Mind Over Matter
By The Parodist | February 16, 2009
A 5-Year Old Philosopher
“Mind over matter,” my nephew would say, esp on occasions — whilst spending time on the beach — when he found the water a tad bit cold but would still want to stay in simply because he wanted to continue playing in the sea. It was something that his dad would tell him whenever C finds himself in such situations. Mind over matter, indeed.
It seems that the core wisdom I had brought home with me came from the mouth of a 5-year old. Unexpected but I welcome this fantastic surprise. But where is it written that this sort of thing isn’t plausible? Sometimes, I even think that it’s the child who knows just how it is to live out a life. With passion, with excitement. Everything seems to be one delightful event after the next.
Those simple words ushered in a tumult in my mind, triggering a landslide of epiphanies. I write for I can’t hold everything in without confusion. The need to concretise a thought is much stronger than I had expected.
In Retrospect
Nothing’s impossible, I said. Funny how clear things are now that I’m thinking in retrospect. C and I were on the same page. I was teaching him to not give up when faced with an obstacle. And there he was reminding me that we can overcome an obstacle with just sheer will.
The philosophy doesn’t tell you to get out of the water. It pushes you to endure. Face it head on. Stand firm. One will break and it won’t be you. No obstacle placed in front of you is big enough to stop you from moving forward, from enjoying your life. Go around it, under it, over it, or plow right through it. Mind over matter.
Lord over the subconscious. Teach it not to speak lies. Break the habit of stopping yourself even before trying or the instinct of pulling away once burned. The vast universe is a lush ground for harvesting the power needed to overcome anything. Believe. Act. Persevere. You will gather the fruits of your labour.
Imagine how many times a bird fell before it took flight. It would continue trying until it can feel the wind beneath its wings, taking their feathered bodies up in the air. I can’t help but believe that as a bird is built for flight, so are we built to do what we’re destined to do. Whatever that is. And we can do it even if it means falling a million times. We are equipped with the strength to overcome.
Find your Inner Strength
Nothing’s impossible. Rough is only mental. It’s all a matter of conditioning one’s mind. The true strength you possess will astonish even the brave. Mind over matter.
I don’t believe in defeat.
I don’t believe in defeat.
I don’t believe in defeat.
What about you? Do you believe in defeat?
Photo © 2009 Sasha Manuel
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