Lessons from an "incomplete life"...

I never played the game of Go nor seen an actual board, but I was truly fascinated by the lessons on life and career that could be derived from this ancient Chinese board-game continuously being played today.

Inspiration catches you at un-expected moments…like waves of water splashing on your face, or the fine sand dust on your feet as you walk along the shore. It’s up to you to take them onboard and see the beauty of simple but practical wisdom all around you. Available anytime so long as you take the time to “smell the flowers.”

Recently watched this TV series on the life of a former Go player who has trained his whole life aspiring to be a national athlete but whose dream was halted by difficult personal and family circumstances. Starting his career at 26 years old with no college degree, he landed a sales internship job through a personal connection. Having no proper educational background and corporate experience, he navigated the corporate life with a lot of hardships.

However, with sheer perseverance, a truly inspiring mentor that jolts him from time to time, and help from some trusted colleagues, he made it through... having completed a well-spent two years as a contracted staff in this big conglomerate. What came in handy in all those difficult times were his life lessons gained from his ten years of training in Go. His thought process comes vividly to life in those significant moments, some universal truths about life, struggles, dreams, and coming to terms with self.

I just thought they were beautiful reflections which I categorized on buckets below:

Lesson No. 1: Life is a Game

 “In Go, there’s no such thing as ‘just because’. You need a plan for each move, and that’s called intention… There’s no meaningless move… The reason that a stone gets in trouble is because you failed to see intentions. When a stone is in trouble, you should let it go but also use it to your benefit.”

 “A move is decided by the previous move… to understand the move you have to make, you need to look at the previous move. To understand why the opponent is resisting or reacting a certain way, you need to review his previous moves… What might have looked like a small problem may not be so.”

 “At a basic level, Go is a fight and a war. If one approaches, the other retreats. Co-existence is supported, but it’s a world where there is a clear winner and lose. I lived in that world for over ten years. I might be a defeated soldier, but I was trained to win.”

 “If the opponent is strong, your fight should start with waiting for the right opportunity.”

Lesson No. 2: On Surviving and Thriving

 “Courage…is not defined by readily jumping into risky situations. Avoiding these situations and silently going on your own path requires courage too. It’s not smart to respond hastily when there’s trouble. Keeping your cool while your opponent doesn’t will ultimately give them trouble. So keeping my cool is the best way to defend myself and attach others.”

 “Sometimes when you lose in Go, you wonder what all the moves were for… When you lose, everything seemed useless. But… when you win by a move, you are grateful to all the stones that enable you to make the important move and claim victory. Doing your best in every moment makes that important move and consequent victory possible. If you forget the significance of each moment, you lose sight of the whole game.”

 “We have to get accustomed to the unfamiliar. That way we can have new experiences.”

 “Most mistakes…end up as regrets and gets forgotten, but that’s not always the case. Some mistakes just haunt you forever. You can’t forget it nor reverse it.”

 “What do you think life is? You think it’s a big question? It’s simple. Your life is a collection of your choices. The choices you make in each moment makes up the quality of your life.”

Lesson No. 3: On Fighting for Your Dreams

 “Just because you forgot your dream doesn’t make your dream vanish. Just because you can’t see the road doesn’t make the road vanish.”

 “You can’t climb stairs without a foundation. You can’t ultimately climb stairs with success where there’s no foundation. You end up on the ground again.”

 “If you want to protect someone, you need to have the skill set first. There’s no greater nuisance than intervening without the skills to help.”

 “If you want to win, your body should be able to withstand the challenges. Will power is nothing much without your physical health.”

“Even if you think you won’t make it, fight to the end. In life, there are many things that you start even if you know the pre-determined end.”

 “A road is not simply for walking; its purpose lies in moving forward and improving oneself. A road that fails to do this is not a road. Roads are open to everyone, but not anyone can walk it.”

Highlight of the protagonist’ conversation with his mentor was when his boss told him, “surviving means going towards a complete life; we’re all incomplete lives.” This resonated to me, indeed many of us lives an "incomplete life." It’s truly up to us how we make sense of it, and what things we do to derive meaning.

We continue to look for inspiration... Just as we turn on our mobile handset, I wish we also allow our eyes to see things that truly matters so we are able to catch on with life and capture the beauty around us. I am thankful for these simple moments…surges of inspiration which reminds me that I am blessed to be where I am today, to have the people I have in my life, an opportunity to make a difference at work, and lastly to be a conduit of inspiration to others myself. Not everything in life is free, but sharing a bit of inspiration, I believe, can lift up others who may be “on their ropes”…

Incomplete life as it maybe, it can be as “full” as we allow it to be.

About the Author: 

Sheryll Azusano is a Human Resources and Labor Relations Professional with more than 20 years of experience with various multinational companies across different industries. She believes in positive engagement with employees and fostering good faith and positive labor relations in the organization. She is currently connected with Coca-Cola Beverages Philippines, Inc. as People Manager for Labor Relations.