Recently I’ve been reading Bruce Lee’s book and watching his films.
I’m not too interested in the specific ideas he espouses, but he exerts a specific force which I am interested in. Bruce Lee is particularly focused on Intensity.
When he writes or speaks about intensity, it has a nebulous meaning. At once, it refers to focus, but also to dedication, obsession, and clarity of purpose.
Intensity seems to be a mode of being, a way of being singularly focused on the task at hand, to perform it to its fullest extent, and to not become distracted from it. It’s like a sort of professional seriousness you feel towards life, along with a personal desire to succeed.
It’s a nice way to package that idea up in a word. Bruce obviously embodied it in his acting and martial arts. I’d like to infuse intensity into my own life as much as possible.
The one point of contention still remaining is this part: singular focus.
I can take what is good about this, sure. Always focus completely on a conversation, never talk while doing something else. Always Focus completely when creating, practicing, or thinking. These are good practices which deepen the most important experiences of your life.
But what about broader timeframes? I like to do a few things in my weeks. I play a little piano, cook a few nice meals. I go to work as a programmer, but I spend my evenings playing frisbee, watching films, writing my thoughts down.
That could hardly be intensity in the way Bruce Lee thought of it. I suppose it’s sort of the “Hell Yeah or No” idea from Derek Sivers. Intensity in the things you care about, but cancel everything else.
The main consideration for me is to cancel a few things I do with very little intention. My life of variety might eventually be objectionable, but for now, I want to simply focus on the obvious time-wasters, and improve by degrees.