Follow up on New Years Goals

This is an excerpt of an article Dr. Tae Yun Kim published way back in 2010, but it is timeless and applies today and every day.

New Year’s Resolutions – are they not a desire to change?  People do not want to continue as usual – they want something different in themselves, in their lives.

I always ask my students – if you want to know what you will be like in 5 years, look into mirror now – this is you in 5 years, if you don’t change!  If you don’t want to be in the same place in your life that you are right now, you must change! 

So, one way I help my students keep focused on the importance of living their life purposefully is to look at their shoes before going to bed.  “Remember,” I say, “you really don’t know if you’ll be here tomorrow to walk again in these shoes!  While you were in these shoes today, did you go where you needed?  Create what you needed to create?  Did you walk with love?  So if you and your shoes are still there in the morning, remember when you put them on to live as though the new day could again be your last one.”

So instead of recklessly or carelessly drifting from day to day, why not seize this brief moment of time in your life and create an epic instead of a tragedy!  What else better to do with your time?  As long as you are alive and conscious right now, why not use this time to experience the most you can from life – rather than the least.  Or do you want to pretend you don’t have choices?

I really like this as it applies so much in my daily life! Won't you give it a try too and follow Dr. Tae Yun Kim's invitation?
I picked this picture of the very first almond blossom from Dr. Tae Yun Kim's garden as a symbol of change - and that Mother nature always knows best how to bring it about.

Did you know that Great Grandmaster Tae Yun Kim writes a very special column called "Heart to Heart" in the TKD Times magazine?  It's been a wonderful source of inspiration to many people, and especially me!  

Great Grandmaster Tae Yun Kim writes timeless gems of wisdom that apply now and always.  Here is an excerpt from a column more than 5 years ago:

"Remember, it is our personal choice what we do in this life!  It’s our very own choice! 

Yes, I hear you, you’ll tell me how you didn’t choose your family, how you didn’t choose your learning disability, and how you didn’t choose being poor.  I understand what you are saying, but hear me out:  Whatever the circumstances are, no matter how bad they are, what is much more important is how we choose to deal with those circumstances! 

Here is how it works: 

You need to commit to make a change in your life for the better, you need to purify your body and mind, and you need to set true goals for yourself.  And of course you need to put all this into action (and not just think about it!) and make it your new way of life. 

I call this Re-birth.  Rebirth is actually living the new definition of yourself.  Now, instead of drifting along in life, acting and reacting with limited perception, you live with conscious awareness of your connection to your Silent Master consciousness.  You now become your own doctor and surgeon, carefully bringing your new self into the world by constantly removing the strangling, stifling thoughts and feelings of your old self."

Isn't that something we can all apply in our lives, pretty much every day! 

Today on my 58th Birthday, I thank Great Grandmaster Tae Yun Kim for sharing her knowledge with us!  

Kicking at Jung SuWon: much more than just physical

Grandmaster Tae Yun Kim of Jung Suwon Martial Art Academy, clarifies the concept from the previous post:

If this is a bit too abstract at first, think of it this way: whatever materializes in our lives, were pictures in our minds first. Everything you see existed first as an idea that you entertained. When you want to change the picture, then you must work with the ideas, not only with the picture. For example, imagine you are looking at a picture of a slide projected on a screen. What you see on the screen comes from the slide in the projector. Any markings you make on the screen to change the picture will not change the picture on the slide. The slides in the projector are like ideas in your consciousness. Just as you must change the slide to change the picture on the screen, you must change your ideas, attitudes, and expectations to change the pictures of your world.

Kicking at Jung Suwon: Your thoughts create reality

Grandmaster Tae Yun Kim continues to explain:

You might believe that what you think doesn’t matter; only what you actually say or do. Not so. Again, your thoughts are words, and your words are patterns which take form. Sitting around thinking strongly of how much you hate this certain person, or being convinced you cannot participate in Martial Arts classes, will fill you with an inner monologue that only creates a negative energy cloud around you and you will end up attracting the things you are thinking. If you are convincing yourself you cannot do something – you will end up not being able to do that something! This is negative visualization, and to stop yourself from doing it, try this: listen to your inner words. Frequently check to make sure you’re talking positively about yourself. If you find a monologue running that goes…”I’ll never make it…I’m no good…nobody wants me….nobody values me…I have nothing to offer…I am too fat…and on and on. Then you need to consciously stop and consciously create new words. I am succeeding. My talent is valuable and desirable. I have my unique contribution to make…I am attractive…whatever you need to say to help you on your way, not hinder you.

Kicking at Jung SuWon: Part Three

Grandmaster Tae Yun Kim, founder of the Art of Jung SuWon, continues:


Unfortunately, when we have idle time, many of us have a habit of running all sorts of negative pictures through our minds. But now that you are aware that visualization is a powerful part of the creative process, use this wonderful tool to lend momentum to achieving your goals! Allow only those images in your mind that support you and others, and see how quickly things change.

But, on the other hand, so many of us are carrying on an unspoken inner monologue that reflects our opinion of ourselves and the environment. Take a good look at those words that play in your mind as your inner voice does your thinking and feeling. Are they words you want to see take form? Is this really what you want to visualize, focus on? Always remember that these inner words are energy blueprints which will tend to solidify into actual physical experience. You do, indeed, have to take responsibility for your words, even inner, unspoken words, because they do have power.

Kicking at Jung SuWon: The power of Visualization

Grandmaster Tae Yun Kim continues:

Visualization is the first step in bringing forth your purpose and determination, and therefore you must exercise responsibility in what you imagine. You use the same responsibility you used when you formed your purpose and determination. The mental images you form must absolutely support what you want to create and should be visualized with as much detail and clarity as possible. If you give equal time to images that are contrary to what you want, it would be like trying to dig a hole and filling it up at the same time.

Kicking at Jung SuWon - it's not just in the legs!

Grandmaster Tae Yun Kim explains why kicks aren't just for our legs...

As martial artists, we all know about how powerful correctly executed kicks are and how beautiful and graceful they can be. They combine power, speed, and beauty into true works of art. They are effective tools not only in self defense, and self expression, but they also tone your body in many ways.

But at the same time, they are so much more. They are tools for visualization, for achieving goals, for making your dreams a reality. How so?

One of my students was severely overweight when she started training. In fact she was so overweight she didn’t even want to start until she lost some weight! Finally she did, but while everybody participated with gusto, she would stand off to the side. When others shouted “He Can Do, She Can Do, Why not ME” she would say to herself, why not me? Because I am fat, that’s why!

Soon she started to come around. I explained to her the power of visualization. Every time she was doing a punch, or kick, she was now visualizing kicking away her fat, her temptations, and all the cakes, cookies and donuts she loved so much and that kept tempting her into sneaking those foods. Every time she was punching and kicking the bags, she wasn’t seeing the bag! She was seeing a giant donut, or a big piece of cake! You wouldn’t believe how hard she was able to kick, all of a sudden. Through visualization she not only gained strength and power, she also lost about 150 lbs, and has the most beautiful, graceful kicks as well! Her natural flexibility started to come through, and her confidence rose.

She had learned that visualization is not just idle daydreaming or wishful thinking. It is focused imagining, with the power of your will and persistence behind it. It is an immaterial activity that takes form first as a mental image, then as a material image.