Bruce Lee was as important as a philosopher as he was a martial artist. Many people see him only as an action star, but he applied his philosophy in his everyday life. He had a gift for taking complex ideas and making them easy to implement. Here are 4 tips from Bruce Lee to improve your life. Of course, you are an individual and should try them out and see what works for you!
1. Stop and Smell the Roses
Be present in the moment. At first this will be a struggle, but it gets easier over time. Live in the moment and find joy in simple everyday things. Here are some suggestions to help you take action. Stop constantly checking your phone. Go for a walk and leave it behind. Recognize thoughts that you repeatedly have. Don’t try to stop these random thoughts but acknowledge them and let them pass. Allow yourself to be bored and play a game to see if there is something in your environment that you are curious about.
2. Speak No Evil
Don’t think negative thoughts about yourself or others. Bruce Lee said, “The mind is like a fertile garden in which anything that is planted, flowers or weeds, will grow.” If you think negative thoughts, it will put you in a negative frame of mind. Do the opposite and focus on the positive. At first this will be a struggle. You will realize how often you have negative thoughts. Here are some things to try. Avoid negative comments such as, “What is that person wearing?” or “That person is a jerk.” Instead try to hypothesize why someone is acting in a certain way. Be curious and make it a game. Maybe they were rushing out of the house and didn’t have time to put themselves together. Maybe they broke up with their significant other and are depressed. Could someone they know be sick? We often entertain ourselves by putting others down. Instead show some empathy towards others. Above all show some compassion for yourself. Just like everyone else you are a work in progress and are trying to become a better person.
3. Be Like Water
“Be like water making its way through cracks. Do not be assertive, but adjust to the object, and you shall find a way around or through it. If nothing within you stays rigid, outward things will disclose themselves. Empty your mind, be formless, shapeless, like water.”
Bruce Lee
Unexpected events are one of the biggest stressors. Was work extra busy? Did you get a bad grade on an assignment? Did someone cancel a date you were looking forward to all week? This causes us anxiety. You have to acknowledge that unexpected things happen all the time. There is no changing that, but you can control your response. Try to have a flexible mindset. Again, make it a game. Can you find a solution when something negative pops up in your life? If you are looking forward to something, remember that events can be delayed or cancelled. How can you adjust to this? Could you do something else instead? Be like water and go around obstacles in your life.
4. Be Your Self
Be your true authentic self in all phases of life. Don’t put on different personas at work, home, and at play. Let people know your true personality. It is exhausting to play a role in different parts of your life. Should you really pretend to be someone else to impress a boss or potential date? If you have to act a certain way with a friend, are you truly friends? True friends accept and support you for who you are. Maybe it’s time for a new friend or job? Try to reveal your true personality, humor, and interests. Don’t be afraid to let people get to know the real you. Let your sense of humor show in everyday life. Talk about your hobbies and things you are passionate about. You will find people are drawn to you because you are being authentic.
Ultimate Purpose in life
What is your ultimate goal in life? Is it wealth? Money is important but doesn’t guarantee happiness. Many wealthy people are miserable. Bruce Lee once said he wanted to be the highest paid Asian star in the United States. However, he also said his ultimate goal is to having ‘peace of mind.’ Your chance at peace of mind greatly increases if you follow these tips from Bruce Lee. Go ahead, be more present in your life. Do your best to avoid negative thoughts that bring you down. Try to have a flexible mindset and strive to be your own true self. We are all a work in progress and will make mistakes, but start implementing these ideas in your life to bring yourself more peace of mind.
Resources:
The Warrior Within : The Philosophies of Bruce Lee, John Little, Author, 1996, 2016. Applying the philosophies of Bruce Lee in your own life. Written by John Little, Bruce Lee historian.
Be Water, My Friend: The Teachings of Bruce Lee, Shannon Lee, Author, Flatiron Books publisher, 2021. Book by Bruce Lee’s daughter which covers applying Bruce Lee’s philosophy to your life.
Rose photo by Gotta Be Worth It on Pexels.com.
Hand photo by Ekaterina Belinskaya on Pexels.com.
Water photo by Mikhail Nilov on Pexels.com.
People photo by cottonbro studio on Pexels.com.
Happy woman photo by Andrea Piacquadio on Pexels.com.
AI Narration provided by elevenlabs.io. Bruce Lee quotes read by AI voice over.
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