The Personal Moral Compass, Part 4: The 3 States of Mind
As you may have noticed in the previous installments in this series, your state of mind has a lot to do with your health and well-being, your approach to the curveballs that life can throw at you, and your ability to weather the impending storms that will inevitably come your way. More specifically, in this conclusion of our series, we will look at the 3 States of Mind. These are:
- Zanshin
- Mushin
- Fudoshin
Zanshin is the state of awareness. Unlike many sports where they have a season in which to perform their best, life moves on every day. It is literally a “daily grind” and does not take a break from its constant assault on our senses, our resources, and our abilities. We have to be constantly aware of the threats around us. We have to learn to watch for the inattentive driver who is too busy on their cell phone to see the red light they are running. We have to see the failing business we work for and anticipate its demise, getting out before becoming unexpectedly unemployed, facing serious financial hardship in the process. We have to be aware of the perpetrator that is looking for an easy victim for their next crime. And most importantly, we have to be aware of our own state of mind, to not allow negativity to creep in and take root against us.
Mushin is that state of no mind. For the majority of us, driving is something that we have done for years. You rarely think about pressing the gas, hitting the brakes, or changing lanes. You can probably point to a time when you left home, pulled up at work and do not really remember the actual drive there. It is an action in which you are so well versed in its repetition that you can, and often do, perform it unconsciously. When was the last time that you ate dinner and actually thought about the movements and coordination required to bring your fork from the plate to your mouth without spearing your cheek, nose, or eye? That is the mental state of Mushin. For our purposes, a self-defense situation occurs so quickly that you will not have the time to think your technique through. It has to have been practiced, correctly, so much that you are able to perform without conscious thought. As former Navy SEAL and Linxx Academy of Martial Arts owner, Frank Cucci, one told us, “Practice makes habit”. Self Defense is no different. We have to train, with a realistic mindset and settings to ensure our success.
Fudoshin is the state of emotional balance. We must be vigilant in our mental bell curve to not fall into depression or allow ourselves to get so high on our wins that we misstep and lose control. To keep yourself in the middle of the bell curve is not an easy task. Today’s society seems to worship the overreaction at both ends of the spectrum. The news is full of stories of cities destroying themselves when their home team wins that coveted championship, as well as detailing the tragedy of those returning from a near impossible job performed admirable overseas. We are conditioned at every turn to fall prey to these overreactions. It takes practice and training to keep ourselves in the middle zone for true emotional balance. But that balance is the key to maintaining our Zanshin and Mushin mental states.
Overall, the balance between the Seven Virtues, the Five Keys to Health, and the Three States of Mind are a combination that works well together. And as you may have guessed, my dear reader, are ingredients that make not just a better martial artist, but a better person! The approach of all three elements together will lead you to a better lifestyle, a deeper appreciation of your life and family, and more fulfillment in every aspect of your life. Do not just use them as buzzwords, recited publicly to impress your peers. Study them, learn them, and more importantly, apply them all and see just how far you can really take yourself! You might just be pleasantly surprised by the results!