Moving Beyond the Battle

In order to fully surrender, one must first prepare and show up

Battles can be necessary (more on this below), but they are only a part of our lives. I’d like to explain what part battles serve in order to demonstrate what is beyond the battle.

Life is often explained in terms of a battle. The war of [insert latest political theme]. I studied rhetoric in college which means I learned all about speeches throughout history. In doing so I realized that political speeches today still have the same format and themes as those from as far back as 400 BC. People are motivated in the same ways as we have always been. And battles serve to unite people. What’s important to understand is what we are being united against and whether such a battle is truly necessary.

The problem with battles is they often go too far. This can be seen in many ways, such as the forms of extreme entertainment like violent movies and video games. Violence has become so commonplace. So it’s important to know when battles should stop. From this perspective, it’s easy to see when to battle and when to relax and simply live (or surrender).

Here are quotes that explain when the battle occurs.

“Just showing up is half the battle.” — Woody Allen

“Half the battle is just showing up.” — Stephen Hawkins

This speaks to the importance of showing up, which can be quite difficult. When we are faced with challenges there can be an urge to check out. This is simply the tension that arises before meaningful change. It’s a test. So when resistance happens just show up as fully as possible.

But what happens before showing up?

“A [person] prepared has fought half the battle.” — Miguel de Cervantes

“He [or she] who is prepared has half won the battle.” — Portuguese proverb

Here we see that preparation is the first half of the battle. To think about and take action to prepare is half the battle.

So putting these two parts together, if you prepare and show up that’s 100% of the battle. At this point the battle is over. After preparing and showing up then all that remains is presence and life.

I find tremendous relief in this perspective. It means that once something is happening it’s no longer a battle. At this point it is flow.

Now here’s an exercise to put this into practice. What is something that you have been struggling with or battling lately? For me, it’s my new job.

Once you have this thing ask yourself, am I fully prepared for this? Am I fully showing up for this?

For my new job I am well prepared based on my past experiences. However, I do see ways in which I can better prepare for each day, project, etc. Make lists. Talk to more people for more data, ideas and buy-in. Also, I see how I can more fully show up to each day and call, mainly by being more prepared.

Now I know why I am struggling. It’s because I know there is more I can do to prepare. It’s not because of the many other reasons my mind likes to think about. It’s because the battle is still underway within me.

Success and flow require preparation and showing up. Preparation can be extensive. Einstein gives us more insight into this:

“If I had an hour to solve a problem I’d spend 55 minutes thinking about the problem and 5 minutes thinking about solutions.”

It’s critically important to understand problems. Problems are what is. Solutions are what’s to come.

By fully understanding the problems the solutions are more clearly known.

The existence of a problem implies that there is a solution. Just as darkness requires the contrast of light to exist, problems will always have a solution. This is why Einstein urges understanding of the problem.

Jumping straight to solutions may miss what is really happening. So sit with and appreciate the problems before coming to solutions.

Tying this together, here’s another Einstein quote:

“Life is a preparation for the future; and the best preparation for the future is to live as if there were none.”

And from James Dean:

“Dream as if you’ll live forever. Live as if you’ll die tomorrow.”

To live with presence is to live without worry. Anxiety is the fear of something coming true in the future. Without worry over the future there is no anxiety. But to truely not worry about the future we must come to terms with our past. We must change the underlying beliefs that hold us back.

One way to enter presence by asking “what in this moment is wrong?” After doing this and other practices regularly the answer is often nothing.

And if something is still wrong say “other that that, everything else is okay.” This tactic borrowed from IFS is a powerful way to accept and release the struggle. Then something else may come up.

Again, other that that, everything else is okay. Repeat until there is peace. It may take a while and that is also okay.

Of course I still experience suffering. But knowing that I am prepared and showing up means that I am not attached to the suffering. And suffering itself can become enjoyable because it means something better is near.

All I have to do is get ready and arrive. At this point there is no battle. And knowing that the battle isn’t from what is to come is powerful. It means I have the power. The battle isn’t external. The battle is within and winnable through dedicated and persistent steps in the right direction.

May we all prepare to the best of our abilities and show up to share our light for all to see.

Sat nam.