There are many different angles at which to look at ‘living life to the max’. Here I want to tell you a little martial artsy story to discuss living life to maximum effectiveness.

The two brothers lined up next to each other in front of their teacher who lifted his hands to his katana (samurai’s sword).

“Today I will teach you about combative distancing. I want you dodge my cut as best you can.”

The students looked nervously at each other as the teacher unsheathed his sword, it glinted at them as the sunlight danced along its razor sharp edge. It had seen many battles in the olden days and the boys had seen how even now it cut through bamboo with barely any effort.

The first student steeled himself, staring at the blade now raised above his adored teachers graying scalp.

Without notice the cut came and at the last moment the student dived backwards, stumbling as he regained his balance. Relieved to be untouched he went to his knees, gathering his breath.

The teacher motioned for the next student to come forward as he prepared himself for another deft cut.

Tension built in the room as the teacher observed his students composure, more relaxed than the first this student stared directly back into his face.

Again without delay the stroke came down flashing like lighting in the fading sunlight. The peacefulness of the summer afternoon was shattered as the sword ripped through the woolen uniform presented to its edge.

“Brother!!!”

The first student leaped to his brothers side as half of his uniform fell to the floor, cut from its owner.

As he grasped at his brothers body his teacher sheathed his sword, to the boys astonishment he found his brothers flesh untouched. The teacher sighed,

“There is only an inch between life and death, both of you knew this and avoided my cut”.

He pointed at the first student, “But you moved halfway across the world to avoid my cut and consequently gained nothing”.

“Your brother on the other hand only moved the inch required to choose life. Sacrificing everything but his life he gained everything possible from the encounter.”

Gaining the Most from Every Encounter

Many people believe that living life to the max means to be always taking risks and staying busy doing things, not letting fear stop you from achieving your goals.

While there is some value to this I think it is a little misguided.

I like the above story because I believe it illustrates perfectly how to live life to the maximum.

The first student took a risk and faced the blade with great courage. To any thrill-seeker he indeed lived to the max.

But what distinguishes the two students is their attitude.

It would appear that the first student was focused just on protecting himself. But deep down he was also protecting his clothes and his fear. Consequently he dived so far away to avoid the blade. Such a large movement was required in order to save those elements of himself.

The second student on the other hand had shed his clothes, his fear, his pride and all else. Because he had put all those aside he could face his teacher and only move far enough to protect his life. As such he was left in the best position possible for any counter-attack.

Bringing this to our life we consider our everyday interactions.

Whenever we interact with someone a blade is being swung. If we hide in our insecurities, doing just enough to get by in the expectations of our society we will be living half the world away from our authentic life.

If on the other hand we live protecting nothing other than our life then in our interactions we will allow our partners the full range of their swing and we will present our truest self fully.

In interactions like this you are not hiding anything, not protecting any prejudices or preconceptions. Then you and everyone else will gain the most possible from every encounter in life.

Like the edge of the katana’s blade, it is most effective when nothing is clinging to it.