Mastery

I have recently read a couple of interesting books that I think have some value and will talk about in a few blogs. The first book is called, Mastery: The Keys to Success and Long-Term Fulfillment. by George Leonard

It is essentially about, well...mastery. It is really about learning and putting in the time and energy to journey towards excellence while enjoying the process. Leonard discusses the challenges Americans have with working towards excellence in a culture of quick fixes, constant climaxes, and instant gratification. His discussion of the plateau in a learning process and the journey of growth is really interesting. A very quick read. Here were some of my favorite points from the book

"The early stages of any significant new learning invokes the spirit of the fool" (Mastery, p. 81).

Resilient Individuals. Leonard refers to resilient individuals as the following: who lead satisfying, successful lives in a complex world under difficult circumstances. They have good problem-solving skills, demonstrate self-discipline, are optimistic, recognize their strengths, and view mistakes as learning experiences.

Second Naivete. "How often have you censored your spontaneity out of fear of being thought childish? Too bad. Psychologist Abraham Maslow discovered a childlike quality (he called it “second naivete”) in people who have met an unusually high degree of their potential" (Mastery, p. 175).

"Generally, denial inhibits energy, while realistic acknowledgment of the truth releases it...Acknowledging the negative doesn't mean sniveling; it means facing the truth and then moving on. Simply describing what's wrong with your life to a good friend is likely to make you feel better and more energetic." (Mastery, p. 125)

"To be deadly serious is to suffer tunnel vision. To be able to laugh at yourself clears the vision. When choosing fellow voyagers, beware of grimness, self-importance, and the solemn eye."(Mastery, p. 139)