Comments on: Investing in Loss, Investing in Ego http://www.martialdevelopment.com/blog/investing-in-loss-or-ego/ Martial arts for personal development Wed, 08 Feb 2012 07:51:49 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: phil http://www.martialdevelopment.com/blog/investing-in-loss-or-ego/#comment-13605 phil Tue, 07 Dec 2010 16:09:39 +0000 http://www.martialdevelopment.com/blog/investing-in-loss-or-ego/#comment-13605 I believe there is SO much more to the concept Invest in Loss then what can be applied to the martial aspects of tai chi and other such arts. From what I know of Professor Cheng he always related the principals of tai chi to everyday life and social interaction. It is here where I think Invest in Loss has its true foundation and application. Investing in the loss of controlling any given situation. Investing in the loss of ego and power, selfishness and investing in humility and generosity, the concepts that involve giving of oneself, thus the loss. Yielding both physically but more importantly mentally or spiritually; this IMO is what separates the amateurs from the players. Many ask me to explain and at times it can be difficult. I use the analogy of when one is walking on the beach. The surf is coming in wave by wave. Not every wave has the power to reach your ankles. The first wave is a small one and only reaches so far and then recedes back into the ocean, the second wave does the same, receding back into the ocean, however the third wave comes in much larger and flows over your ankles because the energy from the first two smaller waves fed into the third larger wave. We must be like the first two waves by yielding to a given situation in the moment when emotions run high and investing in the loss and by the time the natural consequences play out the person truly learns their lesson and the situation is made better without the risk of you making it worse by reacting and not investing in loss. Does any of this make sense? :) I believe there is SO much more to the concept Invest in Loss then what can be applied to the martial aspects of tai chi and other such arts. From what I know of Professor Cheng he always related the principals of tai chi to everyday life and social interaction. It is here where I think Invest in Loss has its true foundation and application. Investing in the loss of controlling any given situation. Investing in the loss of ego and power, selfishness and investing in humility and generosity, the concepts that involve giving of oneself, thus the loss. Yielding both physically but more importantly mentally or spiritually; this IMO is what separates the amateurs from the players.

Many ask me to explain and at times it can be difficult. I use the analogy of when one is walking on the beach. The surf is coming in wave by wave. Not every wave has the power to reach your ankles. The first wave is a small one and only reaches so far and then recedes back into the ocean, the second wave does the same, receding back into the ocean, however the third wave comes in much larger and flows over your ankles because the energy from the first two smaller waves fed into the third larger wave. We must be like the first two waves by yielding to a given situation in the moment when emotions run high and investing in the loss and by the time the natural consequences play out the person truly learns their lesson and the situation is made better without the risk of you making it worse by reacting and not investing in loss. Does any of this make sense? :)

]]> By: belacqua http://www.martialdevelopment.com/blog/investing-in-loss-or-ego/#comment-8732 belacqua Fri, 17 Oct 2008 01:11:39 +0000 http://www.martialdevelopment.com/blog/investing-in-loss-or-ego/#comment-8732 the analysis above is very helpful. Ego satisfaction interferes with my daily Tai Chi practice. Thank you for your insights. the analysis above is very helpful. Ego satisfaction interferes with my daily Tai Chi practice. Thank you for your insights.

]]> By: Why Are Female Martial Arts Masters So Rare? http://www.martialdevelopment.com/blog/investing-in-loss-or-ego/#comment-5993 Why Are Female Martial Arts Masters So Rare? Mon, 23 Jun 2008 03:14:13 +0000 http://www.martialdevelopment.com/blog/investing-in-loss-or-ego/#comment-5993 [...] are sometimes tempted to abandon the principal objective, and start playing to win instead of investing in loss. Practically speaking, this means using strength and speed to “fill in the gaps”, or [...] [...] are sometimes tempted to abandon the principal objective, and start playing to win instead of investing in loss. Practically speaking, this means using strength and speed to “fill in the gaps”, or [...]

]]> By: a buddhist carnival on father’s day http://www.martialdevelopment.com/blog/investing-in-loss-or-ego/#comment-5942 a buddhist carnival on father’s day Sun, 15 Jun 2008 14:57:17 +0000 http://www.martialdevelopment.com/blog/investing-in-loss-or-ego/#comment-5942 [...] a topic that i have been thinking about lately, so i was happy to hear more about it. it is called investing in loss, investing in ego the hero’s journey starts with self-reinforcement, passes through acceptance and internal [...] [...] a topic that i have been thinking about lately, so i was happy to hear more about it. it is called investing in loss, investing in ego the hero’s journey starts with self-reinforcement, passes through acceptance and internal [...]

]]> By: Tai Chi - martial art or healthy exercise ? | Beginning Tai Chi http://www.martialdevelopment.com/blog/investing-in-loss-or-ego/#comment-5838 Tai Chi - martial art or healthy exercise ? | Beginning Tai Chi Thu, 29 May 2008 15:43:56 +0000 http://www.martialdevelopment.com/blog/investing-in-loss-or-ego/#comment-5838 [...] http://www.martialdevelopment.com/blog/investing-in-loss-or-ego/ [...] [...] http://www.martialdevelopment.com/blog/investing-in-loss-or-ego/ [...]

]]> By: John Crewdson http://www.martialdevelopment.com/blog/investing-in-loss-or-ego/#comment-5837 John Crewdson Thu, 29 May 2008 12:28:39 +0000 http://www.martialdevelopment.com/blog/investing-in-loss-or-ego/#comment-5837 Good topic and well thought out. I guess you could also compare this to someone believing they will be skilled at tai chi application by doing nothing more than forms. You do have to invest in yourself and be willing to take risks. Keep up the good work. Good topic and well thought out. I guess you could also compare this to someone believing they will be skilled at tai chi application by doing nothing more than forms.

You do have to invest in yourself and be willing to take risks. Keep up the good work.

]]> By: Gebeleizis http://www.martialdevelopment.com/blog/investing-in-loss-or-ego/#comment-5835 Gebeleizis Wed, 28 May 2008 20:52:30 +0000 http://www.martialdevelopment.com/blog/investing-in-loss-or-ego/#comment-5835 I've been investing in loss for so many years that it became a second nature ;-). I’ve been investing in loss for so many years that it became a second nature ;-) .

]]> By: Postel’s Law of Sparring http://www.martialdevelopment.com/blog/investing-in-loss-or-ego/#comment-5830 Postel’s Law of Sparring Wed, 28 May 2008 06:40:00 +0000 http://www.martialdevelopment.com/blog/investing-in-loss-or-ego/#comment-5830 [...] ← Chuck Norris and Google: The Facts Investing in Loss, Investing in Ego [...] [...] ← Chuck Norris and Google: The Facts Investing in Loss, Investing in Ego [...]

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