When we practice being Essentially Correct, we’re allowing ourselves the freedom to learn, experiment, and play. I remember when my son was little, how he’d play with his friends, effortlessly shifting from pretending to be pirates, doctors, boxers, Jedi masters, or even the various characters from *Kung Fu Panda* (the best Kung Fu movie ever!). Sometimes, he was Shrek, while his friend was Po. This original game of theirs went on for hours as they became a wide range of characters. Through all the years they played this way, they never once stopped to question if they were “doing it right.” They just played—fully embodying each character, learning an incredible amount about themselves along the way.
Without experience guiding us, how could we know what’s right or wrong? We need space to explore and experience when we're learning Tai Chi and Qigong.
Allowing ourselves to be Essentially Correct allows us to playfully explore Tai Chi and Qigong or anything else we're trying to learn. When we’re unfamiliar with the depth of a subject, we must permit ourselves to create without an inner critic insisting we’re wrong or not getting it “right.” Without experience guiding us, how could we know what’s right or wrong? We need space to explore and experience, especially in Qigong, when we may not yet know the steps to take or the path forward. As children, we dive headfirst into new ideas and concepts, learning in the laboratories of our own experience.
But as we grow older, surviving our parents, teachers, friends, and communities, we tend to develop habits that can limit our openness to new knowledge and skills.
Some of us become perfectionists, pressuring ourselves to be stronger, remember more, or avoid mistakes. Others hold back, afraid of making mistakes or facing ridicule. Some rush to judgment, desperate to understand, without knowing where the journey might lead. We might try to please a teacher without fully absorbing new material or holding back, believing we’re “too” something—too uncreative, imperfect, or unworthy. Yet all of us have to start at the beginning, to make new discoveries for ourselves, and to reconnect with our innate ability to play.
When we approach Tai Chi and Qigong with a playful, open heart, whatever we create is enough. The key is to play with the exercises, designed to be safe and accessible for anyone who wants to learn. Being human, we are all creative beings; we are hard-wired to create.
So come on and join us for a class and learn to play Tai Chi and Qigong and engage in a whole lot of essentially correct play! For more info about classes, click here:
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