Bruce Lee On Adaptation: 7 Principles
When Bruce Lee began landing leading roles in popular films, he became known throughout the world. However, this talented martial arts artist was much more than a Hollywood hunk. From a very young age he was raised in Hong Kong and was surrounded by the Eastern school of thought, and therefore he has also made a name for himself as a philosopher and author. In fact, he had a doctorate in philosophy from the University of Washington. Today we share 7 lessons from Bruce Lee on customization.
He was also an important person who aroused interest in martial arts among people in the West. Bruce Lee was very charismatic and quickly became a role model for many. Every interview he gave was a moment of magic and wisdom.
One of his most powerful interviews was the last he gave, and it was not published until recently in 2007. In this interview, Lee talked about the deep meaning of the concept of adaptability. He summed up his ideas in a quote that became famous: “Be water, my friend”. Here we will break down his exciting perspective into 7 principles.
1. Bruce Lee said that change is natural
In the West, we are taught to choose our goals, achieve them, and maintain success. Rarely are we prepared for the great losses that life brings. That is why we complain when what was once, is now gone, or when what was here is no longer with us.
Bruce Lee insisted on the importance of understanding that nothing remains the same. Everything is in constant motion and transformation. Resisting this reality only causes suffering. Understanding that everything changes is the basis for adaptation.
2. Reality is more important than faith
To tell the truth, reality is what prevails, not the beliefs we have about reality. We are often surprised by something that happens, and we think that it should not have happened the way it did. This shows that we believe that reality should correspond to our beliefs and not the other way around: that our principles of the world should be based on reality.
It is impossible to understand reality in a completely objective and truthful way. The way we “translate” sensory information always has a certain margin of error. When something happens that we thought was unthinkable, reality shows us how wrong we were.
3. Bruce Lee on adaptation: with destruction comes creation
Reality flows with its own wisdom. When something ends or is destroyed, the beginning of something new is also displayed. If something is broken, it means the time is up, the cycle is over. But this process should not be seen as something negative.
To proceed, people or objects must disappear so that new ones can appear. Preference for certain habits or situations. Those who understand this are able to look at the ruins of the past and see new opportunities and invitations.
4. We are not alone in this process of transformation
We all influence and are influenced by our surroundings. That is why Bruce Lee said that all individual change involves a collective change, and vice versa. As the environment evolves, so does the individual.
Individual development is a contribution to the world. At the same time, helping others to change and develop will promote personal growth. You can not separate anyone from the social group they live in.
5. Bruce Lee on adaptation: what exists is the present in motion
The present is a synthesis between the past and the seeds of the future. The past, our memories, what already happened, appear today in a different form than when it happened. That is why the past just as it happened no longer exists. Rather, it exists as we think of it today.
There is no possible future if the present is not completely certain and is not allowed to flow naturally. The opportunity we have here and now is to plant a seed, not decide the future. What has not yet come is uncertain, and therefore this present moment is the only one that is true and of value.
6. There is no essence or set reality
In the West, we talk a lot about the “essence” of things. This is part of the idea that there are fixed elements that can not be replaced over time, a concept that makes us feel safe. That is why we talk about human and social essence and other concepts that assume that reality is static.
In Bruce Lee’s philosophy, this does not exist. The identity of a human being can change completely. For example, if someone is shy, it does not mean that they are who they are, just that they are going through a stage. In the future, something completely different may happen.
7. Let things flow, do not try to control them
Trying to control your own reality or someone else’s only results in frustration. Somehow everything is as it should be. Everyone is as they should be, at least in that moment. No one has absolute control over what happens in life. As Bruce Lee says, we should be like water, which adapts and takes the form of what it finds along the way.
The lessons of Bruce Lee had a great impact on the West. They represent a way of looking at reality that was very different from the prevailing outlook in our society. In this worldview, it is not necessary to rule over oneself or others. Instead, we should respect the implicit logic of reality, which is always a little different from our desires.
