Overconsumption and The Path to Mastery - Honest Action

I have been getting a little kickback from some folks on the new structure for my online movement practice membership. I have gone from a constantly cycling archive of an indefinite number of classes to a fixed library that is categorized into 11 major themes; hips, shoulders, core, heart, balance, restorative, joint freeing, multi-plane, crawling, breath-work, and meditation. So, pretty much everything your sweet little body-mind-heart could need to feel functional, kind, and resilient. Buuuuuuuut, there are only a few classes in each category totaling 33 classes in the Library (this doesn’t include the live class each week that is recorded and saved for a period of time). I’m hearing “Well, I know on such and such platform I get a recording of every single class they’ve ever taught” or “On this platform, there are several teachers and they all have months’ worths of choices for the same price as yours, you should think about being competitive.” I am deeply grateful for their advice and support and have given it a good amount of thought. And then I ran it through the principles of the traditions that I have come to live by and I come up against things like honesty, commitment, contentment, discernment, action as a sacrifice - surrender- self-knowing…

Turns out I am not interested in the buffet of information being served up platter after platter after platter…I am interested in MASTERY; HONEST ACTION

Mastery is defined as comprehensive knowledge of or skill in…. in other words, one has an honest, participatory relationship with the knowledge or skill at hand. I am VERY interested in HONEST ACTION.

Mastery, or Honest Action, is a journey that requires dedication, persistence, and a structured approach. No matter the specific goal, the process of mastery follows a similar trajectory.

Identify Your Skill - Set Clear Goals - Learn the Fundamentals - Regular Practice = Seek Feedback -

Reflect on the Experience - Push Your Limits - Be Persistent and Resilient - Immerse Yourself

What is it that you would like to see change? Decide what it is and make it into an achievable goal. Every skill has its foundational principles and concepts, immerse yourself in the basics and build a solid understanding of the fundamental elements that form the backbone of your chosen skill. Honest Action will be achieved through consistent practice over time. Deliberate practice is essential, you have to build a long-term relationship with the practices that get you closer to mastery.

Overconsumption is the silent killer of Honest Action in so many ways and is supported by many of our modern conveniences; don’t get me wrong, access to content in the information age is an incredible gift! But we must watch it very closely. When you're constantly bombarded with new information, it can become overwhelming and difficult to process. This overload can lead to cognitive fatigue and make it challenging to focus on specific skills or subjects. With so much information available, it's easy to become scattered and jump from one topic to another without delving deeply into any of them. Honest Action requires sustained focus and concentration on a particular area, which can be hindered by a constant influx of new information pulling your attention in different directions. It can also challenge retention. Mastery often involves building upon previous knowledge and skills over time, but if you're continually inundating yourself with new information, it can be difficult to retain and integrate that knowledge into your existing understanding.

Not only does consuming a large volume of information affect one’s ability to focus and reduce retention, but without taking the time to deeply understand or apply new content a superficial understanding of topics is all that is achieved. Honest Action requires a thorough comprehension of the subject matter, which is difficult to achieve if you're only skimming the surface of various topics. This deeper level of comprehension requires significant practice and application. If you're spending all your time on information rather than actively practicing and applying what you've learned, you're unlikely to achieve mastery in that area.

All of this is only if you can manage to take any action at all! Should you get through the ever-present analysis paralysis, where you spend so much time gathering information and weighing different options that you struggle to make decisions or take action, you have to get through actual paralysis. Arriving at Honest Action requires experimentation and learning through trial and error, you must get busy doing!

A balance must be struck, between consuming information and taking the time to deeply understand and apply it. This requires setting limits on the amount of information you consume, prioritizing quality over quantity, and dedicating focused time to practice and application.

Don’t go it alone! Seek input from mentors, peers, or online communities. Embrace constructive criticism as a tool for improvement and refinement. Actively solicit feedback and use it to guide your practice and development. And take time to reflect on your practice. Keep a journal to track your progress and insights gained along the way. Reflection fosters self-awareness and accelerates your learning process.

Honest Action requires pushing beyond your comfort zone. Set challenging goals that stretch your abilities and foster growth. Embrace failure as a natural part of the learning process, BECAUSE IT IS, and use setbacks as opportunities to learn and improve. Nothing worth working for is achieved overnight. Stay committed to your goal, even in the face of obstacles or setbacks. Cultivate a resilient mindset that enables you to persevere through challenges and setbacks. Remember that every setback is a stepping stone on the path.

Immerse yourself fully in the world of your chosen goal Surround yourself with like-minded individuals, consume relevant content, and engage in activities that deepen your understanding and passion for the skill. Immerse yourself in the culture and community surrounding your skill, drawing inspiration from those who have come before you. This is a journey.

It is my hope that the library of practices in the online membership at Kate Bee Yoga will prove to be a tool that cultivates Honest Action; whether your goal is more mobile hips, less anxiety, or a deep meditation practice. I hope that all of my work helps clear out the noise and supports you in cultivating mastery in what it is you seek.

“The more you practice, the better you become. The better you become, the more freedom you have to create.”

– Ricky Gervais, Scientific American: Mind (2021)