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“Be Water, My Friend”
Part 1: Bruce Lee’s simple recommendation for overcoming any obstacle.
This is part one of a three-part series on Bruce Lee that examines an aspect of his philosophy of life. Part 1 focuses on overcoming obstacles. Part 2 focuses on adapting to your circumstances. Part 3 focuses on the benefits of emptying your mind.
Bruce Lee is considered one of the most influential martial artists of the past century, especially in North America. In the early 1970s, his movies kickstarted a martial arts revolution. The martial art he developed, Jeet Kune Do, is even credited with forming the foundation of mixed martial arts (MMA).
But, he wasn’t just a movie star and martial artist. He was a philosopher, too. He famously said:
“Empty your mind, be formless. Shapeless, like water. If you put water into a cup, it becomes the cup. You put water into a bottle and 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.”
His words sound esoteric, but their meaning can be quite practical. In particular, his advice provides a method for overcoming any obstacle.
