Level 4.91 - Moderation

Level Your Life - [The Level of Moderation] [4.91]

Moderation

Wisdom, regardless of its source, suggests that we follow nature´s law of moderation and not indulge in extremes of any sort.
We encourage you to strive for moderation in all you do. Be reminded ,however, that moderation does not necessarily mean staying safe in the middle ground.
It is a concept that teaches you how to work with extremes.
Remember that the trouble begins when you go to one of two extremes, such as being too high or too low. Moderation is the wise choice whereby you integrate these opposites into a coherent whole, a balance between both, resulting in an ideal state of performance.

In any physical endeavor, learn to recognize when you have had enough of either extreme.
The addictive nature of sports (or LYL) and fitness can sometimes make it difficult to yield to common sense, to know the delicate balance between being in your best shape and running the risk of injury or
sickness.

Clearly, when you are training for a major personal event, you may have to go outside the line and disrupt the balance or moderation. Just remember to swing back toward the center when the event is complete.
You may observe that there is nothing  better than moderation; consider this an invitation to avoid excess all aspects of life (social activity,work,diet)
Remember that excess in any arena can usher in disorder,disaster,burnout and fatigue.
Leisure, for example, is good,yet too much of it can lead to restlessness. Work is important, yet in excess it causes havoc in other parts of life. Exercise and sports create vibrancy and wellness, but in overabundance they can strip away the vibrancy one has gained.
The warrior learns to dance between the two extremes with great agility.
Learn to walk the moderate way.

~ The Buddha teaches , 
                   "Everything in moderation. " To which we reply: "Moderation is everything."



Declaration: Excel without excess. I realize my dreams when I avoid the extremes.Balance is power !


Reflection: What aspects of my training, diet, work and life can I trim to avoid excess and as a result be better off? In any aspect of my life, in what ways am I addicted to excess ?

Level 4.84 - Detachment

Level Your Life - [The Level of Detachment] [4.84]

Detachment


We have noticed that whether you lose or win, one thing is certain: neither is an indication of your self-worth as an athlete or a person. Both are simply gauges that measure your performance on that given day in relation to several variables that may be beyond your control.
Detachment doesn´t mean not caring about outcomes and results. Winning is fun, and the quickest path to winning is attending to the little things (the things in your control). When the event is completed, you simply need to detach your ego (sense of self) from the results.Remember that you are not the result; you are so much more.
When you can think this way ( and many times you can´t) you experience joy and satisfaction as well as a new personal freedom.
But it is difficult to learn the wisdom of release or detachment. It almost seems counterintuitive, like so much we have already explored. It takes much courage to enter into this unfamiliar place of letting go of past successes and failures and refusing to let either results dictate who you are.

Attachment to outcomes is an old habit, a trap that incarcerates the mind.You can still feel discouraged, disappointed and even depressed after a tough loss, but you must get a perspective and get on with life.

"The stronger the attachement , the greater the cost." ~ Tao te Ching

Learning this enables you to go back into the arena as a warrior with vitality and excitement, eager to take more risks and without the fear of putting it all on the line. Such freedrom allows you to dance your game completely uninhibited , the way you were meant to.
Buddhist thought tells us that  too strong an  attachment to results will lead you away from the cultivation of awareness and greatness.

So does this mean the Buddha is attached to detachment?:) Our path is simple, but not easy.

Declaration: When I´m detached , my performance can´t be matched. The stronger the attachment, the greater the cost.

Reflection: What am I attached to that stands in the way of something good happening, and what can I do to help myself detach from this ?