This is a post I’ve been meaning to write for some time. Having read and taken the time to digest the wonderful ‘Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance’ and having already been inspired by a lot the ideas and philosophies contained within it, I’m only now getting around to wanting to write about some of the things I’ve digested. One set of concepts, in particular, has been circling around the dust bowl of my brain, like tumbleweeds. These are the concepts of ‘gumption’ and ‘gumption traps’.
The word ‘gumption’ is rarely used these days. In fact, the only time I see it with any regularity is as a cleaning product brand, which is a bit sad. The word itself is used to describe someone who has ‘sound practical judgement or common sense’. I believe it is a word best used to describe those who are particularly self-aware but in a non-egotistical way. I like to think of it as a description of someone who truly cares and is not afraid to say so.
There are probably a lot of reasons why it isn’t being used, but I think it is because the idea of being passionate about something, to the point of verbosity, in some instances, is no longer considered a desirable trait. We live in world where ‘cool’ rules and overt enthusiasm and passionate displays are considered to be almost distasteful. It is one of the reasons why I think a lot of talented people who won’t bow down to the ‘Cult of Cool’ don’t achieve the recognition they deserve.
You will notice I said ‘recognition’ instead of ‘fame’ or ‘glory’ or ‘riches’. The reason I am making this distinction is because I believe people of gumption can’t let their passions be diluted by such paltry, shallow pursuits as ‘fame’, ‘glory’ or ‘riches’. Recognition, on the other hand, is important, even if the recognition only comes from very limited sources. Recognition gives weight to the idea that each of us has something worthwhile to contribute to humanity as a whole. Recognition gives strength to convictions a lot would not consider popular. I believe recognition is the pay-off for having gumption.
Then there are the gumption traps. Gumption traps, by definition, are split into two distinct groups. The first is self-defeating behaviour, negative patterns of thought and language. The second are circumstances beyond our control. Prior to reading ‘Zen and the Art…’, I’d already started on a program of trying to rid myself of the first group of traps. I identified so much with the idea, upon reading about it; I was almost reduced to tears. I often view my amateur, fumbling, philosophical beliefs, as something only I can understand, yet here was a man writing about the very same sort of ideas, albeit in a much more lucid way.
I have spent a lot of time thinking about where this connection came from and what led me to it. The book has been sitting in my shelf for a number of years, but I didn’t pick it up until someone I consider to be a man of gumption suggested I would enjoy reading it. He was right and I thank him for this.
But since then, it has occurred to me that simply pointing out to me that I would enjoy the book wasn’t his intention. He knew what I would get out reading it, just as he knew I would end up writing about it too. I think he actually knew I’d connect with it because I was already connected, in some way, to this school of thought, even though I didn’t know it. He was right, again. And I am particularly grateful for this.
What he has given me is a solid base. I feel a lot more comfortable with my own philosophical constructs now. Whereas I used to think I had a confused jumble of ideas and beliefs, I now see a clear path of thought. Where I used to feel I had to contain myself, I now recognise my positiveness, enthusiasm and passion and allow myself to express them unselfconsciously.
I don’t consider myself even close to being a person of gumption because I still don’t have the conviction to let go of a lot of the ego we use to protect ourselves. Ego is a trap in itself.
For instance, I recognise I have a problem with criticism. I also recognise this is mainly to do with my ego. But by understanding, truly, what gumption is all about, I have found myself able to look at criticism as a positive rather than a negative. This in turn has opened up a dialogue that has in turn provided necessary new information for me to progress. Progress, as far as I’m concerned, is what we’re all about.
So, to finish off, I would just like to offer up one more heart-felt ‘thanks’ to my fellow traveller for passing on this knowledge.