19 July, 2025
Recently, I've been practicing some skills from the Ninjutsu philosophy book "Jinsei No Mutodori." I've started to practice just being like, "I'm happy that works for you," to people who are trying to really overstate a point that I don't really need to react to. Whether I agree or disagree, it's just easier to vibe.
After a while, I started noticing when I was the one trying to overstate a point. That's when I have to start asking myself questions like, "Does what I'm saying even matter?" "When does it matter?" "When doesn't it?" "Why or how does it matter?"
Now, I try to just vibe quietly while they get wrapped up in their own points. I don't even wait for my turn to say "yes and," anymore. That's because if they're talking about breakfast foods and I say, "I like pancakes," they hear, "Waffles suck, and your mom has a stupid face."
I can't control that, and it's my ego coming out when I overstate a point as a way to try and control that.
All ninja students and teachers work on overcoming ego, and sometimes even the wisest of ninja masters will hurt their own feelings not getting special treatment they never asked for or taught. Or maybe they hurt their own feelings because you're not scared of the things they're scared of. It's not my place to fight your illusions and inner demons FOR you!
That's what Budo is for!
At the end of the day, though, it's getting easier now for me to not beat myself up when I make mistakes. The same people I look up to aren't saying, "I never make a mistake." They're saying, "Here's the mistakes you need to look out for. I know because I make the same mistakes myself. Also, when you catch yourself, here's how to correct yourself and keep going!"