01/05/2021
As a sensei, I very much approve of reflection, evaluation, and measured improvement. The idea of the New Year’s resolution is one of the most broadly accepted versions of this practice but only about 60% of us attempt them and less than 10% achieve our desired goals. You can do better. It’s all about how you set yourself up for success and why. You’ve heard about setting manageable goals, measuring progress, and other valuable tips, but our philosophy points us to a powerful secret that can change the way you see change.
Cuong Nhu’s first code of ethics – Cuong Nhu Students should strive to improve themselves and their abilities in the martial arts in order to serve the people.
While we use this mission statement as the core of why we train, it also unfolds into one of the most powerful training secrets: Meeting goals with others and for others is far more successful and satisfying than facing them on your own for yourself.
Facing challenges with others will reduce temptation. Drinking less caffeine will be ten times harder if everyone in the house is still guzzling coffee and soda. Eating healthier meal portions will be a battle if your friends only want to eat at buffets. If their priorities for change are different from yours, at least bring them on board with your resolutions so that they can aid and cheer you on. After all, your goal is to be healthier and happier for a longer life with them!
When you share a goal with others you’re more likely to show up even when it’s hard. We are more likely to show up to motivate others than to push ourselves. We can laugh when it gets hard and notice each other’s accomplishments to cheer them on. We won’t miss as much when we know we’ll be missed.
In order to serve the people. Identify the deeper goal of your desire to change. If you want to be in better shape, don’t focus on the shallow reasons, because they’ll be easiest to discard when it gets tough. Find the deeper reason and make it the focus of your team. If getting more fit is about having a longer life together with greater health and mobility, it will be easier to hold on to when you hit plateaus. Better yet, try for goals that impact those around you and reap the benefit of serving your community immediately. You could make a goal to call one member of your community each day to check in and catch up. You could make a goal to bake five loaves each weekend and deliver them to five people in need. When your goals make contact with those around you, they’ll grow in power instead of diminish, and they’ll warm you in a chilly season.