The Peaceful Warrior Speaks
One of my favorite authors is Dan Millman who wrote ‘Way of the Peaceful Warrior’ which was recently adapted for the movies.
Dan was the 1964 trampoline champion, the NCAA vault champion, the 1966 U.S. floor champion in Gymnastics and co-captain of the UC Berkeley team that won the 1963 NCAAs. Later he became head gymnastics coach at Stanford.
In a recent interview in International Gymnast Magazine he said that he wasn’t particularly talented, but loved the activity and learned that ‘everything is hard until it becomes easy.’
I can relate to another observation he made. Dan talked about trying a new move on the trampoline as a young boy and how great he felt because the challenge, focus and freedom always led to that “Yes!” feeling. J
Yes. I know how good it feels to spontaneously exclaim that powerful word.
More importantly is Millman’s firm belief that natural ability is only a small part of the equation. Here’s his take on how much your success depends on talent.
“When I was head coach at Stanford, I thought a lot about what creates physical talent – the ability to learn faster, easier, and rise to higher levels. Through my own experience, and having seen many gymnasts that no one considered talented rise to high levels of mastery, I concluded that what we call ‘talent’ is about 10-20% innate or genetic – good body type and so on – and about 80% developed through hard work.”
Yup, just what I’m finding. Everyone has at least one natural ability. Some don’t even know what that is. Or have forgotten what they love to do because their job has beaten the joy out of life.
No matter. Rekindle that flame inside of you. Fire it up to create something of value to you and others. Never waiver from you vision. Surround yourself with those things that support you in your quest. Welcome courses, CDs and books of the highest quality into your learning library.
Your goal in life is to develop at least one of your gifts to the fullest extent possible.
Never for a moment think that you don’t have what it takes. YOU DO. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. Parents, siblings, friends, spouses – no matter who it is.
Just do what you need to do. Period.
Warm Regards,
Tania Gabrielle French
P.S. “Many people define ‘potential’ as whatever they haven’t reached yet. So it’s always out of reach. My training inclined me to accept that whatever level I reached was by definition ‘my potential.’” – Dan Millman. Experience the joy of your potential Now!
Dan was the 1964 trampoline champion, the NCAA vault champion, the 1966 U.S. floor champion in Gymnastics and co-captain of the UC Berkeley team that won the 1963 NCAAs. Later he became head gymnastics coach at Stanford.
In a recent interview in International Gymnast Magazine he said that he wasn’t particularly talented, but loved the activity and learned that ‘everything is hard until it becomes easy.’
I can relate to another observation he made. Dan talked about trying a new move on the trampoline as a young boy and how great he felt because the challenge, focus and freedom always led to that “Yes!” feeling. J
Yes. I know how good it feels to spontaneously exclaim that powerful word.
More importantly is Millman’s firm belief that natural ability is only a small part of the equation. Here’s his take on how much your success depends on talent.
“When I was head coach at Stanford, I thought a lot about what creates physical talent – the ability to learn faster, easier, and rise to higher levels. Through my own experience, and having seen many gymnasts that no one considered talented rise to high levels of mastery, I concluded that what we call ‘talent’ is about 10-20% innate or genetic – good body type and so on – and about 80% developed through hard work.”
Yup, just what I’m finding. Everyone has at least one natural ability. Some don’t even know what that is. Or have forgotten what they love to do because their job has beaten the joy out of life.
No matter. Rekindle that flame inside of you. Fire it up to create something of value to you and others. Never waiver from you vision. Surround yourself with those things that support you in your quest. Welcome courses, CDs and books of the highest quality into your learning library.
Your goal in life is to develop at least one of your gifts to the fullest extent possible.
Never for a moment think that you don’t have what it takes. YOU DO. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. Parents, siblings, friends, spouses – no matter who it is.
Just do what you need to do. Period.
Warm Regards,
Tania Gabrielle French
P.S. “Many people define ‘potential’ as whatever they haven’t reached yet. So it’s always out of reach. My training inclined me to accept that whatever level I reached was by definition ‘my potential.’” – Dan Millman. Experience the joy of your potential Now!
posted by Tania Gabrielle at 11:08 AM
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