Inspiration
America’s War on Mastery
America’s got a war for everything. From the war on poverty to the war on drugs. There’s a war on crime to go with the war on AIDS. We even have a war on homelessness. Well, there’s one war that silly ol’ Uncle Samuel is intentionally neglecting to tell you about: America’s War on Mastery.
In this article we’re going to explore the war, and define definitive defenses for surviving and thriving during the heat of the battle.
Are you absurdly enthused in anticipation of what you’re about to read? Oh yes, I can just picture your pupils dilating now. Dude!
A Quick Lesson on Mastery
Ultimately, it’s a path, a process, and a journey.
One that includes a mindset of never-ending improvement toward a specific skill or trade that you’re developing. To become a Master at something, you practice persistently and diligently, but primarily, you practice for the sake of the practice itself. Sayonara suckers!
Finding the Value
Let’s start with values.
You know, as in meaningful morals of self and having a personal code of conduct. What do you believe in? What do you stand for? Something? ANYTHING?!
A century ago, a human’s value system was instilled in them from sources like their tribes, their village elders, their religions, and their spiritual practices. In 2011 America, ha! The notions of this nation’s values are of mere hilarity.
George Leonard in his double decade old brilliant book, Mastery, says:
“If you’re planning to embark on a Master’s journey, you might find yourself bucking current trends in American life. Our hyped-up consumerist society is engaged, in fact, in an all-out war on mastery. We see this most plainly in our value system…
Our society is now organized around an economic system that seemingly demands a continuing high level of consumer spending. We are offered an unprecedented amount of choices as to how we spend our money…
Each time we spend money, we make a statement about what we value; there’s no clearer or more direct indication.”
The days of quality value attainment through intellectuals and philosophers are few and far between. People are more likely to pick up “ingenious” ideologies from Kanye West, Tiger Woods and Ari from Entourage. {{Lloooooooooooooyd!}}
The culprit to keep keen awareness of is the endless stream of climactic moments that mainstream media portrays as normal. In other words…
Instant Gratification Kills!
It’s pervasive and perverted, the American way.
A quick fix with a side of temporary fast relief. We’re taught to value results more than process. Getting results are great, but the process of attaining them is equally as excellent.
DANGER: If you train your unconscious mind that anytime you run into a problem, there’s a magic pill — what’s gonna happen when you run into a problem of real significance?
- Stressed out from work? Let’s hit the bar for some drinks.
- Wanna get rich quick? Play the lottery yo!
- Looking for some fun? Let’s get hiiiiiiigh…
Attention spans are shrinking. Did you know that multitasking with phone calls, emails, and text messages (the holy trilogy) will lower your IQ score more than smoking pot will?
Or how about some TV? {{Which i cut outta my life over a year ago}} You’ll be hard-pressed to find a commercial that keeps one camera angle for more than 2 seconds. Why would they? Who’s gonna dish out drug-lord dollars for extra airtime that entails the process of practice when they can simply show these shots:
- Second 1: Daytime boredom at work.
- Second 2: Early evening beers at the bar with bad-ass blonde chicks.
- Second 3: Naughty nightcaps at the casa with nymphomaniacs.
- Second 4. Drink Budweiser – The All American Beer!
Anyone who’s ever sat unstimulated in a non-captivating career cubicle can attest to the arduously painful amount of time that ticks between “Second 1″ and “Second 2″ of our above commercial.
Fucked Fact: Did you know that Americans spend more money each year, wait for it, wait for it, wait for it… than they make?! What does that tell you about our values? We spend money that we don’t have on a bunch of crap we don’t need. Weaksauce.
Awareness Can Build Momentum
Now you know what you’re facing, I propose two options:
- Renounce all of your possessions and more to Nepal. {{Bonus points if you’ve seen Wedding Crashers}}
- Embark on a Master’s journey and fall in love with the path of practice.
George Leonard may have put it best here:
“For a Master, the rewards gained along the way are fine, but they are not the main reason for the journey. Ultimately the Master and the Master’s path are one. And if the traveler is fortunate — that is, if the path is complex and profound enough — the destination is two miles farther away for every mile he or she travels.”
Learn to love the plateau – the time in between climaxes. It will account for 90% of your life.
If You Dig the Fruit, Please Share the Juice!
On Purpose,
Jacob
They made the CHANGE... What about you?
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31 Responses to America’s War on Mastery
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Awesome post dude. And so true. The only thing I would add is that we are sons and daughters of master craftsmen. Its in our blood. 60 000 yrs ago, the guy who could make the best spear is the guy that got to procreate. Non-masters died out cuz no one wanted to fuck them.
And today we have dug ourselves into a culture of non-mastery, which creates significant static in our mind, body, and soul? The static is there because we are sons and daughters of master craftsmen and we know something doesn't "feel" right.
Sorry…I dont mean to go on and on…great post, loved it. Keep em going :-
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we are led to believe (and billions are spent each year towards this end) that products can make us happy and can "fix" us – when each of us has ALL the tools we already need. i vote for self-mastery. Positivity & enthusiasm for something, ANYTHING will cure you quicker than any amount of coinage you fork over.
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Lynne says:
As the saying goes 'You can't buy happiness' & The Beatles said 'Can't buy me love'. But I say there's progress in the process, for me & you & Mankind. x
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Loud & clear, & though it may be out of tune – I'm still singing. Ha. x
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Can I extend "Second 3" to a full 24 / 7 / 365 …now that would be some mastery!
The cubicle life leads people into buying things they don't really need (probably don't even want) in order to make themselves feel as though that office prison is worth something. I've caught myself falling into this trap. Luckily I am not yet at the point where I am buying into debt and working more to pay it off in order to buy into more debt!
As my friend likes to tell me "The worst part about a cubicle is that there is nowhere to hang yourself." So true…now I am trying to break out.
And I work in an office full of people who play the lottery to try and escape their cubicle. Even the manager (who at least works in an office).
I definitely wouldn't go as far as renouncing all possessions. But I think people should pause and evaluate if they can actually afford the purchase and what value it brings to them. But I'm not minimalist by any long shot. I love stuff. Stuff is great :)
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EmbraceTheJoy says:
I stopped watching and reading the news years ago…I don't watch commercials either. I've been on a path of minimalism for a few years…
The need to have bigger and better is part of the reason my marriage broke down. Where he wanted to look a certain way, have more and more… I just wanted to be happy with him… We couldn't have been farthur apart.
finding people who share my thoughts is difficult…I could use a few more people in my life that understand the path I'm chosing…
Thank Jacob-
Sorry to hear about your marriage breaking down. I trust you are bigger and better because of the process. Thanx for sharing and connecting with us as we consciously create our own paths. -=)
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Shahena says:
thanks Jacob really enjoyed reading this!
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Stephanie says:
Wow, Jacob! That was awesome! I never thought of it as "instant gratification kills" but once I read the details behind this title I realized that I've felt the same way for years. Knowing that those who rush to the finishline have missed the true essence of the process and have truly gained nothing of true value. In the end it is typical that whatever gained so rapidly will not be appreciated as much and will be lost just as quickly. Imagine getting an educational degree in one day, what have you truly learned? Nothing. A lot of folks are out there missing out on the true value of each accomplishment and disguising it on the outside while experiencing the emptiness on the inside. I'm glad that you put words to the epidemic sweeping America. You are awesome!
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Awesome Stephanie. Love your insights as well as the way that you articulated yourself here!! Thanx for the share -=)
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Jennifer says:
One of the things I've been doing lately is rewatching old movies from my childhood (there isn't much else you can do when you're really really sick). It's fun to see these movies and remember my reactions to them when I was younger, and then think about my reactions now. Or even better – imagine how it would have been redone now! It's funny to see how even in 1984, movies were slower – a 45 second scene with a boy on the back of a flying dragon is fairly straight forward, you internalize the emotion. In 2011, that scene would be filled with crazy flying, maybe some fire, maybe more danger. The movie hands you the emotion you feel, there's no thinking involved.
Your commercial example reminded me of that.
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Haha Jen! I love watching ol' skool classic flicks too. Up until reading what you wrote, i hadn't specifically put my finger on the distinction that you described above. Great stuff – thanx so much for sharing!! (And feel better too!)
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markharai says:
Pretty sorry mind-set — one that we're seeing the effects of right now. It's a big part of the reason I desired to see more of the world and experience other cultures — and see life outside the instant gratification, consumerism and old mighty dollar rules mindset. I have not been disappointed!
This post rocks bro – I love how you craft a message!
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Thanx so much Mark!! Big BIG smiles and looking fwd to seeing how you do more of the above in the future!
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Robin says:
would it be nice to have a million dollars, sure. Can I live with out it , bet you butt. , I think that time takes care of a lot of woes, it sure has in my case, When I was younger I did want it all, and never even came close to it. Because my needs and wants changed as I aged.When we take responsibility for our actions, we become a lot closer to the true person we were meant to be,
Great post Jacob -
Hey Jacob, I really appreciate what you're saying, but first, WHAT that plateau consists of is so so important. I don't think that seizing onto "anything" of value and devoting yourself to its mastery… is going to get you very deeply devoted for any real length of time! The practice is super important, but only after you dive into yourself and find something of true value to yourself worth mastering. I think the instant gratification culture we've built is a result not of dislike for mastery, but of a shallow and misinformed search for all the wrong things to master in the first place.
In other words, when the greatest goal for mastery in your work life is the next tedious assignment your boss gave you (or the far-off promotion that will get you a less tedious assignment)… of COURSE you won't be motivated. In that case, screw the practice, and bring on the beers and chicks, man. Right?
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WOW! What a wonderful way to put it Tessa. Really appreciate the share and next week's post will talk a bit about "meaningful work." Yippie Kie Yay!!
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Hahaha!! {{looks up}} Thank you very much misses universe for the episode of taking care of the TV. ;)
Beautifully put Kathy!
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Great post and lots of valuable insights.
***60 000 yrs ago, the guy who could make the best spear is the guy that got to procreate. Non-masters died out cuz no one wanted to f*** them. ***
I'll just point out one thing, they didn't get to procreate because the women wanted to. The women in such societies didn't generally get much say in the matter. For many of us, current society — with all it's flaws — offers an exponentially better option than any other has. Let's at least recognize that in our ranting.
I'm 46 and my parents were old enough to live through a lot of terrible things that we now longer deal with. My mom nearly died from whooping cough and my dad from rheumatic fever. Any of you every had those? Or lived in an iron lung like an older friend of mine?
Sometimes it's easy to sit amidst the luxury we have today and complain about the imperfections, not realizing that we only have the luxury to complain because of some of the very things we complain about.
Just a thought.
Best.
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Fascinatingly keen insights Alison. Really enjoyed reading them! Thanx for the share!
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ukamkhan says:
Learn to love the plateau – the time in between climaxes. It will account for 90% of your life.
That's such a pearl of wisdom. Thanks. Really need to understand this to be contended and turn off the impatient feeling.
Good stuff, Jacob! The interesting part about everyone's chase for instant gratification is that they wind up getting no gratification at all. How many people do you know that play the lottery but never win anything? And do they ever get ahead? Nope. So they don't even get the gratification of making a little financial progress or the satisfaction of working hard towards a goal. Same goes for the pot smokers. I worked in a restaurant with a bunch of crabasses who spent their free time smoking bowls and then when they sobered up, all they did was complain about life. If you shift your perspective and start working a little bit – even delaying your gratification – you wind up feeling even happier as a result.