United we stand, divided we fall

On how the art of competition can really be the art of collaboration.

When will people get that competition and war only create more competition and war?

Working together improves business

This week I was told by a suburban newspaper interested in publishing a story on the strategies I use with people for chronic illness, they could not because they were ‘rivals’ with another magazine I am currently featured in.

I was stunned. I mean, it’s not like when I’m at the supermarket choosing a magazine that I look at the magazine rack and say to myself “Oh, I can’t buy that magazine because it’s in direct competition with that other one over there”.

According to the ancient art of Feng Shui, when similar businesses group themselves together on a street, they actually get more business rather than less. I’m happy to see that our technology providers seem to be catching onto this, as shown by the neighbourly placement of Vodafone, Telecom and Two Degrees at my local shopping centre.

In the ancient book “The Art of War”, despite the book’s title, the lesson taught is ‘the art of peace’. According to its author, the great Morihei Ueshiba (1883–1969), founder of the Japanese martial art of Aikido, the real way of the warrior is based on compassion, wisdom, fearlessness and love of nature. Aikido offers a nonviolent way to victory in the face of conflict, and Ueshiba believed that Aikido principles could be applied to all the challenges we face in life—in personal and business relationships, as well as in our interactions with society.

And as one of my teachers, a black belt martial artist whose wisdom has come from Aikido, often repeats when talking about dealing with illness “It’s about getting on the same side and making peace, because… who ever won a war?”

It seems to me it’s about stepping beyond fear and knowing that there is enough for all. And this goes for any situation in life. So, as a therapist, any time I catch myself fearing competition with others in my field, I remind myself there is plenty for all. And my goal is always to work more and more in partnership and collaboration with my colleagues, because, let’s face it, it’s so much more fun and enjoyable!

Fear and competition are part of the old world, let’s move into the new.

To finish, I leave you with this awesome video on the power of unity and a brave new world.

For more inspiration see artofhealth.co.nz

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