As a martial artist, awareness is an essential skill. Awareness of your surroundings is necessary for safety, but also consider applying it to: your actions; your reactions; and your choices.
Will this choice help to strengthen and extend my life and vitality or will it further drain my essence (Original Qi or Jing)?
Every decision you make counts one way or another. Your essence is either supported or depleted by everything from what you choose to eat, whether or not you stay up late, how much exercise you get, how much rest you get, and the overall pace of your life.
Don’t keep commitments? Procrastinate actions you need to take? Are you a drinker? Smoker? Taking drugs? Finding other distractions from the reality of your life? Do you dwell in the past or always worry about the future? Clearly these actions are depleting.
There are endless ways to support your essence and overall vitality: spend time with people you care about; do things that give you deep fulfillment; take time to “smell the flowers”; be honest and sincere with yourself and others; laugh; spend time in nature; walk with a loved one; meditate everyday.
Being in the moment is an awakening experience. You’ll begin to see the miracle that is your life.
Decide to empower yourself; take control everyday. It’s so worth it.
Originally published in April, 2004 under the title “Good Question: Self Awareness”
About Shifu Ahles
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