The Flytrap "Container" Metaphor
The Venus Flytrap is the Container that lures you in to taste the sweet fruits within. Once inside the Flytrap shuts and there is no escape. Therefore, you must hold on to the door with one hand and with a foot in the door to prevents the door from closing. Once you have sampled the fruit you can pull yourself out and begin searching for another container.
The Container is the "Method" or "Technique" that you are exploring for personal development. Examples of containers may be "The Feldenkrais Method", "The Alexander Technique", "The Trager Method", "Myofascial Integration", "CrossFit Training", "Martial Arts", "Yoga", "Spiritual Practice" and many, many more. The contents of a Container are the gems of truth, knowledge or the practice that promises results of personal development such as fitness, enlightenment, happiness, health etc.
Don't mistake the container for the contents. Use the contents while they challenge you to become more aware then move on to a new container. It may take a lifetime to experience all of the contents of a container, but you can use contents from different containers at the same time. You may discover a huge overlap of contents contained in most containers.
How do you know when you need to move on from a content or a container? When the task is easy and you are comfortable it is time to move on; retain what you learned and even revisit those contents for the joy they bring, but don't mistake comfort with fulfillment.
All containers are better than all other containers. The one true container is the one you are trapped in or so you tell yourself.
Tai chi is one such container that you can spend a lifetime practicing without exhausting the opportunities for deepening ones awareness and enhancing growth towards central equilibrium. My practice stays true to the 10 principles as interpreted by Yang Family Style Tai Chi but does not stop me from exploring other movement modalities to enhance my self movement practice.
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