swim


You may have heard me talk about the analogy between the lifeguard and being able to swim. Meaning that you first have to be able to swim before you can jump out into the water to help someone else. Good intentions without the skill of knowing how to swim results in both people drowning.

*You can read that post here: http://theoceanthewave.blogspot.com/2013/09/the-olympic-swimmer-and-lifeguard.html

Well, you can expand that idea into many areas of your life. Just today I was reminded of this concept while I was practicing yoga http://www.fromtheheartyoga.com/. Behnje Masson (my yoga teacher) was talking about this approach from different angles, ranging from your emotional state to finances. Basically the idea that you have to have before you can truly give. The discussion really rang true with me.

We talk a lot about  this when I teach Krav Maga as well. This idea that if you are confident and feel as if you can defend yourself, than you can be a better protector for everyone. But be forewarned, this approach takes clarity! As Jack Hoban expresses the idea: Our Ethic should drive our Tactic, which then forms our technique.

What is the ethic? Kick ass and don't take anyone's shit?! Nope. ...How about, protect "your own" and screw everyone else? That sounds a little better, but it's not quite right either, unless you consider everyone as part of your "Tribe," meaning that we respect All Life.

http://theoceanthewave.blogspot.com/2013/06/grow-your-tribe.html

In his book Values for a New Millennium  Iwo Jima Marine and U.S. State Dept. conflict resolutionist Dr. Robert Humphrey calls this ethic the "Dual Life Value." Humphrey explains that the Life Value is a universal value that all other values are filtered through. Grab his or Jack Hoban's Ethical Warrior book to read more about this simple, yet profound concept.

This ethic has to be clear regarding exactly what we are protecting before we start unleashing our inner Jason Bourne on everyone. If we don't do it this way, then we just might turn into another thug out there creating more violence in the world.

So, in this Spirit, we need to see the value in ourselves first. We have to give to ourselves first. Then with that over abundance we can then give to others. This cannot be done in a selfish, egotistical way. In order for it to be a positive thing, it has to be done in a balanced, healthy way. A way that is able to separate the Value for Life from relative values, beliefs and behaviors.


Think of it like this:


How can you loan someone money if your bank account is empty?

 How can you truly protect someone else if you don't have an idea how to protect yourself? 

 How can you teach if you haven't first learned?

How can you receive respect if you haven't given it first?

Do you truly respect others if you don't first respect yourself?

In my PeaceWalker Program I say: To help others through inspiration rather than intimidation. The Tactical Leadership model is: Respect, Protect, Empower. First you must know what to respect (Life), before you begin Protecting. Once you align with respect and continually develop the skills to be a better protector, you will find that you have more choices to create less violence. You will also begin to Empower others indirectly, directly, or both. To do it well you will need have to clarity and skill, which requires good teachers and continual training.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~



"We train so that one may walk in peace.”

~Imi Litchenfeld
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


This process never ends, so Keep Going!

All the best,
~Craig

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Are people from Crete Creteans??

Here I am in Crete. It is a pretty cool island. It is a bit more difficult getting around, but far from impossible. Most people speak at least a little english and I have gotten very good at asking (in Greek) if they speak english. I walked around about 15 miles today. Into town, around town, to all (and I do mean all) of their museums, archelogical sights, some cafe's and town squares. I really didn't even get lost today. Wow, I must be making some progress. I met a couple English people (yes, people from England silly) we hung out until about 1am or so and talked about politics, troubled youth, the difference between the FBI, CIA, and Secret Service (don't ask, if I told you I'd have to kill you:), body guards, ccw laws etc. It was kinda of funny, most of the museums that I went to today were under construction and had only one exhibit open. Geeze, you'd think that they would have at least discounted their entry price, but noooooooo! Oh well. I at least had a real
Read more

What's Your Rosebud?

Image
  One of my favorite classic movies is: "Citizen Kane" It starred Orson Welles. [NOTE: spoiler ahead - if you haven't seen it] And, was about the life and legacy of a powerful newspaper publisher, based partly on the late William Randolph Hearst. The movie starts with Charles Foster Kane dying, with his last word being "Rosebud" — and the entire movie is this sort of question of what "Rosebud" is. Turns out it was simply the trade name of a cheap little sled on which Kane was playing on the day he was taken away from his home and his mother as a child. Welles revealed in an interview: "In his subconscious it represented the simplicity, the comfort, above all the lack of responsibility in his home, and also it stood for his mother's love which Kane never lost." The point? We All Have Our Rosebud That thing, moment, or whatever it is that anchors, drives, guides, or inspires you.  For example, the late Johnny Carson and the book of magic tr
Read more

You'll Never Guess What This Parrot Said!

Image
  The Parrot Three sons left home, went out on their own and prospered. Getting back together, they discussed the gifts they were able to give their elderly Mother. . The first said,  "I built a big house for our Mother." . The second said, " I sent her a Mercedes with a driver." . The third smiled and said,  "I've got you, both beat. You know how Mom enjoys the Bible, and you know she can't see very well. I sent her a parrot that can recite the entire Bible. It took 20 monks in a Monastery 12 years to teach him. I had to pledge to contribute $5,000 a year for 10 years, but it was worth it. Mom just has to name the chapter and verse, and the parrot will recite it." . Soon thereafter, Mom sent out her letters of thanks: "Dearest First Son,"  she wrote the first son,  "the house you built is so huge. I live in only one room, but have to clean the whole house." . " Dearest Second Son,"  she wrote to another,  "I am t
Read more