In any sport, practice, art or endeavor,

there is a circle.

A circle, with a very, very few, right at or near the center,

and then as one goes towards the extremeties/boundaries,

filled with those who though will shout at the top of their voice,

about their "passion" or how "into" they are into their practice,

but in reality, are anything but truly passionate or committed.

The few at the center are what the world will label as legends,

or "The big 3 or 4", etc.

Those closer to the extremities of the circle,

than they are to the center,

are "trying to be a legend one day",

and thus, in reality, are the masses

(or those trying their best to not be the masses.)

Unseriousness, mediocrity, consistent "failures", and dropouts

breed like a plague in the areas closer to the boundaries of the circle.

And what is at the center?

Nothing.

Yes.

The center is the place of devotion,

where all the mind-chatter, if any, does not breed.

For the sincerity and the unflinching commitment of the rare few,

forces them to contain it within themselves,

however little of it they carry.

The problems and the many pains of those at the boundaries,

be it repeated injuries, insufficient funds,

or not having a good "coach" and access to "high-end" facilities,

(that they think is the key to coming closer to the center)

keep them busy and make them stay where they are.

But the pains are never enough!

For amidst this internal chaos of "problems",

they are constantly eyeing those at the center,

feeling the self-torturous burns of jealousy and angst of not reaching them,

further exacerbating themselves and thus, staying right put.

On the other hand,

no matter how rare of the occasion,

when those at the center,

get a chance to look at the daily struggles and effort

of those closer to the boundaries,

they understand what is keeping them there.

They know the Truth of their situation,

maybe just enough,

to remind themselves to dismiss the futile digression,

and go back to their devotion,

and to the Moment.

And then there is a "fairly big piece" of the circle,

that I have left out so far,

intentionally.

For though The Truth can haul anyone up to unforeseeable levels,

no matter how much of "the secret" one thinks they "have access to" or "have figured out",

or on the contrary,

how badly they are in grips of their Mind and suffering every day,

this "fairly big piece" are the ones,

to whom it will serve the most and almost immediately.

And it is these to which this writing is aimed at.

Who are these?

These are the people who are stuck "somewhere in between",

sometimes even closer to the center than to the extremities.

What are they stuck with?

They are stuck playing a game.

A dangerous game I must reveal.

What game?

The dangerous and addictive game of either...

"deciding" whether to give it their all or not,

and thus questioning themselves repeatedly -

"Do I really have what it takes to be No.1?"

(which only increases their self-doubt).

OR

trying too much or too hard,

to prove it to themselves that they indeed have what it takes.

(which once again, continues to increase their anxiety,

not ever relieving them from going head-to-head with themselves)

But no matter which extreme of the two games above they are stuck playing,

they stay stuck in the gray zone.

Yes, they will showcase their valor once in a while,

maybe even threatening those at the center,

but it will only be here and there,

and their experience will be marred with self-doubt and internal discohesion.

To all such individuals, I will say this...

You will stay where you are,

if you are okay with staying there.

And unless the day comes,

when every inch of your body resists your insistence of not doing anything about it,

you will not move an inch.

Yes, your "rank" may dwindle a little bit.

But the internal conflict will not as much as budge.

Yes, you "public image" may improve because of you finally acting mature,

but the maintenance on your part to have it reflect will undo all such "improvement".

For the only way out of your predicament,

is the same way to not just invade,

but to find your home at the center of the circle.

Yes.

The only way out,

is the way into your Mind,

understanding why it does what it does,

so that it can leave YOU be,

once and for all,

to become the center of the circle.

Thank you.