After rigorous training and months of practice, a sportsman is ready for the game. He knows his strengths and his weaknesses. He trusts his abilities and backs himself to perform at his best. He feels connected to his inner self and feels inspired to push himself to the best of his abilities. He knows he is in the zone.
Just like the sportsperson, each one of us is living through the challenges we face every day at home and at work. We learn from our mistakes as much as we learn from others’ mistakes. We push ourselves harder to improve our lifestyle and to be a better person. But we are never in the zone. We stop listening to our inner self. We doubt ourselves. We get sucked into the ups and downs of each day, and disconnect from our inner self. We start looking around for that trust, that faith in our abilities, to come from outside. We want others, who are going through a similar dilemma, to help us. But how can an empty glass quench our thirst?
Unless we slow down, take a step back, and look at the bigger picture, we will end up as a tiny dot. We will end up as an island, which nobody visits. Not even us. This disconnect gives rise to a lot of misery. We seek from elsewhere that which is within us. We are looking outward instead of inward. Why do we find it easier to trust others and not ourselves? Surely, we are playing the game wrong?
內在的信任
一位運動員經過幾個月嚴格培訓及練習，已準備就緒上賽場。他清楚自己的長處和弱點。他相信他的能力並能支持他發揮至極限。他覺得和內在自我融為一體，激勵自己達到能力的界限。他知道自己進入了「狀態 」(The Zone)。
像那位運動員般，大家天天都需面對家庭和工作上的挑戰。我們盡可能從自己的錯誤中多學習，正如從別人的錯誤中學習一樣。我們推動自己更努力，以改善生活，並成為更完滿的人。但是，我們從來沒有進入這「狀態」。我們不再傾聽內在的自我。我們懷疑自己。我們捲入每一天的跌宕起伏，與自我隔絕。我們開始四處從外間尋找那份信任，那一份對我們能力的信任。我們渴望，那些正在經歷著同樣窘境的人，會對我們施予援手。但空的水杯又怎能夠解渴？
若不放慢腳步，退後一步而評估整個情況，我們最終會為一個小圓點。我們最終成為一個無人到訪的孤島。甚至連自己也不想來的那種地方。這種隔絕產生很多痛苦。我們從外面尋求信任，它原來卻早在心中。我們向外，而並不是向內心尋找。為什麼發現相信別人總比相信自己來得更容易呢？難道，我們不懂玩這個遊戲？