“Don’t get set into one form, adapt it and build your own, and let it grow, be like water. Empty your mind, be formless, shapeless — like water. Now you put water in a cup, it becomes the cup; You put water into a bottle it becomes the bottle; You put it in a teapot it becomes the teapot. Water can flow or it can crash. Be water, my friend.” – Bruce Lee
Do you know why Bruce Lee was the man? Besides the fact that he was charismatic, athletic, kicked butt, good looking, rich, famous, smart, funny, incredible shape, …. um ok that’s a lot of besides. But there was one thing that I really admire about him; He was his own guru. Sure he had teachers, like Ip Man (seriously, watch this movie!!! Some of the best fight scenes I’ve seen in a long time), but Bruce was formless. He redefined martial arts. He took what he needed from various disciplines and styles and created one all his own. Isn’t that awesome?
And that’s what mixed martial artists have done. You look at a guy like Georges St. Pierre, and he’s an animal. He holds his own against Canadian Olympic wrestlers, and professional boxers, and BJJ world champions. He takes what he can from various disciplines and has turned himself into an ultimate fighting machine.
This idea applies to all aspects of you life. To become rich, you don’t have to listen to only Warren Buffet. There are plenty of ways to get rich. To become fit, you don’t have to follow the advice of only crossfit, or professional bodybuilders, or whatever else. Same with what you eat, same with what you do, same with who you date, etc etc. Take what is useful, discard the rest, and create something unique all your own. That’s what being your own guru is all about. Following one school of thought too closely is hazardous to your health. That’s how cults are formed. That’s how religions are formed. oooooo, not going there. ANYWAYS, moving on.
Be wary of people freely giving advice (myself included). It doesn’t mean they are right (myself included). It’s only opinion, and experiences from their own life that, although may work for them, may not work for you. Don’t get sucked into “Getting Things Done” and thinking that’s exactly how things should be done to be considered productive. Don’t get stuck into the belief that you have to work only a “4 Hour Workweek” to be happy. It could be myth. It may not be cause and effect. Self help gurus and life coaches and fitness trainers and fashion advisors and investment advisors and so on and so forth, you really have to question if their quality of life is really that much better than your own. Its important to have teachers and its important to have mentors, but in the end nobody really understands you and your situation as much as you do.