Now that we are a month into 2015
what are we doing to be successful?
How dramatically we can change our results is largely a function of imagination. The process of changing imagination’s dream state to reality is possible. Dreams are a representation of the kind of life one wants to lead. Dreams can motivate action. Many dreams have been initially thought impossible have become real. People have said that the world was flat and that man would never fly. We are able to travel around the world, into outer space and that is reality, even beyond “Superman”. We must develop the abilities to expand our desires into reality by creating desire, with a plan and continued effort. Where we are today is not where we will be in the future. One must believe and work toward success. As we are progressing into 2015 plan a bit of time to imagine what will become a new reality.
Never depend on the admiration of other. There is no strength in it. One=s future cannot be derived from an external source. It is not to be found in personal associations, nor can it be found in the regard of other people. It is a fact of life that other people, even people who love you, will not necessarily agree with one’s ideas, and understand or share your enthusiasms. Who cares what other people think?! A dream can only be lost if the individual stops working toward it.
Create your own dream reality. It cannot be achieved solely through associations with people of excellence. You have been given your own work to do. Get to it right now, do your best at it, and don=t be concerned with who is watching. Do useful work without regard to the honor or admiration that efforts might win from others. There is no such thing as vicarious success. Other people=s triumphs and excellence belong to them. Likewise, one’s possessions may have excellence, but we don=t derive excellence from them.
Think about it: What is really our own? How we make of the ideas, resources and opportunities that come our way are what make us unique. Read books. Learn from them. Apply their wisdom. Put specialized knowledge to its full use. Follow through on good ideas and insights. Make the most of what natural abilities. To utilize this power our dreams must be well defined. To achieve success through dreams and to have plans move forward, dreams must be vivid. Dream and envision the future. As with visualization techniques, see the finish line while moving toward the goal. Be willing to work through the process of doing the uncomfortable until it becomes comfortable and until the dream is realized.
Beyond dreams to continue to live a positive life, look for the good in what people do. Actions speak louder than words. Be careful of the counsel you give, if success is not achieved by the user, the failure to succeed may be viewed as a result of your advice and not the problem of the individual you tried to help. Lives should be lived trying to help others, as the stronger man did when he stayed behind to help a brother who stumbled. We are all related by the lives we live, the good or bad we do for others and the relationships we develop as our lives touch another. Remain positive. Do good deeds for others. Strive to help others. By doing these things you will live a fulfilling life.
THE PICKLE JAR STORY
A professor stood before his philosophy class and had some items in front of him. When the class began, wordlessly he picked up a very large and empty pickle jar and proceeded to fill it with golf balls.
He then asked the students if the jar was full. They agreed that it was. So the professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar. He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles rolled into the open areas between the golf balls. He then asked the students again if the jar was full. They agreed it was.
The professor next picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up everything else. He asked once more if the jar was full. The students responded with a unanimous “yes.”
The professor then produced two glasses of chocolate milk from under the table and poured the entire contents into the jar effectively filling the empty space between the sand.
The students laughed.
The Moral of the Story – The professor waited for the laughter to subside….
“Now,” said the professor, “I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life. The golf balls are the important things…your family, your children, your health, your friends, your favorite passions. Things that if everything else was lost and only they remained, your life would still be full.”
“The pebbles are the other things that matter like your job, your home, your car.”
“The sand is everything else…The small stuff. If you put the sand into the jar first, there is no room for the pebbles or the golf balls. The same goes for life. If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff, you will never have room for the things that are critical to your happiness.”
“Play with your children. Take time to get medical checkups. Take your partner to dinner. Play another 18. There will always be time to clean the house or fix the disposal.”
“Take care of the golf balls first, the things that really matter. Set your priorities, the rest is just sand.”
BROWN AND BLACK BELTS – CHECK THE DOJO WEB SITE www.isshin-ryu.com AND BEGIN TO UNDERSTAND THE RULES FOR SCORING AND JUDGING AT THE IWKA TOURNAMENT.
STUDENTS INTERESTD IN COMPETING IN TOURNAMENTS, OUR 30TH BENEFIT IS SUNDAY, APRIL 26, 2015 AT HACKETTSTOWN HIGH SCHOOL AND THE I.W.K.A . CHAMPIONSHIP EVENT WE ARE HOSTING IS AUGUST 6, 7 & 8 IN PRINCETON. THE 6TH FINDS SEMINARS, THE 7TH FINDS SEMINARS AND THE BEGINNING OF THE TOURNAMENT AND THE 8TH IS THE MAJOR PORTION OF THE COMPETITION AND THE BANQUET AND AFTER PARTY WHICH FOLLOW THE EVENT. ALL INFROMATION IS ON OUR WEBSITE.
SPECIAL TRAINING SESSIONS WILL BE THE 3RD FRIDAY OF EACH MONTH AT 6 PM PRIOR TO THE BROWN & BLACK BELT SESSION AND THE 1ST SATURDAY OF EACH MONTH AT 12:30 FOLLOWING MORNING CLASSES FOR AN HOUR.
Remember the Golden Rule Tournament at Warren Hills HS Sunday, February 8 . . . snow date Feb. 28.
