Mastery

Mastery is a book written by George Leonard, where he explains how mastery is all about the continuous journey of mastering. 

We often have dips in our motivation, but is that because we have not fulling committed to a system or a habit.  If we have success and it is quite sporadic, are we learning how we got there and would be able to get there again. 

Mastery is about adopting a mindset of a lifelong learner.   We start with something simple where we visualise what success looks like.  We then begin to practise and this process may be difficult initially and then over time it will become pleasurable.  We will have brief spouts of progress and then long periods of hard work and at this time may feel that you are going nowhere.  Leonards talks about plateaus where we reach a point and it feels that there is no progress.

It is really important at this stage to keep going "practice for the sake of practice itself" and stay on the path of learning. You will be using new behaviours that will turn into new habits and the change will be sustainable. 

The steps that the books suggests are:-

Am I surrendering to instruction?

Find a teacher a master or a way to learn something new.  The classic modern day example is the couch to 5k.  People use the App as the master/teacher to guide them into the world of running.

Am I practising intentionally?

Be defined by the practise not the goal.  It is not about running the 5k it is about running becoming a habit and the behavioural change in you, in looking after your body and fitness. Acknowledge the incremental steps the improvements, and acknowledge the negative, but always accentuate the positive.

Do I love to practise?

If you run with a friend with your couch to 5k you will have linked pleasure with mastery.  If you listen to a good playlist on the run or if you simply enjoy where you run, these are all about enjoying the journey. 

Am I exploring the edge?

The structure of couch to 5k is that it pushes you a little harder each week which means there is just enough stretch or as Leonard describes "Edge".  If a goal is achieved too quickly it cannot be defined as Mastery.

The opposite of Mastery is looking for a quick fix.  Heart surgery maybe necessary but if you are not prepared to look at your diet and exercise afterwards.  The lottery is fun but will not be a way to learn how to master savings. 

Mastery is not just about work or fitness, it can be those harder things in life.  Relationships needs us to think about Mastery, otherwise we will plateau and not grow together. Think about how many times you have dinner the two of you and really listen to each other, the intention and the practice are essential.  How many times do you have dinner as a family around the table? Today we are surrounded by instant gratification this is not Mastery.

Remember that Mastery is not about perfection its about the process.  Surgeons have the ritual of donning their gowns and gloves this puts them in right headspace for the operation.  Important to always have that level of humility that we will always be a beginner and not a Master if we are a lifelong learner.  There are no experts only learners.

In summary again:-

• Am I surrendering to instruction?
• Am I practising intentionally?
• Do I love to practice?
• Am I exploring the edge?

Am I taking on the identity of a learner.  "Is it the routine itself that feeds me" 

Please do get in touch for a nuggets workshop or one to one coaching bev@nuggetsoflearning.co.uk