Shoshin

Shoshin is the Zen Buddhist, a mix of Mahayana Buddhism and Taoism essentially, concept of approaching situations with a Beginner’s Mind. James Clear has a good article that is representative of most interpretations that I’ve heard wherein the expert or the experienced practitioner can learn new things by the openness of a new approach.

For me, it’s been a great concept to reinforce humility and to overcome the fear and/or inaction (paralysis by analysis) that comes from expectation. Often times this is resulting from an overinflated sense of self.

Two examples:

First – Lifting

I hooped and had been an athelete from sense I can remember through college. When you start any lifting, training or exercise routine from that mindset, which I recently did, there’s this perspective of knowing what you were once capable of that pervades your mind. This stunts progress b/c you try and return to where you were without going back through the steps.

When you aren’t able to achieve that instantly, it creates challenges mentally (suffering in the buddhist sense) b/c your expectation is different than your reality. My boy @lifeoflegend gave me a routine that took me all the way back to the beginning. A beginner’s mindset allows you to be a beginner again too, not just think like one.

Second – Execution/Progress

People often perceive me as intelligent. This can come with a certain pressure to live up to and maintain that in everything that I produce. The execution of this brand and how I endeavor to share things spiritually and also teach economically can equate to stress. Basically “If you know so damn much, then show me.” Also, b/c I’ve historically held such strong beliefs about the dangers of religion, it used to cloud my approach. Shoshin helped me with these both.

First, in going back to the basics, it solidifies and polishes the foundation. When I went to church in Peru, or in my current reading of the Bhagavad Gita, I’ve allowed myself to approach these things from a beginners perspective. In the case of the latter, I’m accepting (at least theoretically) that Krsna really did narrate this to Arjuna and seeing how that submission matures me spiritually. This will allow me to teach with greater integrity.

Secondly, I can approach the things I share with a greater sense of curiosity which allows me to go back and humbly re-study them before they are presented as opposed to the pressure to be able to spit them off the cuff with an example to boot. If there is a mistake, I have the opportunity to correct and improve.

Approaching things actually as a beginner has allowed me to excel through the foundations again without the self imposed pressure of being an expert which often times causes inaction.

Basically,

A beginner’s mind is not only helpful in theory, or as a mental framework. It can also reinforce actual humility and the comfort to allow yourself to be a beginner again.