You Don't Own The Game
For MMA Fighters , All Athletes
The game of MMA possess a divine freedom, free from
any ownership.
Neither you nor any fighter will ever own the game.
A true warrior does not over-identify with winning. They embody the true essence of martial arts.
A warrior remains reserved by whatever outcome the universe decrees.
The game is pure by nature.
It's innocence can only be embraced through experience.
It exists solely for play.
And nothing else is expected to be received in return, other than love.
Ironically, your performances will soar through the clouds when there are no attachments.
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I have grown to dislike the new generation of fighters who display a deep sense of egotistical entitlement. They approach the game with a distorted self-image, believing themselves to be the rightful champions and a big deal in the universe.
Trash-talking has always been around in fighting sports, with fighters feel they need to market themselves; however, its now on steroids, especially with social media amplifying everyone's attention.
Ironically, the expectation they place on themselves and the bondage to this heightened self-image is precisely what causes their downfall.
They believe the game belongs to them.
When the game belongs to noone.
When a fighter inevitably loses—as all MMA fighters, whether amateur or pro, will eventually experience defeat—you will see the weight of the world crushing their spirit.
The dressing room can be a depressing place after an athlete's loss.
This has become all too common in sports, where many believe it reflects the true spirit of an athlete who passionately dedicates themselves to their craft.
The problem is that this now post-fight depression prevents them getting back up, sometimes taking weeks to revive their motivation.
I once held this "winning mentality" too.
I remember after a disappointing performance, I sat alone in a park with tears streaming down my cheeks.
As time passed, I have come to realise, it was not so much my sincerity that was wounded, but rather my ego. Had I won despite a poor performance, I wouldn't have cared - I just wanted to win at all cost.
But this craving for victory is insincerity. It is not aligned with nature's way.
It's not a winning mentality. It is Attachment.
My pride was hurt, and the image of the superstar I held in my mind was tarnished.
It is attachment to the game that causes anxiety, pressure and poor performances. The excessive expectations we place onto the game no longer allow it to be just that - a game of sport.
It becomes personal. Like a personal vendetta in which one seeks to gain something that the game inherently does not have the capacity to give -
Complete fulfilment does not exist in winning the game.
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Conquer the next ten fighters in your way. Become world champion. Earn all the money in the world. Gain all the status and accolades you wish...
Your mind will relentlessly search for the next win like a dopamine addict starving for a fix.
The pain of losing is not caused by the actual loss itself, but rather by the emotional blow to one's pride and ego. The sting of defeat paralyzes one with a sense of personal failure or inadequacy, causing one to feel vulnerable and exposed, as though their very identity has been shaken to its core.
Do you wish to continue this journey?
Aren't you exhausted of the rollercoaster of emotions, swinging from happiness to sadness?
Do you prefer to live with sporadic moments of joy spaced out by anxiousness? A life where striving becomes the norm? If you're a mixed martial arts enthusiast, you know that the wayward nature of the sport is characterized by an unpredictable path of sending you on a rollercoaster ride of ups and downs, and haphazard twists and turns.
Even on the training ground, you'll experience that your progression often demands taking steps backwards to leap forward. Sometimes, you might even have to retreat five steps backwards to gain one step forward. There are times when you find yourself at a standstill, neither advancing nor regressing.
Such is the tumultuous journey of the game.
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A pervasive rise of narcissism has risen in recent years, from emerging new fighters adopting personas from famous trash talkers. Social media amplifies this trend, inflating self-image and contributing to an exaggerated self-importance.
In the grand scheme of things, you don't really matter. You never have and never will. One's existence is ultimately insignificant.
The cosmos, God or destiny are not concerned with your puny being's egoic desire for championships or recognition.
When victory feels too personal, you lose equanimity. And when one's mind suffix inner disturbances such as anxiety, frustration, fear of failure, he is in thought.
He is not in "no-mind."
In fact, he is too much mind.
And it is through freedom from mind, the zone arises.
The ultimate self-image is no image, and the ultimate champion is not one adorned with titles but one who dwells above worldly attachments, detached from them.
Ironically, it is this liberated being whom victory truly seeks.
~ You Don't Own The Game ~
The secret sayings
True transformation comes from the correct exposure. When spoken or written, the essence behind the words has the power to connect to personal experience, thus creating a living understanding, thus creating transformation.