Humans are the only creatures that are self-conscious. You never see a cat blush when they slip, dogs never cringe when they fart in public and I am sure lions don’t beat themselves up over ‘the one that got away.’
It’ s only we humans that have set up the world so that we try to do every thing perfectly...every time. With this in mind, surfing can teach us one of life’s finest lessons…that is to not take ourselves so seriously!
To learn to surf we must be willing to lose our self-consciousness in order to participate. No person has ever picked up a surfboard and ridden a wave perfectly on their first try. We have all fallen off our boards in uncoordinated ways and been unceremoniously tossed around by the white wash - both as beginners and as seasoned surfers!
Surfing teaches us to keep humble, be patient and have a few laughs as we give ourselves a good long period of time where we can be ‘kooky’ surfers as we try something new.
This is also a great lesson to take into life in general. How often are we afraid to try something new because we may fail and worse yet, look foolish or uncomposed while trying?
All the wisest teachers throughout the ages have taught the benefits of keeping a beginner’s mind - to lower the bar and allow ourselves to ‘not know’ and not be ‘perfect experts’.
Indeed I have always thought that some of most fun I have had in the surf was when I was an absolute beginner. It was all great back then. Every small improvement a momentous victory, every slip, slide and tumble and chance to laugh, giggle and get bounced around by the bubbly froth.
How much more serious we become when we lose the beginner’s mind. Every small mistake becomes an excuse to berate ourselves for not doing better. Where is the fun in that?
So if you are a beginner enjoy your bumpy, frothy, fun discovery of surfing; and if you’re a seasoned surfer, re-discover your beginner’s mind.
There are many ways you can do this. One way is by teaching another to surf. As we teach what we know we share the beginner’s experience and re-visit that part of ourselves. Another way is to surf somewhere new or on a different length of board than you usually ride. Surf just for the fun of it. Let go of how you look, how ‘well’ you rode the wave or if you got wiped - just do it because you love it!
http://www.surfgoddesretreats.com/
It’ s only we humans that have set up the world so that we try to do every thing perfectly...every time. With this in mind, surfing can teach us one of life’s finest lessons…that is to not take ourselves so seriously!
To learn to surf we must be willing to lose our self-consciousness in order to participate. No person has ever picked up a surfboard and ridden a wave perfectly on their first try. We have all fallen off our boards in uncoordinated ways and been unceremoniously tossed around by the white wash - both as beginners and as seasoned surfers!
Surfing teaches us to keep humble, be patient and have a few laughs as we give ourselves a good long period of time where we can be ‘kooky’ surfers as we try something new.
This is also a great lesson to take into life in general. How often are we afraid to try something new because we may fail and worse yet, look foolish or uncomposed while trying?
All the wisest teachers throughout the ages have taught the benefits of keeping a beginner’s mind - to lower the bar and allow ourselves to ‘not know’ and not be ‘perfect experts’.
Indeed I have always thought that some of most fun I have had in the surf was when I was an absolute beginner. It was all great back then. Every small improvement a momentous victory, every slip, slide and tumble and chance to laugh, giggle and get bounced around by the bubbly froth.
How much more serious we become when we lose the beginner’s mind. Every small mistake becomes an excuse to berate ourselves for not doing better. Where is the fun in that?
So if you are a beginner enjoy your bumpy, frothy, fun discovery of surfing; and if you’re a seasoned surfer, re-discover your beginner’s mind.
There are many ways you can do this. One way is by teaching another to surf. As we teach what we know we share the beginner’s experience and re-visit that part of ourselves. Another way is to surf somewhere new or on a different length of board than you usually ride. Surf just for the fun of it. Let go of how you look, how ‘well’ you rode the wave or if you got wiped - just do it because you love it!
http://www.surfgoddesretreats.com/
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