Last year I worked in the mill on a science fiction movie which is part of a very popular franchise. I have known the Foreman for many years, but do not remember having ever worked for him. My partner, who I had worked with on three consecutive shows, is an excellent craftsman, but has a very low tolerance for people he does not think are good enough at their job; and he rarely holds back on expressing those opinions to me. We were building elaborate control consoles and space lock doors. During the first week my partner voiced his displeasure with the quality of my work: ‘You’re making us look bad’, or something to that effect. The truth is that it had been a very long time since I had worked on a project that demanding. I actually do not believe the degree of precision they were looking for was necessary, but the Foreman expected it. At the end of the week he told me that my work was not of sufficient quality for that crew. I would have been just as happy to work with the other crew on stage, but my ego would not accept that result. That weekend I talked to some friends in faith and confirmed what I already know: The only answer to a situation like that is to raise your life condition. I got up two hours early on Monday morning and immersed myself in my spiritual practice. I showed up at work that day with a new attitude, on a sub conscious level. For the rest of the job they complimented my projects, and they invited me to work on their next show, also a space movie, which I just finished. I cannot say exactly what changed about me over that weekend. I did not exponentially improve my carpentry skills or discover some new trick to hide any mistakes I may have made. What I do know is that I have a reliable system that enables me to raise my life condition, in order to counter any negativity, either internal or external.
Faith, to me, is fundamentally a belief in yourself, and in your own capabilities, both those you already possess, and those you hope to develop. My mentor, Daisaku Ikeda. states: “The struggle to surmount inner deadlock and feelings of defeat is what faith is all about. It is the rousing of the strong and powerful spirit within, the commitment to resolutely wage battle against all inner tendencies toward complacency and stagnation.” Personal Empowerment is described on skillsyouneed.com as a process of “developing self-awareness, an understanding of your strengths and weaknesses”. They say we can become powerful by “reflecting on our personal values, skills and goals and being prepared to adjust our behavior in order to achieve our goals”. What I love about my spiritual practice is that the benefit is not only in the goal you are pursuing, which you may or may not achieve, but in the person you become in the process. Amazingly, the by product of our efforts, when we base our pursuits on faith, is a deep internal satisfaction and happiness, that stays with us long past our attachment to our original goal.
Many people have different opinions on how to achieve self empowerment, from changing our computer password to a personal mantra to taking a timeout to be alone so that we can “disconnect from all the other voices around us, including your spouse, children, in-laws, employers, co-workers, and friends” (Jackie Dishner). Skillsyouneed describes a range of “coping responses” they recommend to deal with diverse life situations: Setting Goals to chart the direction of your life; Gathering information to expand your life choices; Developing Skills that can help you achieve your goals. “In order to be self-aware it is necessary to be aware of our values, to critically examine them and to accept that our values may be different from those of others”. In my experience of faith I like that the goal (and usual outcome) is that everyone wins. Daisaku Ikeda sums up my opinion on this topic. “Faith is the eternal treasure and sustenance of human life. It encompasses immeasurable benefit and boudless good fortune. Its power is as vast as the universe and can transform our entire environment or world”.