Accepting Your Limitations, The Learning Process

A hot topic for discussion seems to be the idea of accepting your limitations. One could take this to mean many things, and depending on the context, the answer to this question can vary. So for the purpose of this discussion, I will keep this general, yet grounded in reality.

The topics I would like to focus on revolve around:

1 - Your Goal
2 - Struggle
3 - Reality

Firstly, let's discuss your goal. When speaking about limitations, you can focus on many things, but in general it must be in context with your goal. Whether it's the lofty ambition of accepting the limitations of yourself, or the limitations of your abilities with a particular subject matter - the results are the same. You must understand that in order to perceive your limitations, it must be put into context. Your goal should be clearly defined, whether it be the goal of higher levels of mental, physical, or spiritual attainment, or perhaps those around the attainment knowledge or skill development. Only when you've identified exactly what you'd like to accomplish, can your limitations be brought to light.

Secondly, what are limitations? Limitations are some form of struggle that may be impeding your progress, and ultimately can be a dead stop in your development. As an example, every normally functioning human being, with all of their mental faculties in place can learn to read. However, if you have a physical limitation such as blindness, you have hit a wall and cannot proceed. This is a clear example of a physical limitation that has stopped you dead in your tracks. There are other forms of limitations, especially around the idea of perception. If you belief that something is impossible, you have now imposed a self limitation, and you will not proceed until your belief has changed. An example of this would be the belief that you personally can never learn how to drive. Someone with such a belief will not even attempt it, and will go through their entire life denying themselves the opportunity and experience of driving. If that belief is changed however, then the path has been cleared, and you may proceed with your learning and skill development. Any limitation, beyond those of the physical sort, can be overcome, as they predominantly revolve around your belief system.

Lastly, the idea of reality. What is the reality of your goal? Are your goals realistic? Do you think you can learn to fly in this life time? That goal might be a bit delusional if so. But if you're goal is to be a surgeon, and develop the knowledge and skills associated, then that's based more in reality. What one man can do, another can do. So if your goals are simply to be more enlightened, you may need to refine that to be a bit more specific. Enlightened in what exactly? If it's a particular subject matter, then get on with the practices that enable you to acquire that specific skill. If your goal is too lofty, you may never get there, because it's just too ambiguous. Be specific, be honest with the feasibility of your goal, realign your beliefs to enable you, not hinder you - and the path is clear for you to proceed.

Thanks for reading.

Robert