Be water, my friend - The timeless wisdom of Bruce Lee!

 

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Bruce Lee, the legendary actor and martial artist, has left behind an unshakable legacy through his incredible films and martial arts. But he was also known for his profound wisdom about life. 'Be water, my friend'…these simple and profound words were uttered by the legendary martial artist and philosopher himself. They have resonated with people across generations then and now. One of his most famous quotes. This particular quote of his encapsulates a philosophy that transcends martial arts and applies to various aspects of everyone’s life.

Far beyond the realm of martial arts, his metaphor of ‘water’ and it’s explanation demonstrates a powerful philosophy for life, business and overall personal growth. Let’s delve into the depths of this iconic piece of wisdom by Bruce Lee. In this blog post, we'll explore the meaning behind this quote, its philosophical roots and how you can apply its principles to achieve a more fulfilling life.

 

A quick background of the quote

‘Be water, my friend’ is a phrase that Bruce Lee said when he was giving interview. He was in the process of describing his approach to martial arts and life in general during the interview. The full quote is as follows…"Empty your mind. Be formless, shapeless, like water. You put water into a cup, it becomes the cup. You put water into a bottle, it becomes the bottle. You put it in a teapot, it becomes the teapot. Now, water can flow or it can crash. Be water, my friend".

 

But, why water?

Water has some unique characteristics that make it a very fitting metaphor for life's challenges and opportunities. In essence, Lee was encouraging his viewers to embody the qualities of water which would be adaptability, fluidity and resilience. Remember, this quote is purely from a philosophical point of view and not from science. Philosophies motivate us and make us understand life’s goings easier.

Water, as you already know, is an incredibly adaptable matter. It can be gentle and flowing or forceful and tumultuous. It can shape itself to fit any space and yet it can also erode the densest rocks over time. These dual qualities mirror the essence of Bruce Lee's philosophy about water. Let us break down some of these qualities and how they can relate to one’s personal growth and success.

1) Adaptability - Water takes the form of whichever dimension it gets poured into. Just as how water has the property to adapt to its surroundings, we too must become flexible and open to change. The same water takes a new form when it is shifted from container to container. Notice how quick it is to alter itself to be contained. Our life is full of unexpected twists and turns. Our ability to adjust our approach towards changing situations is very crucial for our progress. An unchanging person will become a misfit and be immediately left behind by the times and people. An adaptation is required. There might come about greater opportunities from quickly adapting to change. The losses, if any, will only add to the experience for better results next time.

In life, this philosophy translates to one’s ability to adjust to different circumstances and new environments. Whether you're facing a new job, a challenging relationship, tougher curriculum, troubling disabilities or an unexpected obstacle, being adaptable means that you can handle change with grace and ease.

 

2) Resilience - Water can do things depending on where it is. At times, it flows gently and harmlessly and at times, they are able to violently crash in their course. This duality represents one’s strength to be gentle and patient, as well as the power to be assertive and pushy when necessary. It’s called resilient. Resilience is all about finding balance and knowing when to be calm and when to take decisive action.

Water can overcome all obstacles. When encountered with an obstacle, their immediate plan of action is finding a way around or through them. As you know, when hit with an obstacle and the obstacle is hard, water goes around it and if water can punch through, they ignore going around. They bore through the obstacles. Water overcomes the obstacle either way, which tells us that there are always solutions for problems in life. This kind of resilience is essential for each one of us in navigating life's challenges. Learn to flow with adversity and emerge stronger on the other side.

3) Persistence - Water, over time, can wear down even the hardest rock in nature. As they flow, they deteriorate the rock and make path through them. In places around rivers and streams, you can see fine pebbles in the bed of the flows. They look nice because they are now shaped by flowing water. These pebbles were once shapeless, pointy and untidy stones until they were hit by consistently flowing water.

The Grand Canyon in the USA was carved out by an ancient ocean and by rivers today

Persistence in the face of many difficulties is the key to achieving all of our long-term goals. By continuously working towards planned objectives and not quitting midway, you can overcome seemingly insurmountable challenges. You have to become like flowing water that cannot be stopped.

4) Clarity - In its natural state, water is a clear solution esp pure water. It also seeks stillness. Similarly, finding moments of clarity and peace in our hectic lives can help us make better decisions and maintain inner harmony. There is no point in being in turmoil. One has to be still in life and maintain composure through changing situations, in order to remain sane and focused. Being calm can help us see solutions. Being upset will blind us from seeing solutions even if they were staring at our faces.

Water does not engage in turmoil at places where there is no requirement of being turbulent. Even though the environment may be rugged or of bad terrain, water maintains the sanctity of calm. It doesn’t erupt or explode for no reason. We must take learning from this behaviour of water that we need to stop exaggerating, overthinking or panicking during tense moments in life.

5) Formlessness - Water has no fixed shape. Water is formless or shapeless. It can be flowing, still or turbulent, depending on the different circumstances that it gets subjected to. Similarly, we should not be confined to expectations or rigid structures. Embrace your inner fluidity and be open to new possibilities. You must adjust yourself according to changing situations. Times may get comfortable and uncomfortable as they roll by. But one must learn to behave appropriately and ethically take advantages.

6) Power - While water may appear gentle, it also possesses immense power. If you understand the science, you’d know that it has a lot of potential energy. With momentum and outside influence, it’s potential energy turns into powerful kinetic energy. Water can carve mountains and alter landscapes in nature. What this symbolizes is the potential within each of us. Inside every human is locked the power to achieve great things.

With determination, drive and focus, man can change his situations. Some phases in life seem like rocks in the way of water. They look like they’d stop our advancement. Situations like these call for our resilience and perseverance. We have no option but to go around or go forward. Those who persevere strongly are able to leap over obstacles of life. Water teaches us about the power within us and about the wisdom that we have to use from life experiences to overcome the impossible.

7) Cleansing agent - We all know this capability of water. Water is the most excellent solution to clean anything. The water is able to mix with dirt and flow away. Wherever water has been used, the spot becomes clean and shiny or atleast appears new. Water fights germs and unhygienic conditions. We use water for many cleaning purposes in our everyday life. We use it to wash ourselves, our clothes, our animals, our possessions and our surroundings.

By being like water, we can drain away negativity of all kinds. In a world filled with doubts and fears, we can become a beacon of awareness and confidence. People will bring in obstacles and sometimes, bad timing can do it too. It becomes critical that negativities be drained out from the mind and minds. By mortifying into the properties of water, one can raise hope in the midst of conflicts, bleed out despair and create a whole new atmosphere around.

8) Nourishment - It is a known fact that there can be no life without water. What makes our Earth unique is the presence of water. Water has given rise to trillions of life form since the history of Earth. Were water to evaporate into space at any time, all life on Earth ends. Planets like Venus and Mars once had water and therefore once could’ve had life. Almost the entire constituent of our body’s cells is water and our entire body is likewise made of water. We can live without food for many days but we cannot survive much long without water. The same applies to all life forms from bacteria to the blue whale.

We must be nourishing like water by taking on lessons from it. In the sense, we must be full of positivity and wisdom. Then, we can be able to nourish others by giving value to them. There are people in this world who aren’t as strong like the rest of us. They will need advice, corrections, guidance, mentoring and teaching. By learning from our experiences and mistakes, we can be able to nourish such people. Frankly, I do not believe that there is much gain in hiding useful knowledge from others. We will all pass away and someone could have gained from the knowledge we would’ve shared.

 

Applying Bruce Lee’s philosophy in life

1) Embrace change - Instead of resisting change, we must view change as an opportunity for growth. A change is a situation that is new and never faced before. Unknown circumstances have a lot of things to teach and add to our life-experiences. If the situation then repeats in the future or someone needs mentoring and help with what we went through, we have the lessons handy. When faced with new situations, always ask yourself how you could adapt and what you could learn.

2) Be flexible - One has to cultivate a mindset that is open to different perspectives and solutions. Please be aware that no situation is permanently fixed. A good time is not forever and neither is a bad time. Looking forward, there are going to be times of smooth-sailing and there are going to be also times of rough sailing. Both must be anticipated at all times and any time. This is how to start becoming flexible. Flexibility allows you to navigate complex problems and find creative solutions.

 

3) Develop resilience - Build your resilience by setting small, achievable goals and gradually taking on more challenging tasks. Of course, there is a power in all of us to do great things but it is unwise to make giant leaps because of it. Life is not a race but a marathon. Taking calculated risks and small risks is the key to hone resilience in life. With the passing of time, you will build resilience to face greater obstacles and mature in life. Remember that setbacks are a natural part of the journey and an opportunity to strengthen your resolve.

 

4) Practice mindfulness - Incorporate practices of mindfulness such as meditation or deep breathing exercises into your daily routine. Discipline with respect to food, money and time also are very important to add to such practices. These practices can help you maintain emotional stability, excellent health and mental clarity. To become proactive is hugely advantageous for the individual’s overall growth in life.

 

5) Patience and persistence - We have to understand that success often requires time and effort. Nothing happens instantly. Success is a slow road. Sometimes, it takes hours, days, weeks or years. Stay committed to your goals, even when progress seems slow. There is no other way except taking those steps on the road to success. No amount of leaping will get you to the destination. Instead, it will only tire you out. Mark your goals. Break them down into micro pieces and fulfil each of them. Although they consume time, never waste time. Consistency and perseverance will eventually lead to success.

 

Ramifications of applying Bruce Lee’s quote into our lives

 

1) Personal growth - By embracing continuous learning and self-improvement, one’s life will be changed for the best. Just as water is constantly in motion, our pursuit of knowledge and skills will become enjoyable. It is very important for an individual’s maturity to accept things as it is and move about accordingly. Remember to be always open to new experiences and perspectives in life.

2) Relationships - Living on this quote in the back of the mind, one can cultivate strong and adaptable relationships. Like water, we become nurturing and supportive persons, yet also assertive when necessary. Learning to accept, adapting based on people’s behaviour and finding likeminded friends will help us sustain healthy psyche and relationships.

3) Career - The greatest influence of Bruce Lee’s quote can apply to one’s career. It is vital to adapt to changing market conditions and industry trends. Being flexible in your approach to work and always seek opportunities for learning can help you scale up your career. A person unwilling to be like water will soon be found out of the group while his/her counterpart will be going ahead and becoming leaders.

4) Challenges - When faced with obstacles, this principle helps one approach them with a calm and focused mind. Finding a way to flow around or through them, just as water does, becomes apparent. The individual becomes a winner who can overcome. The individual sees solutions instead of hurdles. Life is spammed with challenges at every minute and being tranquil like water is the best approach to deal with them.

Conclusion

 

"Be water, my friend" is more than just a catchy quote made by a celebrity from the yesterdays. It's a profound philosophy that encourages people to live with adaptability, consistency and resilience. By embodying the qualities of water, we can navigate life's challenges with greater ease and grace. There is an excellent learning from this product of nature and the way it behaves. Ultimately, this wise approach will lead us to a more fulfilling and successful life. They make the individual useful to both themselves and others. That is a ‘guaranteed’.

 

 

In the spirit of Bruce Lee, let us strive to be formless and adaptable. Let us flow with the currents of life while maintaining our strength and purpose. Be water, my friend. If you found this post insightful, consider sharing it with your friends and family. For more such reading and tips on personal growth, subscribe to my blog and follow me on social media. Thank you.

Disclaimer : All the pictures in this post is licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic license.