The art of developing (The 16 celestial arts)

As humans, we don't stop growing. Well, physically things work differently... but in terms of mental, social and spiritual skills, we can grow as much as we want, no matter the age or body conditions.

Learning is a skill, and you can also learn that. With time and comfort, we get attached to the convenient way of doing things. We prefer to stay at our comfort zone and we don't dare to go beyond that. This makes us to stop growing, or even shrinking...

Learning is a special art of life, where you are able to renounce some convictions and allow yourself to experience with something else. It is not that you only assimilate knowledge; your awareness stretches and you become a different person with that.

Learning creates change. Not the change that comes from outside, but the change that comes from a deep realization and experimentation.

How to learn? That is the question today more than any other moment in history as everything is really available, so there are no excuses to not learn. And if you are a person with difficulties to learn something, try this:

• Understand the reason you should learn something. Is this worthwhile? Do you really need that? Will this contribute for your growth or for others'? If the answer is YES, then go ahead, but if the answer is NO, learn an important lesson: learn only that is valuable for you, otherwise your learning process will turn into a struggle.
• Look for a method to learn. Not all methods are good to everyone. Try yours! Talk to others and check how they do it. Rehearse, change and rehearse again until you feel you are really learning.
• Don't get enticed by knowledge. Learning is a dance for two, and experience is also very important.
• Don't let yourself get lost into experience. Theory is fundamental so that experience can be repeated or reenacted.
• Fix certain aims for learning. Not too high, not too low, something that can be achieved.
• Enjoy learning! A lot! It has to be funny, interesting and motivating by itself.

The main advantage of this skill in your life will the easiness to change, as change means adaptation and adaptation means learning.

The art of refreshing (The 16 celestial arts)

In such a stressful world, relaxation is pricy. Most of a normal person's money goes towards what we could call "means of relaxation": tours, hotels, movies (in-house or at a cinema), SPA, etc.

It is a concept: if you are stressed, go and relax yourself! This concept has become a paradigm and we all live under that, at least at some point of our lives. The problem is that when you finished with the relaxation, eventually you have to come back to the stressing situations. Good perhaps for the economy, but bad for people. And if it is bad for people, definitely will be bad for economy on the long term.

So, this skill is very valuable. When you learn to refresh yourself, revitalizing your mind and body, whilst amidst your own duties within your household or work, you would have find paradise at your doorstep.

Is it even possible? Yes, it is. It requires practice and discipline, but as soon as you have the knowledge and the skill to relax yourself, you can do it even under stress.

This skill helps you to keep balance in your life and to improve your health in many dimensions - physical, mental, emotional, etc. But, how to do it?

First of all, you have to really understand yourself and what relaxes you and what does not relax you. Think of relaxation of a massage session; some people leave the session sighing and celebrating the distension, but others leave it feeling pain all over the body. In other words, relaxation is not a general formula...

When you relax, things seem easier, you feel full of energy and very well, and you can solve problems much faster than under stress. So, what does relax you? It is not really the means, but the way you see them. Relaxation starts in your attitude, not at a SPA.

As a spiritual person, the main attitude that brings relaxation is the feeling that I am just an instrument; I don't need to worry about anything. Other people I know relax with the attitude that this will pass very soon, so let me enjoy it and learn from it. What is the attitude you have that relaxes you more than anything?

When you answered that, then you can choose the best instrument or means for your relaxation. You will need at least one that can be used daily. For me, it is meditation, but for other people is walking daily at a park. It would be good if you have one instrument that allows you to relax at any moment, like a minute-length meditation.

If you do that, you will see that you will become more productive, happy and satisfied with your life, and with other people. And that is worth the price to create a discipline and develop this skill.

The art of reforming (The 16 celestial arts)

Transformation is in the minds of many and definitely SOME transformation happens. Not necessarily the one we would like to experience.

Let's look into the present world and we will see so many signs of transformation:

• The ascension of BRIC. This is changing not only this present period of world history, but it is the first time when Economy has been as the main changing factor and the first time when at least one power will be in the South Hemisphere (Brazil).
• Climate change. Denied by many (not sure HOW they deny it...), this is affecting more and more economies and societies. At least one country is trying to "move out" as its citizens see their shores being taken by the ocean and that is happening even in one of the biggest countries denying the obvious...
• Social networks replacing social interaction. We can't be blind; people are more into some kind of social networking (including chats and constant email) than talking to human beings.

And much more! But, I guess that was not that the transformation we would expect... For instance, it would be wonderful to read something like this in a future newspaper:

• A human commonwealth. Wealth and poor countries joint efforts to create a unique human society where money is not the main factor. They guaranteed the basics for everyone (food, health, shelter, education and communication) and they created a new method of economic interaction, based in talents rather than money.
• Earth is balanced. After many millennia, humans were able to establish a sustainable balance with the rest of Earth, which prevented the destruction of the environment and the end of many species.
• Humans are humans. It is almost laughable to think that at some point in history, people were paying attention more to a flat screen or a computer screen than to their fellow human beings. Present society values and encourages personal interaction with the normal positive consequences for health and wealth.

A dreamer? Perhaps... But, you see, what is lacking is not something macro or global, it is MY and YOUR transformation, a transformation that comes from will not from obligation. A transformation that starts from mind and awareness, not at some government palace.

When that transformation happens, even though one human being gets transformed, a reaction chain will generate enough energy to affect the whole world. And dreams will come true...

The art of dealing with others (The 16 celestial arts)

One issue that is increasing in the world is that many reports on researches have been published about the increasing number of people living by themselves even in countries with a more family, group or team-driven mentality, like Colombia and India.

And it is not only a question of living: how many one-passenger cars do you see every day? How many people chose to work by themselves, or are seen jogging or enjoying life alone?

This affects economy and society in ways that we are just starting to understand. In fact, there is nothing bad about being alone, but what is the reason? Is it a choice out of reflection or it is the result of not being able to cope with others?

If the second question is more realistic, then it is necessary to develop the skill of dealing with other people. We are social people - at some point or another, we will need each other, perhaps sooner than later.

As it is a skill, or an art, we can learn that. We can learn that wonderful art our ancestors had to learn when they had to live and work with people who were not family, part of their own race or religion. We can learn the necessary art of accepting and appreciating each other as we are.

It does not mean that everyone has to be friend to each other. With some people definitely your relationship will be casual, only a small connection. But it has to come from a personal choice rather of incapacity to deal with others.

Here are some points to bear in mind whilst developing this skill:

• Be patient. Whatever you do to help relationship with another person will bear fruit in time. But not necessarily right now. Just don't lose hope, don't stop watering the seeds of good deeds, wishes or words.
• Look for the common ground. We can always find something we have in common with other people. That is the beginning of the bridge between you and others.
• Less social network, more social presence. At least understand that people, real people, are crucial for our own growth as humans. And go for it, talk to them, meet them and enjoy their way of being.
• Enjoy the opposites. Contrary to nature, we always to try and look for similar people. Try to talk to someone who like what you dislike; just enjoy a refreshing point of view, something you never thought before. Enjoy it, instead of raging about it.
• Discriminate. In the good sense, learn who can be your friends and who can't be that. If someone can't be your friend but you have to live with them, reflect on it - ask "why?". If someone is not your friend, but you have to work with them, make agreements and develop the skill of dialogue.

If you do that, you will realize the greatness other people have. And you will end enjoying dealing with others.