As you read the headline, you must have probably thought "What the heck is this guy writing about? Is he serious or on drugs?"
Of course, I would have thought the same.
If you look at Dragonball at a superficial level, it is just another fun cartoon series starring a little boy who travels the world (and later the universe) on the hunt for new adventures and tough opponents to fight. Add talking animals and seven magical balls that grant almost every wish and you got yourself just another animated series geared towards children and childish grown-ups (like me!).
But that is not what fascinates me about this series.
Yeah, of course, the action is rad. It is fun to watch Son-Goku drop a Kame-Hame-Ha on an enemy. But what makes me adore the series even more are the themes it touches on. Themes like friendship, rivalry and growth. There are small nuggets of wisdom strewn throughout the whole series (especially the original) that make it special in my heart.
Now to make my point, I will show you some examples of what we can learn from this anime made in Japan:
Healthy Rivalry
Son-Goku rarely kills his opponents. Even when he has the chance to do it. No matter how earth-threatening these evil beings are, he defeats them in battle but leaves them alive, so that he has competition which forces him to grow. He is not interested in destroying but in defeating them, as he constantly wants to improve his fighting skills.
What can we learn from this? We can learn to see competition neither as something to destroy nor as something to be afraid of. We can learn to see it as a chance to constantly grow. Due to healthy competition you have an inner drive to outperform not just the others but also yourself. And that is what healthy rivalry is. You are grateful for having opponents that are better than you, because they give you a chance to grow.
Accomplishing Goals and Dreams
Son-Goku never gives up when he sets out to accomplish his goals. Period.
He sets out to accomplish even the most daunting and impossible tasks with pure optimism. Always believing in himself that he can do it.
Of course, he also seems a bit childish and naive. But when you come to think of it that is his strenth. He never seems to worry and hardly seems frustrated when something goes wrong. That is his strength. Setting a goal and believing that it can be done.
When Son-Goku hears of a way to get stronger, of a way to revive his friends, of a way to save the world, he will attempt to do it. Even when others tell him that it is impossible, he will accept the challenge and find a way to get things done.
When we get confronted with tough tasks and seemingly unreachable goals, we almost always whine and find excuses on why it can't be done. Most of us do this. We give in to our limiting beliefs about the world.
Why can't we all be a bit more like Goku? Trying to accomplish even the most demanding and unreachable goals without any worry in the world. Knowing that you will achieve them if you keep at it.
Being pure and honest
Son-Goku is always himself.
He never pretends to be something that he isn't. He is honest and innocent like only a child can be, even as an adult. He never lies, betrays or speaks badly about someone behind his/her back.
Almost everybody likes him, because he has a great heart and soul.
I think he carries both the strengths of a child and an adult in him. He takes responsibility for his actions and dedicates his life to better himself and the world, yet he never loses his inner child. He stays cheer-, play- and grateful.
In summary, we should all strive to master ourselves, better the world and keep in touch with our inner child.
Be smart, be Goku ;)!
Thanks for reading!