Water the Bamboo Revisited-Taking the Path of the Most Resistance

Cybil Talley and Greg Bell at the Water the Bamboo presentation at Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts in Atlanta, GA

While attending a conference for work today, I had an opportunity to hear Greg Bell, creator and author of Water the Bamboo.  This is my second time hearing him, and again, I was richly blessed by what he had to offer.  What I enjoy the most is that his messages apply to not only the workplace, but they also can be used in my personal life as well.  Some of my take-aways today from Greg's speech were:

• "You see what you believe."
• Believe that everyone can help me.  Greg calls this "reverse paranoia".
• "Always share love and knowledge."
• Create a vision board for my life.  What do I want my life to look life?  Again, if I can see it, I can believe it.
• "Put yourself on the agenda." In order for me to meet the needs of others, I first must take care of myself.  I must do this deliberately and intently.

The most important message that I heard today is that the thing that we resist the most is often the thing that we must work towards the most.  Greg asserts that "resistance is a sign that you may be on the right track to growth" (Bell, 2009).  Why did this message resonate so strongly with me?  I recently decided to return to school to pursue a graduate degree in education.  I don't necessarily need the degree right now, but I knew that I would need this credential if I eventually wanted to advance in a career in education.  So, I embarked upon a very accelerated master's program.  In just 6 days, I had decided that I wanted to quit.  Plain and simple, it was too much work and the pace was too fast. I felt uncomfortable and way out of my league. 

Even as I made the final preparations to cancel my enrollment, I knew that I would not be completely  happy if I just gave up.  My decision to quit weighed heavily on me, and I struggled with the thought of giving up on something before I even really started.  I had come up with every excuse as to why I could not complete the class and the program.  But it was all just resistance.  Resistance to the idea of learning unfamiliar material, disciplining myself with my time and focus, and stepping out on faith to do something different. 

Greg's message along with a chance encounter with an educator on an airplane and the support of my husband rang loudly, and I knew that I had to take control of my fear, apprehension, and attitude of resistance.  What I really needed was the spirit of persistence.  It took me a couple of hours to put everything back into perspective, and by the end of the day, I had decided to go for the degree.  I took an honest look at myself and decided that I could do it, even if it meant taking the longer route and starting in the next term.  I had become so complacent that I lacked the drive to propel me forward with my goals.  Drive, as my husband reminded me in one of my meltdown moments, is what makes you work hard towards reaching your goals even when it's not fun, convenient, or easy.

I'm so glad that I had a chance to learn from Greg today.  I will study Chapter 19-Patience, Persistence, and Perseverance in  Water the Bamboo this week to gather more nuggets of truth.  And yes, I promise to live up to the oath, "Whatever challenges come my way, I will continue to Water the Bamboo" (Bell, 2009). Visit http://www.waterthebamboo.com/ to learn more about this powerful way of thinking and living.

Reference
Bell, Greg. (2009.) Water the bamboo. Portland:  Three Star Publishing.