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The following is one of my reflections as I read ‘Going to Pieces without Falling Apart’ by Mark Epstein
In modern life, we’re constantly faced with multiple paths. Mostly, they’re well-trodden and paved. But sometimes, you find a path that’s not so popular (yet). At that moment, there’s a pull, an attraction. If you’re a normal human, you don’t go down that road. We take the predetermined route.
Take education as an example. A decade ago, the road to success was a degree in accounting, engineering, medicine, or law. At that time though, there was already the beginnings of YouTube. It was just a detour for funny stuff back then, but now it’s a legitimate career where early adopters found astronomical success.
Never in my wildest dreams would I have thought YouTube could be a career. In my head, ‘success’ was already predetermined. It was a degree, a job in a multinational corporation, and possibly my own business later on. I was stuck with blinders and saw only the paved road ahead of me. In my field of vision, there were no other roads leading to where I wanted to go, no room for new possibilities.
In Buddhism, there’s a story where a professor goes to a Zen master for teachings. The master offers him tea and pours into the cup until it overflows. “A mind that is already full cannot take in anything new…
