The martial artist says that while he can't be physically infallible forever, he can train his mind to get him through the tough times
Credit: Visual China Group/Getty
NEED TO KNOW
- Jet Li was diagnosed with hyperthyroidism in 2013
- The martial artist, 61, opens up about separating pain from suffering and getting perspective in dealing with health
- Li dives into these subjects in further depth in his new book, Beyond Life and Death: The Way of True Freedom
Jet Li is sharing an update on his health.
Li touches on both physical and mental health in his new book, Beyond Life and Death: The Way of True Freedom. Speaking with PEOPLE about the new release, Li explains, "I think a lot of people don't want to talk about old age and death because it's unlucky."
"But that is the truth for all human beings, that after 100 years, everybody will be gone. It's about what I can learn and understand beyond life and death," he continues. "You focus more on every day, this moment, to protect your family, children, wife, husband, whatever. You do your best to enjoy life every day, success or loss, for all of its experiences."
Li explains that the two concepts are two sides of one hand and maintains, "you need to appreciate both sides."
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Credit: Visual China Group/Getty
This is something that battling hyperthyroidism has taught the Beijing-born actor, who first revealed his diagnosis in 2013.
"Yeah, I'm sick, but I feel the confidence to fight it. In the beginning, even when I got surgery, I was scared. They will tell you, 'One or two percent of people have bad luck.' I was so afraid that 'Wow, maybe I'm in the 1%,' " he shares.
Li quickly realized that learning was a powerful tool in this situation and ultimately, "You just have to face it."
"I have this problem, and I want to share with you. Jet Li is not a special guy. I'm just like you, a normal human being. I have trouble, I need to see a doctor to fix it," he explains. "My physical can become old, but my mental can become happy feeling the good and the bad. Knowing this is more important than what makes you afraid."
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Li notes, "Pain is physical. It's for the body. I'm in pain, but I'm not suffering."
The point is one that Li is eager to share with fans and readers, noting, "People who are in pain mix it up with suffering."
"They say, 'I'm unlucky.' Why? 'I got a car accident. Why me? Because I'm unlucky.' They put that physical pain and suffering together. If you learn how to train your mind, you know they're separate things. Physical pain is okay. Everybody is in pain sometimes. I can complain, but that doesn't change it," he says.
Li continued, "But mental, that I can change. It's not the worst thing. I'm still breathing. I still have my life. I need to feel this in the moment so that I don't feel suffering. Everybody has problems — old, middle, young. It's okay. I think learning about [that dynamic], it's very helpful."
Beyond Life and Death: The Way of True Freedom by Li is available now, wherever books are sold
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