The Journey of A Martial Artist
The path of the warrior is a continuous journey, begins in the body through training and
then ends in the mind. Many strive to attain belts and ranks as their aim and objective
but this focus is so wrong. It is far better to focus on how to get there than to focus on
the destination. For if we have both eyes fixed on the destination, we have no eyes left
to find the way. Our discipline should be on prolonging our journey and not rushing
matters a great deal, for discipline is the bridge between goals and accomplishment.
The patience you learn from your extended journey enables you to be wise and slow to
anger, Anger makes you smaller, while the forgiveness you learn along your path enables
you to grow beyond what you were before. The attitude you have on your journey is also of
extreme importance, to be submissive in nature, humble, honest, meek, kind but yet
confident and ambitious. The attitude will defiantly determine the altitude. If you would
live your life with ease we should really do what we ought, not what we please. It's like
the famous scholar Charles Swindoll said "attitude is more important than facts. It
is more important than the past, than education, than money, than circumstances, than
failures, than success, than what other people think, say or do. It is more important than
appearance, gift, or skill. It will make or break a home." The remarkable thing
is we have a choice every day regarding the attitude we will embrace for that day. We
cannot change our past. The only thing we can do is play on the string we have, and that
is our attitude. I am convinced that life is 10% what happens to me and 90% how I
react to it. And so it is with you, we are in charge of our attitudes. Our attitude will
determine our success, our attitude will also determine our altitude.
My Sensei once taught me this he said.. "Nathaniel, remember that success is
doing the things that others are not willing to do." this statement has helped me
over the years continue to strive for the attainment of knowledge in various different
things and the search to reach ones fullest potential simply through faith and dedication.
Self belief, faith and trust is the first secret of success. So believe in and trust
yourself. If you want to get somewhere, you have to know where you want to go and how you
are going to get there. The objective needs to be at the forefront of your mind. If there
is no real objective how can you plan your route. It's like you going on a journey without
a map, you simply wouldnt do it, you would get lost otherwise.
Once you have found your objective start on your road, but despite the obstacles you meet
on the way never, never, never give up. The secret of life isn't really what happens to
you, but what you do with what happens to you. If you help other people to cope with their
problems then your own will be easier to cope with (this is learning through action).
Take out of your vocabluary words like "I cant, thats hard, its impossible"
never use these words seriously again. How you think about a problem is more important
than the problem itself therefore always think positively. Another one of my teachers
always use to say to me "There is never a problem, only an opportunity" so see
your obstacles as a point where you can overcome. Stand up to your obstacles, do something
about them. You will find that they haven't half the strength you think.
Your mental happiness increases as you give happiness out, and decreases as you try to
keep all the joy for yourself. In giving it out, you will accumulate a deposit of joy
greater than you ever believed possible. Remember the only mountains that exist in you,
are the ones in the mind. Once you remove those, "then its all good.."Give life
all you have got. And life will give all it has to you. And remember that attitude
determines altitude.
Nathaniel Peat
United Kingdom
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