In an Aikido class I took many years ago at Sifu Brown’s dojo, I heard a wonderful way of conceptualizing the different levels of self. If I remember correctly, the teacher’s name was Sensei Bob Nadou. He said that when he thinks of himself as Bobby, he isn’t capable of much. As Bob, he can do a bit more. As Sensei, he is capable of anything. I like to think of myself in the same way. As Sifu, I can do things that as Ryan I might be too lazy to accomplish. When I think of myself as Sifu, this is essentially my highest self.
Many religions and philosophies share some concept of a higher self: the Soul, Atman, Buddha nature, spark of the divine. This is similar to what Freud called the Super Ego, the part of us connected to morality, as opposed to the Id or lower self only interested in pleasure. According to Freud we consciously operate as the Ego, which sort of mediates between the Id and Super Ego. When we refer to the Ego in the dojo, we basically mean our normal waking consciousness, that part of us that experiences attachment and struggles with living in the present (kind of a combination of Freud’s Id and Ego).
Our highest self is able to live in the present in a zen or flow state. Our highest self is also disciplined and able to act on what is most important not just from the perspective of survival but also a moral and philosophical level.
The internal challenge of the week is to set intentions each night for the next day. When we set intentions this is different from setting goals based on specific actions. An intention is more about the way we experience life. An example is I’ll be present or I’ll say yes more. We should set intentions for class in the dojo to get the most out of our practice. Before Tai Chi we may say I’m going to move like water. In Kung Fu we could say I’ll stay totally focused on details. In BJJ, I’m going to flow with my partner. From these intentions, specific actions will flow naturally.
Our intentions should connect us to our highest self. If we keep our highest self in mind when setting intentions, whenever we act on those intentions we are essentially our highest self. Here is a simple and practical way to make this all work:
First, meditate or do something that clears your mind and leaves you feeling inspired. This might even be reading a book, praying or watching a motivating movie. The goal is to connect to your highest self, even if it’s just for a moment.
Next, think of at least one thing you want to commit to as a way of being or specific action. Write it down or commit it to memory.
Last, do that thing as often as possible. If you committed to being more aware of your breath, return your awareness to your breathing as many times as you can throughout the day.
Another simple way (not complex, but not necessarily easy) of connecting to your highest self is to simply ask in any situation, What would my highest self do? You will often get an answer that may seem difficult and requires great discipline and even letting go of your immediate self-interest. The more difficult it is to act as your highest self, the more important it is to do so.
If you set out to run a mile first thing every morning, in the beginning it may take all your willpower to get out of bed, strap into those shoes and walk out the door. Yet when you do, you are your highest self.
