Monday, July 30, 2007
Saturday, July 28, 2007
Warriors and honor
It was a normal Friday morning. I had just finished with one of my private lessons when Kimberly, the school manger, told me I had a phone call. I asked her if she knew who it was. She said yes and told me who it was. I was surprised. I hadn’t heard from this person for a while. I got on the phone. I said good morning in Korean (that is the only thing I know how to say). He laughed and said good morning also.
My friend, who happens to be one of the most respected martial artists in the world, wanted to come down and spend some time with me. I was honored. I have always looked up to this gentleman.
He arrived about 2:00 p.m. and after a small chit-chat we started talking about the issues and challenges that were going on in his life. During the time he was talking, I started going through my own conversations. I saw myself in him and I recognized the pain he had. He was my mirror.
I stopped trying to help him. I listened quietly to the pain of this warrior. We were in the same war fighting different battles.
He talked about history--history of the arts in Korea and the importance of learning from history. He talked about a matter that really got me thinking. He told me how in the old days the warriors and those who protected the kings were among the top level of society. They were looked upon as noble and being a member of this clan was an honor. He also told me how entertainers and musicians were among the lower class. He talked about how nowadays the things are backwards. The warrior families are gone, having found jobs in restaurants and other places to make a living. He was talking about how in his homeland honor was everything. The arts taught honors. The warriors lived with honors.
My friend, who happens to be one of the most respected martial artists in the world, wanted to come down and spend some time with me. I was honored. I have always looked up to this gentleman.
He arrived about 2:00 p.m. and after a small chit-chat we started talking about the issues and challenges that were going on in his life. During the time he was talking, I started going through my own conversations. I saw myself in him and I recognized the pain he had. He was my mirror.
I stopped trying to help him. I listened quietly to the pain of this warrior. We were in the same war fighting different battles.
He talked about history--history of the arts in Korea and the importance of learning from history. He talked about a matter that really got me thinking. He told me how in the old days the warriors and those who protected the kings were among the top level of society. They were looked upon as noble and being a member of this clan was an honor. He also told me how entertainers and musicians were among the lower class. He talked about how nowadays the things are backwards. The warrior families are gone, having found jobs in restaurants and other places to make a living. He was talking about how in his homeland honor was everything. The arts taught honors. The warriors lived with honors.
Other side of the river
In all my years training in the martial arts, I have always worked and practiced for something or some goal in the future. I remember starting my training and not wanting to be a white belt. To me the green belt was where I wanted to be. I used to look at the advanced classes and think to myself "Wow that’s cool. These guys are so good." I recall getting prepared for my green belt exam and thinking that brown belt was the ultimate coolness. Before I wore the brown belt for the first time, I already had my eyes fixed on the red belt and after that the Black Belt. This kind of thinking has followed me for years. I find myself constantly not wanting to be here right now.
I was seven or eight years old when I got my first glimpse of martial arts. Back in Iran, martial art movies were just beginning to flourish and the whole Bruce Lee era had just started. On his days off, my older brother would take me to early shows in downtown Tehran’s movie theaters. I used to come home and do (more like pretend) karate for hours. I used to imagine myself kicking and punching. I even made sound effects that were pretty real to me.
Looking back now I don’t recall doing all that for any belts or to get anyplace. I used to have fun just doing it.
I miss those times. It seemed that I was in the moment at all times. Somehow, somewhere. I have learned to set goals. To strive for more. To go further and want to do more. I learned how to beat someone else at competitions. Even further, I learned to play the tournament game. I learned to copy. I learned to lie. I learned to tweak the truth. I learned to judge others. I learned the politics... I learned it is more important who you know and how well liked you are than being how good you are.
Imagine this: you are about to go across a jungle to find what ever it is that you are after in the other side of the jungle. You start walking through this jungle. You get to a river. It is impossible to swim across. You decide to build a boat. It takes you 3-4 years to build the boat. (3-4 years of training towards your Black Belt).
You work hard building the boat. You get the strongest wood to support the weight of the boat. You are busy everyday working to build this boat. (Because success means working hard to you).
You finish building the boat. You go across the river. You get there and something happens. You think to yourself that you could have made the boat faster. So you decide to go back and build another one. You do that. You get across again and think to yourself that you could have made it bigger. More fancy. You do that. On the way you notice others building boats. You decide to participate in little competitions. You learn to beat the other boats. You start taking notes on how others built their boats. You pick up techniques here and there and you keep going back and fort on the river. You might even decide to build a school teaching people how to build boats (like I did). Or even better how to beat others in this game. Train champions.
But let’s don’t forget the sole purpose of the boat and that was to get across the river. The goal is on the other side of the jungle. The river is a battle. The war is the jungle.
I’ve taught lessons to others that I didn’t do myself. I got mad at others for not following up with the lessons. I was really mad at myself.
I had failed as a person to go across the jungle by building that school by the river. The glory of winning the battle almost cost me losing the war.
I stopped everything. I stopped competing. I stopped being a hero. I stopped my public victories. No more martial art magazine articles. No more quick fixes. The price I paid was heavy. I lost one of the greatest relationships in my life. I had lost the war.
It has taken me years to recover and rebuild from the past. Actually I shouldn’t say rebuild, because I didn’t rebuild. I started from a different lot and build a new complex with new foundations. Albert Einstein said: "The significant problem we face cannot be solved at the same level of thinking we were at when we created them."
What I had to do was to go back and take inventory of my belief system. I challenged everything I knew. Then I went back to the basics. I remember the day it happened clearly. It was a Sunday afternoon coming from my favorite spot in Malibu. I was driving in the Malibu Canyon. That is where I saw the old cassette that was in my car. The title of the cassette was Today is the first day of the rest of your life by Dr. Tom Whillhite. I listened to the cassette.
I had gotten the message…
My questions for you are:
What is across the river for you? What is your primary aim?
Where is your river?
What does your boat look like?
Are you carrying the boat on top of your head after you crossed the river?
What are you pretending not to know?
"What you are is so loud, I can’t hear a thing you are saying..."
"God wraps it’s gifts to you with wrapping called problems…"
I was seven or eight years old when I got my first glimpse of martial arts. Back in Iran, martial art movies were just beginning to flourish and the whole Bruce Lee era had just started. On his days off, my older brother would take me to early shows in downtown Tehran’s movie theaters. I used to come home and do (more like pretend) karate for hours. I used to imagine myself kicking and punching. I even made sound effects that were pretty real to me.
Looking back now I don’t recall doing all that for any belts or to get anyplace. I used to have fun just doing it.
I miss those times. It seemed that I was in the moment at all times. Somehow, somewhere. I have learned to set goals. To strive for more. To go further and want to do more. I learned how to beat someone else at competitions. Even further, I learned to play the tournament game. I learned to copy. I learned to lie. I learned to tweak the truth. I learned to judge others. I learned the politics... I learned it is more important who you know and how well liked you are than being how good you are.
Imagine this: you are about to go across a jungle to find what ever it is that you are after in the other side of the jungle. You start walking through this jungle. You get to a river. It is impossible to swim across. You decide to build a boat. It takes you 3-4 years to build the boat. (3-4 years of training towards your Black Belt).
You work hard building the boat. You get the strongest wood to support the weight of the boat. You are busy everyday working to build this boat. (Because success means working hard to you).
You finish building the boat. You go across the river. You get there and something happens. You think to yourself that you could have made the boat faster. So you decide to go back and build another one. You do that. You get across again and think to yourself that you could have made it bigger. More fancy. You do that. On the way you notice others building boats. You decide to participate in little competitions. You learn to beat the other boats. You start taking notes on how others built their boats. You pick up techniques here and there and you keep going back and fort on the river. You might even decide to build a school teaching people how to build boats (like I did). Or even better how to beat others in this game. Train champions.
But let’s don’t forget the sole purpose of the boat and that was to get across the river. The goal is on the other side of the jungle. The river is a battle. The war is the jungle.
I’ve taught lessons to others that I didn’t do myself. I got mad at others for not following up with the lessons. I was really mad at myself.
I had failed as a person to go across the jungle by building that school by the river. The glory of winning the battle almost cost me losing the war.
I stopped everything. I stopped competing. I stopped being a hero. I stopped my public victories. No more martial art magazine articles. No more quick fixes. The price I paid was heavy. I lost one of the greatest relationships in my life. I had lost the war.
It has taken me years to recover and rebuild from the past. Actually I shouldn’t say rebuild, because I didn’t rebuild. I started from a different lot and build a new complex with new foundations. Albert Einstein said: "The significant problem we face cannot be solved at the same level of thinking we were at when we created them."
What I had to do was to go back and take inventory of my belief system. I challenged everything I knew. Then I went back to the basics. I remember the day it happened clearly. It was a Sunday afternoon coming from my favorite spot in Malibu. I was driving in the Malibu Canyon. That is where I saw the old cassette that was in my car. The title of the cassette was Today is the first day of the rest of your life by Dr. Tom Whillhite. I listened to the cassette.
I had gotten the message…
My questions for you are:
What is across the river for you? What is your primary aim?
Where is your river?
What does your boat look like?
Are you carrying the boat on top of your head after you crossed the river?
What are you pretending not to know?
"What you are is so loud, I can’t hear a thing you are saying..."
"God wraps it’s gifts to you with wrapping called problems…"
Vision
It’s New Year’s Day and Dad and the boys are watching the game while Grandma knits on the porch and Mom is showing the daughter the secrets of the kitchen. The daughter notices that Mom cuts the ends off the ham before putting it in the oven and asks, "Why do you cut the ends off the ham?" Mom explains that was the way she has always prepared ham and that was the way her Mom taught her. If she wants to know why, go ask Grandma. So she does. Grandma replies that she really doesn’t know. That was how she was taught by her Mom. So they all gather around the phone and placed a call to the old country to wish Great-Grandma a happy New Year and ask her why do they cut the ends off the ham? Great-Grandma answers that the reason she cut the ends off was that her oven was too small and that was the only way the ham would fit.
" Zig Ziglar"
It has been said that 93% of our thoughts today are the exact same thoughts that we had yesterday. With that statistic in mind, how can we create next year different from this year?
Well, I think we can. However, we cannot operate with the same way of thinking we operated with last year if we want to create something different this year. Notice that I said create, not change. It is my belief that change is no more than taking the same thing we had before and manipulating it into something different for the future, because we are still starting with the same thing we had before. Albert Einstein once said, "The significant problems we face cannot be solved at the same level of thinking we were at when we created them."
In order to create a new year, we need to reinvent ourselves into something outrageous and bold. Helen Keller once asked a group, "What is worse than not having sight?" The group mumbled for a while and came up with many other physical handicaps. But Helen answered her own question like this,
"Having sight without a vision."
Now, my questions to you as students and readers are: What is your vision for tomorrow? Are you committed to stay the same, make a change, or create a new you?
I truly believe that everyone is committed to something. Most people are committed to staying the same, defending what they think is right. Others are committed to pretending to make new commitments and never following through, while a small percentage of people are committed to actually making a positive change in their lives. Which group do you belong to?
" Zig Ziglar"
It has been said that 93% of our thoughts today are the exact same thoughts that we had yesterday. With that statistic in mind, how can we create next year different from this year?
Well, I think we can. However, we cannot operate with the same way of thinking we operated with last year if we want to create something different this year. Notice that I said create, not change. It is my belief that change is no more than taking the same thing we had before and manipulating it into something different for the future, because we are still starting with the same thing we had before. Albert Einstein once said, "The significant problems we face cannot be solved at the same level of thinking we were at when we created them."
In order to create a new year, we need to reinvent ourselves into something outrageous and bold. Helen Keller once asked a group, "What is worse than not having sight?" The group mumbled for a while and came up with many other physical handicaps. But Helen answered her own question like this,
"Having sight without a vision."
Now, my questions to you as students and readers are: What is your vision for tomorrow? Are you committed to stay the same, make a change, or create a new you?
I truly believe that everyone is committed to something. Most people are committed to staying the same, defending what they think is right. Others are committed to pretending to make new commitments and never following through, while a small percentage of people are committed to actually making a positive change in their lives. Which group do you belong to?
A note to Black Belt Candidates
Dear Black Belt candidate:
After teaching the Black Belt candidate classes for the past few years, I started thinking I have not been communicating correctly with the candidates and their parents. I looked back to see where I fell short letting everyone know what is expected of them and what it means to be a Black Belt candidate. Therefore, I would like to clear up a few items and also recommend a few things to all the candidates and their families:
The Black Belt candidate class requires your full, undivided attention, as well as your maximum energy level and focus. I am a teacher, not a private trainer or a professional counter. I am not here to train you or to make sure that you as a Black Belt candidate get a good workout. I am not here to count 1,2,3 for you. I am here to teach you. I am not here to push you to be more committed about your Black Belt. This is the wrong class for those who are not committed to earn their Black Belt or their Black Belt Excellence.
or those who are committed to creating a new level in their martial arts training and their life, we offer both Black Belt and Black Belt Excellence:
Black Belt: Requires completing the minimum requirements to achieve the Black
Belt in the quickest and easiest way possible without necessarily expanding your
potential. Requires the minimum required attention and energy level.
Result: A beautiful Black Belt to wear around your waist.
Black Belt Excellence: Requires completing the requirements to your highest level
possible and taking every moment, as if it is the last moment, you have to train. It
means committing yourself to create an unprecedented future and limitless
possibilities as a Black Belt -- not only in Martial Arts, but in life.
Result: A beautiful experience that will allow you to live a life worth living.
The choice is yours ...........................
Your Black Belt exam is a mirror of your life. Everything in your life is only as important as you make it. There are opportunities everywhere in your life that allow you to make decisions, to take them, or ignore them. There are moments to take advantage of and there are moments to waste, moments to obey all negative thoughts, or to fight them and do the right thing. The right thing is to give your all at any given moment. The right thing is to demonstrate an attitude of respect, honor and indomitable spirit during all practices of Black Belt training or your life.
"Doing more things right is no substitute for doing the right thing."
Learn to enjoy the practices. Don’t wish these days away by getting frustrated and angry. There is magic between now and your actual exam date. Remember: "Direction is more important than speed."
I encourage parents to participate in their children’s journey to Black Belt. Please have the candidates practice at home. Let them know that this is for them. Let them know how proud you are of all the hard work and dedication they have committed themselves to. Let them experience a sense of accomplishment by allowing them to work as hard as they can.
Your Black Belt exam has started already. You are asked to do certain things, participate in certain events, meet deadlines and follow rules. For those who care enough to do all these, I congratulate your sense of honor and commitment. For others, I recommend a deep look at the way you have been operating in terms of your Black Belt exam and life and examine whether this way of being serves you.
We ask students when they come into the studio to bow and pay respect to their instructors, by saying hello and good-bye. Students may think the art of Martial Arts lies only in the way they perform their kicks and punches. We believe the Art takes root in the simple action of bowing and paying respect to instructors and saying hello and good bye.
I strongly recommend you keep a journal of all your experiences and activities. Those who know how to write and don’t write are no better than those who don’t know how to write. Practice the art of writing, and let go of the habit of wasting your time watching TV.
Learn to practice by yourself. There is a great personal reward derived from practicing by yourself. This tests your will power and develops a great sense of self-confidence.
Learn not to talk and joke with your training partners. Weak people have a tendency to pull others down to empower their own weaknesses. Weak people like to have others participate in their own miserable lack of progress in everything they attempt.
Learn to praise yourself for a job well done. If you set up a practice session for 15 minutes with a complete workout plan, and you do it, praise yourself. Learn to appreciate the simplicity and power of Private Victories. Public Victories, where everyone praises you for a job well done, are good, but Private Victories like "doing what you said you would do" are just as powerful.
Learn to let go of the past. Remember: "The past does not equal the future." The way you are "being" is the result of the way you have chosen to be. If habits are learned, they can also be unlearned.
"Simple little things are not anything, they are everything." Putting your picture on your attendance card, having a patch on your uniform, being on time, turning in a request before the deadline, saying hello and good-bye are all little things that together make everything.
"Don’t make mountains out of mole hills." Don’t waste your emotional energy on something someone said, or why certain things are the way they are. Learn to put your goals ahead of your moods.
I hope that I have gotten through to all the Black Belt candidates and made a few points about becoming more effective. I would also appreciate it if the parents of the junior Black Belt candidates help their children understand these points.
After teaching the Black Belt candidate classes for the past few years, I started thinking I have not been communicating correctly with the candidates and their parents. I looked back to see where I fell short letting everyone know what is expected of them and what it means to be a Black Belt candidate. Therefore, I would like to clear up a few items and also recommend a few things to all the candidates and their families:
The Black Belt candidate class requires your full, undivided attention, as well as your maximum energy level and focus. I am a teacher, not a private trainer or a professional counter. I am not here to train you or to make sure that you as a Black Belt candidate get a good workout. I am not here to count 1,2,3 for you. I am here to teach you. I am not here to push you to be more committed about your Black Belt. This is the wrong class for those who are not committed to earn their Black Belt or their Black Belt Excellence.
or those who are committed to creating a new level in their martial arts training and their life, we offer both Black Belt and Black Belt Excellence:
Black Belt: Requires completing the minimum requirements to achieve the Black
Belt in the quickest and easiest way possible without necessarily expanding your
potential. Requires the minimum required attention and energy level.
Result: A beautiful Black Belt to wear around your waist.
Black Belt Excellence: Requires completing the requirements to your highest level
possible and taking every moment, as if it is the last moment, you have to train. It
means committing yourself to create an unprecedented future and limitless
possibilities as a Black Belt -- not only in Martial Arts, but in life.
Result: A beautiful experience that will allow you to live a life worth living.
The choice is yours ...........................
Your Black Belt exam is a mirror of your life. Everything in your life is only as important as you make it. There are opportunities everywhere in your life that allow you to make decisions, to take them, or ignore them. There are moments to take advantage of and there are moments to waste, moments to obey all negative thoughts, or to fight them and do the right thing. The right thing is to give your all at any given moment. The right thing is to demonstrate an attitude of respect, honor and indomitable spirit during all practices of Black Belt training or your life.
"Doing more things right is no substitute for doing the right thing."
Learn to enjoy the practices. Don’t wish these days away by getting frustrated and angry. There is magic between now and your actual exam date. Remember: "Direction is more important than speed."
I encourage parents to participate in their children’s journey to Black Belt. Please have the candidates practice at home. Let them know that this is for them. Let them know how proud you are of all the hard work and dedication they have committed themselves to. Let them experience a sense of accomplishment by allowing them to work as hard as they can.
Your Black Belt exam has started already. You are asked to do certain things, participate in certain events, meet deadlines and follow rules. For those who care enough to do all these, I congratulate your sense of honor and commitment. For others, I recommend a deep look at the way you have been operating in terms of your Black Belt exam and life and examine whether this way of being serves you.
We ask students when they come into the studio to bow and pay respect to their instructors, by saying hello and good-bye. Students may think the art of Martial Arts lies only in the way they perform their kicks and punches. We believe the Art takes root in the simple action of bowing and paying respect to instructors and saying hello and good bye.
I strongly recommend you keep a journal of all your experiences and activities. Those who know how to write and don’t write are no better than those who don’t know how to write. Practice the art of writing, and let go of the habit of wasting your time watching TV.
Learn to practice by yourself. There is a great personal reward derived from practicing by yourself. This tests your will power and develops a great sense of self-confidence.
Learn not to talk and joke with your training partners. Weak people have a tendency to pull others down to empower their own weaknesses. Weak people like to have others participate in their own miserable lack of progress in everything they attempt.
Learn to praise yourself for a job well done. If you set up a practice session for 15 minutes with a complete workout plan, and you do it, praise yourself. Learn to appreciate the simplicity and power of Private Victories. Public Victories, where everyone praises you for a job well done, are good, but Private Victories like "doing what you said you would do" are just as powerful.
Learn to let go of the past. Remember: "The past does not equal the future." The way you are "being" is the result of the way you have chosen to be. If habits are learned, they can also be unlearned.
"Simple little things are not anything, they are everything." Putting your picture on your attendance card, having a patch on your uniform, being on time, turning in a request before the deadline, saying hello and good-bye are all little things that together make everything.
"Don’t make mountains out of mole hills." Don’t waste your emotional energy on something someone said, or why certain things are the way they are. Learn to put your goals ahead of your moods.
I hope that I have gotten through to all the Black Belt candidates and made a few points about becoming more effective. I would also appreciate it if the parents of the junior Black Belt candidates help their children understand these points.
Our version
It is such an amazing thing to see how people have their own versions or perspectives of everything. I experience this every day dealing with my students and their parents.
At the last Black Belt qualification exam, I really had a difficult time making students understand there is only one way to do push-ups and that it is the only correct way -- not my way or your way or your version of the way. Knowing that the instructions were to touch the side of face, stomach and thighs to the mat, students constantly came up with their own version of the side of the face, the stomach, the thighs, the mat and finally, even their own version of the word touch.
At the time, I wondered how understanding this simple push-ups exercise and the concept it represents (natural laws) can change the quality of our lives.
I wondered what would happen if we stopped having our own versions of the words honesty, honor and integrity and took those same words at their literal, face value.
It is a funny thing to see how some students and their parents have their own versions of our tuition rates, policies and regulations. It is even more amusing seeing how they try to get away with these versions, and sometimes they do, at least in their own minds.
I don’t know about them, but I do know that when I talk to them about natural laws’ concepts and how we not only have our versions of them but also constantly defend our versions, I came to the realization that this was also my own qualification exam. I go through many challenging experiences throughout my day, but none are as powerful as when I have the opportunity to practice what I say.
I know the hardest thing for me is acknowledging natural laws, respecting them, being aware of them, and obeying those same natural laws. I know that I do not have to like them and they do not have to like me. The fact is that they still operate the same, regardless of my being aware or not aware of them.
One of the most difficult conversations I have with myself happens when I listen to my feelings as I am making a decision. Most of the time I catch myself making decisions based purely on how I feel. However, now I am beginning to understand what I have been trying to teach all these years. It doesn’t matter how I feel about something as long as it is the right thing to do. What I mean by the right way is the way that is determined with natural principles and universal laws.
Maybe I am just beginning to get it. After all these years of teaching the art of self-defense, I have been my own worst enemy and I have had to protect myself from the enemy. The true enemy is the failure to realize the realities of martial arts training – consistency, persistence, loyalty, and lots of practice.
I need to practice more...
At the last Black Belt qualification exam, I really had a difficult time making students understand there is only one way to do push-ups and that it is the only correct way -- not my way or your way or your version of the way. Knowing that the instructions were to touch the side of face, stomach and thighs to the mat, students constantly came up with their own version of the side of the face, the stomach, the thighs, the mat and finally, even their own version of the word touch.
At the time, I wondered how understanding this simple push-ups exercise and the concept it represents (natural laws) can change the quality of our lives.
I wondered what would happen if we stopped having our own versions of the words honesty, honor and integrity and took those same words at their literal, face value.
It is a funny thing to see how some students and their parents have their own versions of our tuition rates, policies and regulations. It is even more amusing seeing how they try to get away with these versions, and sometimes they do, at least in their own minds.
I don’t know about them, but I do know that when I talk to them about natural laws’ concepts and how we not only have our versions of them but also constantly defend our versions, I came to the realization that this was also my own qualification exam. I go through many challenging experiences throughout my day, but none are as powerful as when I have the opportunity to practice what I say.
I know the hardest thing for me is acknowledging natural laws, respecting them, being aware of them, and obeying those same natural laws. I know that I do not have to like them and they do not have to like me. The fact is that they still operate the same, regardless of my being aware or not aware of them.
One of the most difficult conversations I have with myself happens when I listen to my feelings as I am making a decision. Most of the time I catch myself making decisions based purely on how I feel. However, now I am beginning to understand what I have been trying to teach all these years. It doesn’t matter how I feel about something as long as it is the right thing to do. What I mean by the right way is the way that is determined with natural principles and universal laws.
Maybe I am just beginning to get it. After all these years of teaching the art of self-defense, I have been my own worst enemy and I have had to protect myself from the enemy. The true enemy is the failure to realize the realities of martial arts training – consistency, persistence, loyalty, and lots of practice.
I need to practice more...
Practice
"Practice makes perfect."
"Practice doesn’t make perfect. Perfect practice makes perfect."
"Practice doesn’t make perfect, perfect practice doesn’t make perfect. Practice makes improvements and improvements lead to excellence!"
Just practice!
The value of practice
The following story demonstrates the sometimes-negative power of knowledge without practice:
"Johnny did not see the need to practice hard;
he was very bright and always understood quickly.
He read the classics so that he could sound as eloquent as his teacher.
Wanting to be knowing in all things,
Johnny read a history book or two and was able to converse brilliantly about history.
Johnny read an economics book or two and was able to speak knowingly about economics.
Johnny read a few books about swimming......
and Johnny drowned."
"Practice doesn’t make perfect. Perfect practice makes perfect."
"Practice doesn’t make perfect, perfect practice doesn’t make perfect. Practice makes improvements and improvements lead to excellence!"
Just practice!
The value of practice
The following story demonstrates the sometimes-negative power of knowledge without practice:
"Johnny did not see the need to practice hard;
he was very bright and always understood quickly.
He read the classics so that he could sound as eloquent as his teacher.
Wanting to be knowing in all things,
Johnny read a history book or two and was able to converse brilliantly about history.
Johnny read an economics book or two and was able to speak knowingly about economics.
Johnny read a few books about swimming......
and Johnny drowned."
So many
It was a normal Wednesday morning, like any other day. I was stretching on the mat when I saw my brother, Faramarz, coming in the door. By looking at the way he walked in, I knew something was wrong. Since the birth of his new daughter, Madeline, two weeks ago, he has been in such a good mood lately. That’s what bothered me about the way he walked in.
I waited for a few moments and then walked towards him in our pro-shop. He was standing there quite still. I noticed his hands were covering his eyes. He was crying. I didn’t know what to say. "How is Madeline?" I asked him. He told me she was fine. He went ahead, telling me what he had just heard on the radio. "There was a bombing in Oklahoma." He said in a sad voice. "A lot of people got killed, including a bunch of kids that were in a kindergarten." He went ahead telling me that normally hearing news like this wouldn’t affect him that much. But now it’s different. "What would I do if that would happen to Madeline?" He asked.
I didn’t know what to say. I am not a father yet. I don’t know what that would feel like. All I know is that, for the rest of the day, I kept thinking about what happened. I kept thinking why. Why would someone want to do such thing? What would motivate someone to take so many lives? Later on that week I saw a picture of a firefighter holding a baby in his arms in the newspaper. Now I know what it means when they say, "a picture is worth a thousand words..."
I waited for a few moments and then walked towards him in our pro-shop. He was standing there quite still. I noticed his hands were covering his eyes. He was crying. I didn’t know what to say. "How is Madeline?" I asked him. He told me she was fine. He went ahead, telling me what he had just heard on the radio. "There was a bombing in Oklahoma." He said in a sad voice. "A lot of people got killed, including a bunch of kids that were in a kindergarten." He went ahead telling me that normally hearing news like this wouldn’t affect him that much. But now it’s different. "What would I do if that would happen to Madeline?" He asked.
I didn’t know what to say. I am not a father yet. I don’t know what that would feel like. All I know is that, for the rest of the day, I kept thinking about what happened. I kept thinking why. Why would someone want to do such thing? What would motivate someone to take so many lives? Later on that week I saw a picture of a firefighter holding a baby in his arms in the newspaper. Now I know what it means when they say, "a picture is worth a thousand words..."
Culture
This story goes back to the year 1972 when a young English scientist, named George, was traveling through Africa. George worked for a pharmaceutical company as a biologist. During one of his longer stays in a small village in Africa, he got to play with a small monkey, whom he later named E-mo. He spent a lot of time playing around with his pet monkey and took a liking to his pet’s habits. During one of the hot and humid afternoons, George observed little E-mo digging the ground for sweet potatoes. He watched the little monkey taking the sweet potato out of the ground, only taking a small bite out of each potato and throwing the rest away. After watching E-mo for a while George decided to teach the little monkey how not to waste food. He began the very next morning teaching his pet how to take the sweet potatoes to the nearby river and wash them in the river. He figured that E-mo would enjoy sweet potatoes more if they were clean and free of mud. He was right. E-mo began to like the idea of washing his sweet potatoes before eating them. It took George more than two months to train this little animal to do this.
George finished with his assignment after a few months and went back to England. Leaving E-mo was one of the hardest things George ever had to do. The two of them had developed a unique relationship, one that George would never forget.
Several years went by before George was assigned to another project in Africa. He was excited and wondered if he could find E-mo again. Much had changed in the past few years. "E-mo must be a grown monkey by now and there is little chance the small animal will remember me," George said to himself.
When he arrived in the same village where he first met E-mo, he noticed that many things had changed. He immediately started searching for his long-lost friend. First he looked for E-mo where the monkeys used to hang around. But he did not see E-mo or other many monkeys. He asked the local people where he could find this special breed of monkey. They told him that he could find the monkeys near the river bed. So he left quickly for the river.
When he got to the river, he noticed the most incredible thing he had ever seen in his life. All the monkeys were bringing their sweet potatoes to the water and washing them before eating them.
He was stunned. He looked around the small group of monkeys when his eyes locked with one. "Is that E-mo?" he thought to himself. The monkey kept staring at him. George started walking towards the group. The monkeys screamed and started to jump around and warn the others about the intruder. They all screamed except the one that stared at George. The two looked at each other a while longer before George leaned down and opened his arms to welcome his long-lost friend. The monkey ran to him like a little baby running to his Mom.
The two held each other for a while before George sat back and watched his friend and the rest of the group return to what they were doing before. George continued watching and watching. He saw how all the monkeys were washing the sweet potatoes exactly the way he had taught E-mo and E-mo had, in turn, taught them.
George finished with his assignment after a few months and went back to England. Leaving E-mo was one of the hardest things George ever had to do. The two of them had developed a unique relationship, one that George would never forget.
Several years went by before George was assigned to another project in Africa. He was excited and wondered if he could find E-mo again. Much had changed in the past few years. "E-mo must be a grown monkey by now and there is little chance the small animal will remember me," George said to himself.
When he arrived in the same village where he first met E-mo, he noticed that many things had changed. He immediately started searching for his long-lost friend. First he looked for E-mo where the monkeys used to hang around. But he did not see E-mo or other many monkeys. He asked the local people where he could find this special breed of monkey. They told him that he could find the monkeys near the river bed. So he left quickly for the river.
When he got to the river, he noticed the most incredible thing he had ever seen in his life. All the monkeys were bringing their sweet potatoes to the water and washing them before eating them.
He was stunned. He looked around the small group of monkeys when his eyes locked with one. "Is that E-mo?" he thought to himself. The monkey kept staring at him. George started walking towards the group. The monkeys screamed and started to jump around and warn the others about the intruder. They all screamed except the one that stared at George. The two looked at each other a while longer before George leaned down and opened his arms to welcome his long-lost friend. The monkey ran to him like a little baby running to his Mom.
The two held each other for a while before George sat back and watched his friend and the rest of the group return to what they were doing before. George continued watching and watching. He saw how all the monkeys were washing the sweet potatoes exactly the way he had taught E-mo and E-mo had, in turn, taught them.
A student
A couple of weeks ago, a father of two of my junior students approached me in the middle of my class to talk to me. I stopped the class for a minute and walked towards him to see what he wanted. "What is this thing with the Success Journals? Why do I have to pay for them for my kids," he demanded.
"Have you had a chance to take a look at one?" I replied quietly.
"No, he said. But c’mon, can I pay less for them?" he asked.
I looked at him for a second and thought about how he never comes to see his kids and has no idea the benefits our program is providing for his kids.
I didn’t know what to say. I kept thinking to myself for a couple of more seconds and finally I told him "of course, you may have them for free." As his face lit up with a big smile. I thought to myself with surprise: I know this feeling. I’ve had this feeling before.
That feeling was "I got away with it. Yes. I did it. I won." As he walked away towards his brand new Mercedes, I was still thinking to myself " I will never treat another person the same way this gentleman just treated me. Does he really think that he is getting away with this? Is this way of being really serving him? I know that I have no control over this person or anybody else for that matter, but I do have control over my own life and the way I choose to be with people. I understand that I can’t lie to people. When you lie, people pretend to agree with statements you make, going along with them looking as if they believe you. However, most of the time they know the truth, or at least the fact you are lying to them.
It was amazing that this gentleman walked away from me with such a great feeling, not knowing or caring about the huge withdrawal he took with him -- from my emotional bank account.
I’ve had had many experiences dealing with people who want to get away with something. Specially something for free. Coming from the Persian culture, I have had first hand experience with these sort of things.
I wonder about these people. I wonder about the culture. One of the hardest things I have ever had to do was to re-examine my upbringing and to challenge every point of reference that I have accepted as a young child.
I remember clearly dueling over the following question:
If I continue to live up life out of the same interpretations and practices, what will I produce?
The answer was simple: The same thing I’ve always had.
"It is better to light one candle than curse the darkness..."
"Have you had a chance to take a look at one?" I replied quietly.
"No, he said. But c’mon, can I pay less for them?" he asked.
I looked at him for a second and thought about how he never comes to see his kids and has no idea the benefits our program is providing for his kids.
I didn’t know what to say. I kept thinking to myself for a couple of more seconds and finally I told him "of course, you may have them for free." As his face lit up with a big smile. I thought to myself with surprise: I know this feeling. I’ve had this feeling before.
That feeling was "I got away with it. Yes. I did it. I won." As he walked away towards his brand new Mercedes, I was still thinking to myself " I will never treat another person the same way this gentleman just treated me. Does he really think that he is getting away with this? Is this way of being really serving him? I know that I have no control over this person or anybody else for that matter, but I do have control over my own life and the way I choose to be with people. I understand that I can’t lie to people. When you lie, people pretend to agree with statements you make, going along with them looking as if they believe you. However, most of the time they know the truth, or at least the fact you are lying to them.
It was amazing that this gentleman walked away from me with such a great feeling, not knowing or caring about the huge withdrawal he took with him -- from my emotional bank account.
I’ve had had many experiences dealing with people who want to get away with something. Specially something for free. Coming from the Persian culture, I have had first hand experience with these sort of things.
I wonder about these people. I wonder about the culture. One of the hardest things I have ever had to do was to re-examine my upbringing and to challenge every point of reference that I have accepted as a young child.
I remember clearly dueling over the following question:
If I continue to live up life out of the same interpretations and practices, what will I produce?
The answer was simple: The same thing I’ve always had.
"It is better to light one candle than curse the darkness..."
Crabs
It was a beautiful Sunday afternoon and I had decided to spend my afternoon by the Santa Monica Pier. I started walking past the shops and restaurants on the pier when something near a small seafood restaurant got my attention. I noticed a big barrel, without a lid, that was full of crabs. Since it was placed right by the pier, I realized these crabs could easily jump out and fall back into the ocean. Feeling really good about my discovery and my righteousness about this whole event, I approached the restaurant owner and told him about what was going on. To my surprise, the owner of the restaurant laughed at me and told me to go back and watch the crabs more carefully. I thought to myself "Look at them carefully; what does that mean?"
I spent two hours by the pier looking at that barrel full of crabs. I noticed that every time one of the crabs tried to get to the edge of the barrel to escape, all the other ones would pull him back in.
It was amazing to watch these creatures do this over and over again. That entire afternoon, my mind was filled with all kinds of similarities to those crabs. I began to recognize this particular behavior in myself and other people around me. I realized that I have had many different kinds of crabs in my life: friend crabs, girlfriend crabs, student crabs, co-worker crabs, boss crabs, etc. I thought of all the times my so-called friends would call me and talk me out of doing something that I wanted to do (something I knew was important).
My questions to you are: Who are the crabs in your life? Who and what is holding you back from doing what you want? When you decide to work out, go on a diet, or do something worthwhile, who and what stops you?
What kind of conversations are going on in your mind? What is it that makes it important to listen now and forget later? Why do we say we are trying to do the everything right, but choose not to do the right thing? Who are the crabs that govern our lives?
I spent two hours by the pier looking at that barrel full of crabs. I noticed that every time one of the crabs tried to get to the edge of the barrel to escape, all the other ones would pull him back in.
It was amazing to watch these creatures do this over and over again. That entire afternoon, my mind was filled with all kinds of similarities to those crabs. I began to recognize this particular behavior in myself and other people around me. I realized that I have had many different kinds of crabs in my life: friend crabs, girlfriend crabs, student crabs, co-worker crabs, boss crabs, etc. I thought of all the times my so-called friends would call me and talk me out of doing something that I wanted to do (something I knew was important).
My questions to you are: Who are the crabs in your life? Who and what is holding you back from doing what you want? When you decide to work out, go on a diet, or do something worthwhile, who and what stops you?
What kind of conversations are going on in your mind? What is it that makes it important to listen now and forget later? Why do we say we are trying to do the everything right, but choose not to do the right thing? Who are the crabs that govern our lives?
Principles of Black Belt in Action
It was 4:30 p.m. on a Wednesday afternoon. I was teaching my class when the parent of one of my students ran into the school, yelling, "Mr. Fariborz, Mr. Fariborz".
I responded quickly to her call and asked her what was wrong.
"There is a car accident outside and two of your kids are in the car," she said.
I immediately ran outside looking for the accident. A car had smashed into the car that my students were in and the two kids were still inside. The mother of one of the children, who also happened to be the driver, pulled one of the kids out while I managed to pull the other one out. Little Thomas was covered in blood and very frightened. The other kid, Brian, was crying and looked really scared. I started to clean Thomas’s face, as I talked to both children to calm them. Brian was extremely brave and pulled himself quickly together after realizing he was OK. I accompanied Thomas to the hospital, since his parents were not there. All the way to the hospital, I remember Thomas asking about Brian and what had happened. He had a great attitude the whole time. Once we got to the hospital, the doctor cleaned Thomas’s face and prepared to stitch his wound. I remember holding Thomas’s hand, watching him grimace in pain. We started talking about the Student Creed and Principles of Black Belt, and it was amazing to see how well he remembered both of them. It was then, for the first time that I felt like a father. Suddenly, the Student Creed and Principles of Black Belt meant so much more than mere words. By the
time we were done, the doctor had finished the 12 stitches on Thomas’s face.
It only takes one experience like this to get you thinking deeply about your own life. Suddenly, the things that occupy your mind every day seem a little trivial compared to the bigger questions, the deeper issues, the fundamental essence of who and what you are and why you’re here. It’s not always a car accident that opens the door to an expanding experience. I’ve had the same feelings while climbing the face of a wall in Malibu, or hearing the news that the woman I loved the most is to be married. I’ve had them looking up at the sky, filled with thousands of stars, one cold night, while listening to the music of Yanni. I’ve had them watching my Black Belt candidates walk through a candle-lit pathway to receive their Black Belts in an auditorium filled with people, as I told myself, " They will never forget this."
It is during those times of deep searching, of expanded perspective, that we begin to establish what Roger Merill calls "VIP CONNECTION." "VIP" stands for the principles involved - VISION, IDENTITY and PURPOSE. He also calls it "VIP" because he believes that you and I and everyone else in this world truly are "Very Important Persons," each with unique talents and great contributions to make.
VIP is that inner connection that hooks us up to our own deepest values and possibilities.
These are sobering times, meaningful times, often great times. When you really come to grips with your inner self, you feel as if you are on top of a mountain and the things you deal with every day are somehow smaller and more in perspective. You can see where you’re going. Maybe you can even see the path to get you there. I’ve seen this in the eyes of all students who start as a White Belt at TKC, with the dream of becoming a Black Belt. But the vision doesn’t last forever. You get caught up in the routine of daily living and find your dream slipping farther and farther away from your conscious awareness. Before long, if you don’t have some way to keep it before you, or if another perspective expanding experience doesn’t come along, the connection is broken and the vision becomes almost totally obscured. The challenge, then, of keeping that connection strong becomes the challenge of capturing the vision and keeping it before you on a regular basis. I believe the single most effective strategy to accomplish this purpose is a written creed or a personal mission statement. A mission statement contains three basic elements. The first is what you want to be - what character strength you want to have and what qualities you want to develop. The second is what you want to do - what you want to accomplish and what contributions you want to make. The third is the values and principles upon which your life is based.
With this in mind, I encourage you to relearn the Student Creed and make an effort to use it in your daily life. I would also like to thank Thomas and Brian for being my teachers and allowing me to learn so much from their lesson.
I responded quickly to her call and asked her what was wrong.
"There is a car accident outside and two of your kids are in the car," she said.
I immediately ran outside looking for the accident. A car had smashed into the car that my students were in and the two kids were still inside. The mother of one of the children, who also happened to be the driver, pulled one of the kids out while I managed to pull the other one out. Little Thomas was covered in blood and very frightened. The other kid, Brian, was crying and looked really scared. I started to clean Thomas’s face, as I talked to both children to calm them. Brian was extremely brave and pulled himself quickly together after realizing he was OK. I accompanied Thomas to the hospital, since his parents were not there. All the way to the hospital, I remember Thomas asking about Brian and what had happened. He had a great attitude the whole time. Once we got to the hospital, the doctor cleaned Thomas’s face and prepared to stitch his wound. I remember holding Thomas’s hand, watching him grimace in pain. We started talking about the Student Creed and Principles of Black Belt, and it was amazing to see how well he remembered both of them. It was then, for the first time that I felt like a father. Suddenly, the Student Creed and Principles of Black Belt meant so much more than mere words. By the
time we were done, the doctor had finished the 12 stitches on Thomas’s face.
It only takes one experience like this to get you thinking deeply about your own life. Suddenly, the things that occupy your mind every day seem a little trivial compared to the bigger questions, the deeper issues, the fundamental essence of who and what you are and why you’re here. It’s not always a car accident that opens the door to an expanding experience. I’ve had the same feelings while climbing the face of a wall in Malibu, or hearing the news that the woman I loved the most is to be married. I’ve had them looking up at the sky, filled with thousands of stars, one cold night, while listening to the music of Yanni. I’ve had them watching my Black Belt candidates walk through a candle-lit pathway to receive their Black Belts in an auditorium filled with people, as I told myself, " They will never forget this."
It is during those times of deep searching, of expanded perspective, that we begin to establish what Roger Merill calls "VIP CONNECTION." "VIP" stands for the principles involved - VISION, IDENTITY and PURPOSE. He also calls it "VIP" because he believes that you and I and everyone else in this world truly are "Very Important Persons," each with unique talents and great contributions to make.
VIP is that inner connection that hooks us up to our own deepest values and possibilities.
These are sobering times, meaningful times, often great times. When you really come to grips with your inner self, you feel as if you are on top of a mountain and the things you deal with every day are somehow smaller and more in perspective. You can see where you’re going. Maybe you can even see the path to get you there. I’ve seen this in the eyes of all students who start as a White Belt at TKC, with the dream of becoming a Black Belt. But the vision doesn’t last forever. You get caught up in the routine of daily living and find your dream slipping farther and farther away from your conscious awareness. Before long, if you don’t have some way to keep it before you, or if another perspective expanding experience doesn’t come along, the connection is broken and the vision becomes almost totally obscured. The challenge, then, of keeping that connection strong becomes the challenge of capturing the vision and keeping it before you on a regular basis. I believe the single most effective strategy to accomplish this purpose is a written creed or a personal mission statement. A mission statement contains three basic elements. The first is what you want to be - what character strength you want to have and what qualities you want to develop. The second is what you want to do - what you want to accomplish and what contributions you want to make. The third is the values and principles upon which your life is based.
With this in mind, I encourage you to relearn the Student Creed and make an effort to use it in your daily life. I would also like to thank Thomas and Brian for being my teachers and allowing me to learn so much from their lesson.
"Transformation does not tolerate mediocrity..."
I remember the first time my eyes gazed upon this statement. I was in a room with 200 other people at 7:30 in the morning. We breathlessly awaited the arrival of our coach to enlighten us with the truth.
I recall sitting on my seat having all sorts of mental conversations with myself. Thoughts were coming to me from everywhere. I had this fuzzy warm feeling inside. "What a great saying. I am going to write this one down and add it to my collection of sayings!" I said to myself. I don’t know why at that time such a big portion of my life collecting sayings was so important to me. I still have that trap in me -- the trap of collecting sayings or even better, placing them on beautiful plaques so everybody can see. The unfortunate thing for me was that the purpose of the sayings went no further than being beautiful and fuzzy.
I even remember that I did not know the meaning of the word mediocrity. But I did know that because it was written on a big white note pad in the middle of the stage. It had to be important.
I truly believe that being mediocre is a default value in all humans. What I mean by default is that it’s inside of us and operates without our awareness. I also believe that all default values are changeable. Maturity is the ability to take responsibility for the way we think and act. Animals mature by natural process, but humans mature by questioning the default values and points of reference that are inside all of us.
After studying the lives of a few successful people whom I’ve had the pleasure to know, I am beginning to see that these people have positively transformed their mediocrity by (1) having goals, (2) constantly measuring progress towards their goals, (3) subordinating their moods to their honor (i.e., putting their needs before their wants), and (4) following the Japanese concept of Kaizan, which means constant and never-ending improvement.
My questions to you are:
Have you set a goal to become a Black Belt? Please remember that becoming a Black Belt has nothing to do with having a Black Belt. There are students who wear a Black Belt without having the qualities of one, and there are students who have the qualities of a Black Belt who are still working towards wearing one.
Are you constantly measuring your progress towards your Black Belt? One way to do this is being consistent and on time with your belt testing and exams. Asking for feedback from your instructors is another way to measure progress.
Are you giving up your moods and your feelings to your honor and doing the right thing? So many times I have given in to my mediocrity. In doing so, I sometimes gave up on my dreams. I know now that the way I feel about working out on a regular basis has nothing to do with the way I feel (usually my defaults talking) at that particular time. I work out because it is the right thing to do.
Are you constantly working on making small improvements? I remember this saying I saw a while ago that said: "Practice makes perfect." I used to really believe in that until I saw this other one that said: "Practice does not make perfect; perfect practice makes perfect." That saying remained my belief system until I saw this one: "Practice does not make perfect. Perfect practice does not make perfect. Practice makes improvements, and improvements lead towards excellence." Excellence is a progressive process. It isn’t obtained in an instant, but takes time and consistency. However, excellence is permanent when you finally attain it.
Good enough, isn’t.
I recall sitting on my seat having all sorts of mental conversations with myself. Thoughts were coming to me from everywhere. I had this fuzzy warm feeling inside. "What a great saying. I am going to write this one down and add it to my collection of sayings!" I said to myself. I don’t know why at that time such a big portion of my life collecting sayings was so important to me. I still have that trap in me -- the trap of collecting sayings or even better, placing them on beautiful plaques so everybody can see. The unfortunate thing for me was that the purpose of the sayings went no further than being beautiful and fuzzy.
I even remember that I did not know the meaning of the word mediocrity. But I did know that because it was written on a big white note pad in the middle of the stage. It had to be important.
I truly believe that being mediocre is a default value in all humans. What I mean by default is that it’s inside of us and operates without our awareness. I also believe that all default values are changeable. Maturity is the ability to take responsibility for the way we think and act. Animals mature by natural process, but humans mature by questioning the default values and points of reference that are inside all of us.
After studying the lives of a few successful people whom I’ve had the pleasure to know, I am beginning to see that these people have positively transformed their mediocrity by (1) having goals, (2) constantly measuring progress towards their goals, (3) subordinating their moods to their honor (i.e., putting their needs before their wants), and (4) following the Japanese concept of Kaizan, which means constant and never-ending improvement.
My questions to you are:
Have you set a goal to become a Black Belt? Please remember that becoming a Black Belt has nothing to do with having a Black Belt. There are students who wear a Black Belt without having the qualities of one, and there are students who have the qualities of a Black Belt who are still working towards wearing one.
Are you constantly measuring your progress towards your Black Belt? One way to do this is being consistent and on time with your belt testing and exams. Asking for feedback from your instructors is another way to measure progress.
Are you giving up your moods and your feelings to your honor and doing the right thing? So many times I have given in to my mediocrity. In doing so, I sometimes gave up on my dreams. I know now that the way I feel about working out on a regular basis has nothing to do with the way I feel (usually my defaults talking) at that particular time. I work out because it is the right thing to do.
Are you constantly working on making small improvements? I remember this saying I saw a while ago that said: "Practice makes perfect." I used to really believe in that until I saw this other one that said: "Practice does not make perfect; perfect practice makes perfect." That saying remained my belief system until I saw this one: "Practice does not make perfect. Perfect practice does not make perfect. Practice makes improvements, and improvements lead towards excellence." Excellence is a progressive process. It isn’t obtained in an instant, but takes time and consistency. However, excellence is permanent when you finally attain it.
Good enough, isn’t.
By Stewart Emery
MASTERY in one’s career and consciousness growth simply requires that we constantly produce results beyond and out of the ordinary. Mastery is a product of consistently going beyond our limits. For most people, it starts with technical excellence in a chosen field and a commitment to that excellence. If you are willing to commit yourself to excellence, to surround yourself with things that represent this and miracles, your life will change. (When we speak of miracles, we speak of events or experiences in the real world, which are beyond the ordinary).
It’s remarkable how much mediocrity we live with, surrounding ourselves with daily reminders that the average is the acceptable. Our world suffers from terminal normality. Take a moment to assess all of the things around you that promote your being “average.” These are the things that keep you powerless to go beyond a “limit” you arbitrarily set for yourself. The first step to mastery is the removal of everything in your environment that represents mediocrity, removing those things that are limiting. One way is to surround yourself with friends who ask more of you than you do. Didn’t some of your best teachers, coaches, parents, etc.?
Another step on the path to mastery is the removal of resentment toward masters. Develop compassion for yourself so that you can be in the presence of masters and grow from the experience. Rather than comparing yourself and resenting people who have mastery, remain open and receptive; let the experience be like the planting of a seed within you that, with nourishment, will grow into your own individual mastery.
You see, we are all ordinary. But a master, rather than condemning himself for his “ordinariness,” will embrace and use it as a foundation for building the extraordinary. Rather than using it as an excuse for inactivity, he will use it as a vehicle for correcting, which is essential in the process of attaining mastery. You must be able to correct yourself without invalidating or condemning yourself, to accept results and improve upon them. Correct, don’t protect. Correction is essential to power and mastery.
MASTERY in one’s career and consciousness growth simply requires that we constantly produce results beyond and out of the ordinary. Mastery is a product of consistently going beyond our limits. For most people, it starts with technical excellence in a chosen field and a commitment to that excellence. If you are willing to commit yourself to excellence, to surround yourself with things that represent this and miracles, your life will change. (When we speak of miracles, we speak of events or experiences in the real world, which are beyond the ordinary).
It’s remarkable how much mediocrity we live with, surrounding ourselves with daily reminders that the average is the acceptable. Our world suffers from terminal normality. Take a moment to assess all of the things around you that promote your being “average.” These are the things that keep you powerless to go beyond a “limit” you arbitrarily set for yourself. The first step to mastery is the removal of everything in your environment that represents mediocrity, removing those things that are limiting. One way is to surround yourself with friends who ask more of you than you do. Didn’t some of your best teachers, coaches, parents, etc.?
Another step on the path to mastery is the removal of resentment toward masters. Develop compassion for yourself so that you can be in the presence of masters and grow from the experience. Rather than comparing yourself and resenting people who have mastery, remain open and receptive; let the experience be like the planting of a seed within you that, with nourishment, will grow into your own individual mastery.
You see, we are all ordinary. But a master, rather than condemning himself for his “ordinariness,” will embrace and use it as a foundation for building the extraordinary. Rather than using it as an excuse for inactivity, he will use it as a vehicle for correcting, which is essential in the process of attaining mastery. You must be able to correct yourself without invalidating or condemning yourself, to accept results and improve upon them. Correct, don’t protect. Correction is essential to power and mastery.
Friday, July 27, 2007
Happy Friday
I came in at 6:30 am today.
There was a voice inside my head that said: "Welcome" as soon as I opened the studio door.
Welcome? Welcome to what?
The voice said: "Welcome, now train!"
I answered: Train? I got too much to do!
The voice said: "Train"
I answered: No, I have to do all these things, students to take care of, my family stuff, etc.
The voice said: "Train"
So I said what a heck! It was a while since I trained on my own.
So I trained
And I began to remember how good it feels to do a sidekick, to hit the back and to sweat. NOT because I wanted to teach someone, not because I wanted to demonstrate, because it was my calling. Because it felt right. Because it felt good.
I never trained to teach, to get belts, to get ready for an exam, to get ready for a fight, to demonstrate, to show off, I trained because that is who I was.
I never knew the other journey had so much pain and joy. The joy of sharing and watching people grow and the pain of watching a few break my heart.
So I trained again till I couldnt train any more.
The voice said: "Welcome Back!"
I asked: what happened to me?
The voice said: "Just Train!"
Happy Friday
I came in at 6:30 am today.
There was a voice inside my head that said: "Welcome" as soon as I opened the studio door.
Welcome? Welcome to what?
The voice said: "Welcome, now train!"
I answered: Train? I got too much to do!
The voice said: "Train"
I answered: No, I have to do all these things, students to take care of, my family stuff, etc.
The voice said: "Train"
So I said what a heck! It was a while since I trained on my own.
So I trained
And I began to remember how good it feels to do a sidekick, to hit the back and to sweat. NOT because I wanted to teach someone, not because I wanted to demonstrate, because it was my calling. Because it felt right. Because it felt good.
I never trained to teach, to get belts, to get ready for an exam, to get ready for a fight, to demonstrate, to show off, I trained because that is who I was.
I never knew the other journey had so much pain and joy. The joy of sharing and watching people grow and the pain of watching a few break my heart.
So I trained again till I couldnt train any more.
The voice said: "Welcome Back!"
I asked: what happened to me?
The voice said: "Just Train!"
Happy Friday
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