What does your 2014 look like?

Forget New Year resolutions, they don’t work for a litany of reasons. One of those reasons is you are taught through media and social engineering that you are OK the way you are. You are taught there is no ideal or perfect way or state of being. You are taught to be consumers not producers. Your kids are taught so too. There is a constant onslaught of relax, chill, you are fine, be happy with yourself, and a host of other new age bull crap messages. We are taught to look outward not inward. Not feeling well, buy something! Where is the proof? If you need proof you are blind, but here is a graphic of the average American that demonstrates what I am talking about:

What was once uncommon has become common.  What was once sought after is now shunned.  We have let ourselves be led to an instant gratification society, we don’t want to work, we want it now, no pain, no sweat, no effort.  I see this every week no matter where I go.

This pertains to the Martial Arts because people don’t earn their belts anymore, they buy them (with rare exceptions).  The funny thing is they don’t even know they are doing it, buying their advancement.  Most Martial Arts schools know that in order for students to “stick” with their training, they have to keep them interested because if success doesn’t come quickly it will be abandon as too hard.

Today everyone gets a trophy!  There is no First place…it is disgusting.  The sad part is it is pervasive in every aspect of our society and like any cancer it is spreading.  The only solution is to push back, to push a culture of success and failure, to stress the importance of hard work and sweat, personal reflection and improvement.  Our greatest competitor should be ourselves, but that takes honesty, did you give it your all?  Was that your best?  No excuses, excuses are the slippery slope to mediocrity.

Please follow and like us: