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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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