Lesson 2: Building Parallels Between Relationships

“The Way of the warrior does not include other Ways, such as Confucianism, Buddhism, certain traditions, artistic accomplishments and dancing. But even though these are not part of the Way, if you know the way broadly you will see it in everything. Men must polish their particular Way” – Miyamoto Musashi

Miyamoto Musashi was one of the most brilliant swordsmen who ever lived. In the quote above he mentions that “if you know the way broadly, you will see it in everything.” To me this means that if you can reach a deep understanding in one area of life, then you will be able to see and understand it in all other areas. This is the reason why the concept of building parallels is so important to not only learning, but also to life. Musashi was talking about the importance of depth in relationships and how the deeper the relationship, the deeper the parallels you are able to build.

In lesson 1 we talked about how a relationship is simply an exchange of value. This means if you can exchange value with it then you can build a relationship with it. 

Simply put: Everything = Relationships

This also means that everything can be paralleled through an understanding of relationships.

• Biology: Relationships involving life
• Chemistry: Relationships involving Elements/compounds
• Math: Relationships involving numbers
• People: Relationships involving emotion

It is important to understand that human beings are creatures of habit and patterns. Building parallels is really just looking for patterns between these different relationships. This is naturally how we think and learn. This explains why when looking at the clouds, or a rock face, you may see other patterns, shapes, faces, etc.

Here’s the video for Lesson 2. Check it out and let me know what you think in the comment section below.

Application of building parallels:

• Business Parallels:

Business is about creating value for your business. If you have a deeper understanding of business you may be able to build parallels to create more value in other areas of your life by using these paralleled business strategies. Example: You could take a system for creating wealth in a business, and build the parallels to find a way to create more value in another skill set.

• Nature parallels:

Nature is an amazing example of self-sustaining system, systems with no waste. If we can build the parallels from these self-sustaining system to recreate similar systems in our lives, we may be able to create even more value or less waste. Bio Mimicry is a great example of how we already use biology to build parallels in the systems we use in our every day lives. Example: You could break down the way a cell may divide and replicate and build the parallels to potentially help an idea spread and develop.

• Video Games:

Video games are a great example of simple structures and systems designed to recreate specific elements of life. Someone could take their deep understanding of these systems to create and build parallels to their real life to create similar systems that may create similar value. Example: You could take the systems for motivation, achievements and problem-solving into your life to “level it up”.

• Skill set development:

By understanding the principal nature of skill development, you can build the parallels from one skill that you have already developed to understand how you might achieve a similar level in another skill by simply building the parallels between the two.

Consider the following skills and examples of parallels between the skill sets:

• Basketball
• Soccer
• Dance
• Music
• Math
• Socializing

All of these skills are very different, yet they have a similar process when looking at the development of each of these skills.

• Learning – When learning any skill we find that the parallel between all of them is the focus on the foundation. With all of the listed skill sets, learning the foundation of each is the most important.
• Practice – After learning of a skill set, practice must occur to further the development of each skill. This is a necessary part of the process that can be seen throughout all of these various skills.
• Warm up – Before the application of each skill, a warm-up is necessary to ensure the greatest chances of success. Every skill has some type of a warm-up.
• Application – Every skill needs to be applied to real life situations in order to actually grow and receive value. Without the application no skill set would ever develop to the point of significant value.
• Feedback – Getting feedback after the application is another essential part of the process in terms of growth within the skill set.

Lowest Common Denominators (Simplification) is a concept in math that takes an expression and breaks it down into its simplest form. This is the same idea we use when building parallels between skill sets. We look at all of the elements that may makeup a relationship and then attempt to find the commonalities in their simplest forms. These are the principals that govern these relationships.

By understanding the relationship building process in one area of life, you can build the parallels to other relationships you are trying to develop, if, you are able to recognize those parallels. I have found that you can only build parallels as far as the depth you have achieved in the relationship being paralleled.

Depth of Relationships = Depth of Parallels

If you have a shallow relationship, then you will only be able to build the shallow parallels. Example: You may be aware that all sports have some type of a warm-up, but you will not be able to break down and build the parallels to the specifics of the warm-up until you achieve that same depth in that relationship. You will not be able to build the specific parallels to the warm-ups until you have experienced those warm-ups to that depth. It is only then that you would be able to build those parallels to another skill.

“The Way of the warrior does not include other Ways, such as Confucianism, Buddhism, certain traditions, artistic accomplishments and dancing. But even though these are not part of the Way, if you know the Way broadly you will see it in everything. Men must polish their particular Way” – Miyamoto Musashi

We are all good at something, we just have to find the relationships we understand on the deepest level and apply the parallels to the other relationships/skill sets we are trying to develop.

Next lessons: