A short Optimize +1 podcast by Brian Johnson ("The Tenth of an Inch") reflecting on the futility of resisting reality. Johnson cites Byron Katie, Phil Jackson (from Sacred Hoops) and Joe Kopeck (Everyday Zen) to argue that the tiny psychological gap between accepting reality and wishing it were different—the "tenth of an inch"—determines whether we act rightly or descend into suffering. The episode closes with a practical prompt: notice that gap in moments of annoyance and choose acceptance.
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Hi, this is Brian. Welcome back to another Optimize plus one. We talk a lot about the futility of arguing with reality. As Byron Katie so perfectly says, we when I argue with reality, I lose, but only 100% of the time. Today we're going to take another look at that wisdom from a slightly different angle. We'll invite a couple of modern Zen masters to the party, Joe Kobek and Phil Jackson. We'll start with legendary basketball coach Phil Jackson's wisdom. In his book Sacred Hoops, he tells us, I quote, in Zen it is said that the gap between accepting things the way they are and wishing them to be otherwise is the tenth of an inch of difference between heaven and hell. He says if we can accept whatever we've been dealt, no matter how unwelcome, the way to proceed eventually becomes clear. This is what is meant by right action, the capacity to observe what's happening and act appropriately without being distracted by self centered thoughts. If we rage and resist, our angry fearful minds have trouble quieting down sufficiently to allow us to act in the most beneficial way for ourselves and others. End quote. Thank you, Phil. Now for Joe Kopeck in Everyday Zen. She tells us, I quote, if we require that life be a certain way, inevitably we suffer. Since life is always the way it is and not always fair, not always pleasant. Life is not particularly the way we want it to be. It is just the way it is. And that need not prevent our enjoyment of it, our appreciation, our gratitude, end quote. That's today's plus one. When or if we find ourselves a little or a lot annoyed today, whether that's with our kids or our colleagues or ourselves, let's see if we can step back and notice the gap between what's happening in the moment and what we want to be happening in the moment. That tenth of an inch. Let's close it. Minus one, minus one, minus one for the plus one. When? P.S. if you're getting all crazy ragey, well, you just fell into a mile long chasm between reality and and your fantasy of what you think should be happening. Good news. Just snap your fingers, love what is and that gap magically vanishes.
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