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.

Grandmaster Tae Yun Kim: last part about personal choices

Grandmaster Tae Yun Kim of Jung SuWon Martial Arts academy finishes her article about success and setting goals:

Here are some beautiful words from “The Prophet” by Kahlil Gibran, which describe how everyone is individual. We need to love and value and acknowledge the gifts that are uniquely ours.

“The musician may sing to you of the rhythm which is in all space, but he cannot give you the ear which arrests the rhythm nor the voice that echoes it….

For the vision of one man lends not its wings to another man. And even as each one of you stands alone in God’s knowledge, so must each one of you be alone in his knowledge of God and in his understanding of the earth.”


But to be alone with the Life Force of the universe is to be one with all that is, and this is certainly not lonely. This is fulfillment.

Give it a try! See how you do with this. Then let me know. I would love to hear from you again. And remember, you are an original, not a copy! You have the power to fulfill your dreams!

And in closing, let’s meditate together, in your favorite spot. Try this meditation that I have created just for you.

“Right now I am the Silent Master consciousness, and I can feel its wholeness and completeness whenever I have a need. I see myself growing. My Silent Master consciousness is present now to help me find my right place and right purpose. Because I am one with the Life Force of the universe, I can feel Love and energy already within me moving me forward. I am unique and individual, yet I am part of the whole. I can achieve my goals. I share what I am, lovingly and givingly, because my unique part to play is necessary to complete the whole. I am alone, yet I am alone with the entire manifest universe and every other individual. Together we are each alone, and together we are all-one, and together we each fulfill our unique purpose in harmony and peace.”

Grandmaster Tae Yun Kim teaches more about personal choices

Here are some more thoughts of Grandmaster Tae Yun Kim regarding choices. At her Martial Arts school, Jung SuWon, she teaches these things in person:

When you are really ready to find this aspect of your being and realize the fullness of your potential, you will begin the process of self-discovery. I honor you. I respect you. That is why I am sharing my teachings with you. Although you and I can begin this journey together, it’s still going to be your journey. I can share with you my experiences, my teachings, my hopes and my expectations of your successful outcome, but it remains at all times your journey, your commitment, your perseverance, your goal – and your prize!

Since all that you need to know about your real self is within you right now, my wish is to encourage and guide you to the door of your own powerful being.

Grandmaster Tae Yun Kim teaches about personal choices - continued

Grandmaster Tae Yun Kim of Jung SuWon always says, what you do in your life, is your personal choice! Here is the next installment on that subject:

One of the comments I hear many times from the people I work with is that they feel alone, isolated, or separate. If you feel alone and unfulfilled, you probably are trying to be a copy of someone else, or are trying to fulfill expectations of others. Or, perhaps you’re trying to find yourself in someone else, hiding behind a stronger personality instead of finding your own strong and unique self.

But your true self feels whole and complete whether or not you are alone. The true meaning of alone is all-one. When you are one with your true self, one with your own Silent Master consciousness, you are one with the universe, one with all that is. When you feel your true self, you feel at rest in the wholeness of things, but you also know that you are original and unique. Although you feel yourself as a separate, special individual, you do not feel empty and unfulfilled. You feel true and pure and good and whole. Most importantly, you feel enthusiastic, creative and joyful. This is the natural state of your true being.

...Stay in tune for more.....

Grandmaster Tae Yun Kim teaches about personal choices - continued

Grandmaster Tae Yun Kim continues with the topic:

You should always strive to look at yourself impartially, like a doctor examining a patient for the first time – studying the symptoms, trying to gain insight into the source of the trouble, and prescribing the appropriate cure. Only by being willing to constantly look at your weaknesses can you constantly do something about them. This becomes a way of living, and this process requires the inner power steps of love and loyalty: love of your real self, and loyalty to your goals.

Love and loyalty are important, because when you actually start living out what your inner voice, your Silent Master Consciousness tells you, new challenges are guaranteed to arise to test your commitment. The higher a tree rises in the sun, the longer the shadow it casts. The greater your achievement, the greater the tests that come. Some challenges at this stage may appear just as negative as certain experiences prior to the knowledge of your Silent Master. But there will be a difference now, because you will know you are not a victim. Now you will know your true self is greater and more powerful than anything that threatens to take away your natural joy and freedom.

This is the kind of newness and excitement and discovery you were born to experience. Life is magic in that it unfolds every moment in a new way, darting off in a new, unexpected direction, depending on your focus. But life is also a science, which you can learn to operate and enjoy with exactness and understanding. To be reborn into your true identity is an exhilarating goal. The prize is worth the price of any effort.

Grandmaster Tae Yun Kim teaches about personal choices

I have posted a couple videos - since video production is one of my passions. I feel they really hit the spot....

And today I am back to posting some beautiful words that Grandmaster Kim has shared with her readers:

Seems like we just celebrated New Year and then Easter came in a hurry, Spring is in full swing, and Summer is knocking on the door. Fall is almost here...We usually think about setting new goals and re-evaluation and rebirth only at New Year. But we should use every day as another chance in this life, a chance that we give ourselves to start fresh. 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.

Rebirth is not something that happens and then ends. Rebirth is an ongoing process, a daily practice that goes on for your entire life. As you continue to move down your life’s path, you will constantly be made aware of changes you need to make and will constantly be reborn as you make those changes.

What other people have to say about Dr. Tae Yun Kim

What you do in your life is your personal choice

Grandmaster Tae Yun Kim talks about Patience

Grandmaster Tae Yun Kim continues teaching about setting goals and concludes with the following advice:

Patience in today’s world is not something that comes easily and naturally, and is something we generally need to acquire. That’s partly because modern technology has given us a measure of instant gratification. Today when we want food, for instance, we can have it instantly at the supermarket, at a fast food drive-in, or at a restaurant. But there was a time when we had to patiently watch over our crops as they grew, milk the cows, pump the water, make the preserves, bake the bread, and so on. There was no room for impatience in that life.

You can take advantage of all of today’s instantaneous resources – such as information technology and communications – to help you along the path toward your goal. But there is no substitute for old-fashioned patience in your pursuits. Not everything will be simply handed to you in a spoon-fed manner. There will almost always be a process involved in realizing your goals, a series of many steps that seemingly start and stop.

Keep in mind that the plateaus you reach on the way are not stopping points. They are just plateaus. It’s important to remember that you are still in motion while you are seemingly “at rest.” This can be very difficult to comprehend. It’s like the people strapped into their airplane seats saying “I want to go somewhere, I want to go somewhere!” It may be hard to convince them that they are going somewhere.

When you are seemingly not in motion, it’s important to keep your mind moving. Remember, when the seed is underground, invisible, it is nevertheless moving rather aggressively. And although you don’t see the motion of the plant growing above the soil, it is nevertheless occurring.

IN the same way, not all of your path will involve radical physical activity. Sometimes your faith and desire will be all you see in motion. But it is motion, it is going somewhere, and you will need patience to ride through to the end. To some extent, the total picture will always be a little outside your scope of vision. You’ll have to trust in the power of your Silent Master to guide you to and through the unseen steps involved. As for a delay in reaching your goal, remember it’s not over ‘til it’s over. As long as you’re here, the opportunity to reach your goals is here! Keep on going!

Dr. Tae Yun Kim: no excuses!

Grandmaster Tae Yun Kim continues:

Most excuses are fueled by the belief that you can’t do what you know you should. No such thing! Be aware that I can’t usually means I could, but I won’t. I can’t stop spending my money on gambling best usually means I could stop, but I won’t because I want the rush I get when I do it. Or, I can’t work any harder to get this promotion might mean I could work harder, but I won’t because I am lazy.

In both these instances, we can see that the persons saying I can’t have a problem with their self concept, not with their capability. In the gambler’s situation, his or her addiction to the “rush” is most likely taking the place of genuine emotion that’s buried. He or she needs to rediscover the natural energy of real feeling, not the insubstantial “rushes” of gambling. Lazy persons most likely have some fear regarding their ability to achieve. They use laziness to avoid testing themselves and confronting their fear of failure.

So my point is, if you find yourself saying I can’t, examine this statement very closely! It rarely means I am not able, and your Silent Master is prepared to boost you and support you towards realizing any true desire you have. Most of the time, you can! You will just have to persevere with continued effort. Look at this video:



If these turkeys had insisted that they cannot fly - they would have been left behind. But by following their true being, and not giving up - they finally made it over the fence!

Some people never take their goals beyond “information collecting.” They talk about what they want, they think about it, they look into it, they dream about it, they read books about it, they admire it…but they don’t do anything about it! Remember, we live in a universe that’s made of vibrating energy. Energy is in motion! We’re part of that energy and we need to express motion in our creativity. Fulfilling your goals requires an energy process to manifest – motion and activity! And the process is one that will most likely take place over time.

Unfortunately, we are bombarded by the media with images and slogans of instant gratification. “You want this…just call so and so now…” Or, “You want to look like this, be like this…just buy such and such now.” Something I often tell my students is: What you get easily, you can usually lose easily. Even though as a rule we don’t take advertising seriously, we are still impacted by these images to some extent. We are easily disappointed with delay when we pursue our goals, often using it as an excuse to give up.

But, at Jung SuWon, I provide an environment for people where they can start getting used to setting goals, small ones at first, to make sure they reach them, and then encouraging to start reaching for their dreams!

Grandmaster Tae Yun Kim shares about setting goals/part 3

Grandmaster Tae Yun Kim continues: Try to be aware at the beginning of your path of what might arise to hinder you along the way. This is not asking for trouble, looking for trouble, or expecting trouble. It is, in fact, a way of helping avoid trouble. When you become aware of possible obstacles, you give some thought in advance as to how you will deal with them.

And what happens when you don’t reach your goal the way you stated it or planned it? Keep going. Being half way there is better than where you were before you set the goal. Give yourself credit and praise for the effort you’ve made, and keep going. It doesn’t matter how far behind you think you are in the race. And this leads me to another principle that’s very important in taking charge of your life: avoid excuses.


Are you starting to feel like taking some constructive action? I hope the answer is a loud, resounding “yes!” Action is a necessary part of every goal you set and intend to fulfill.

Excuses are a senseless waste of energy! When a goal is taking longer than expected to fulfill, there is a strong temptation to give up and make excuses for failure. Your excuses prevent you from doing the additional work you need to do for ultimate success. Have you had the experience of saying I know I should or shouldn’t…whatever…but I am doing it because….I hear things from my students like I know I shouldn’t keep spending my money on gambling bets…but, (then the excuse)…or,, I know I should tell my wife I’ve been seeing someone else…but, (then the excuse)…or, I know I should be exercising more…but, (then the excuse)…

In all these instances, you do know the right thing to do, but you make an excuse! You make the excuse because somehow you think this is more beneficial than being honest with yourself or someone else. The next time you find yourself doing this, take one more step. Actually list the pros and cons of continuing lying to yourself alongside the pros and cons of being honest. I think you’ll see on the “honest” side, you open up the possibility to actually solve a problem, even though there might be some conflict; and on the “dishonest” side you set yourself up to continue the problem at the price of avoiding conflict.

Grandmaster Tae Yun Kim: more about setting goals

At Jung SuWon, Grandmaster Tae Yun Kim explains further about details of setting goals:

One criterion you can use in determining whether or not your goal is realistic is this: is the desire that is driving you your own? Or is it based on the expectations of someone else? If you can honestly say that your desire is your own (not something you conjured up to please someone else), then even if it seems presently out of reach, you owe it to yourself to pursue it! Your Silent Master does not give you true desires for nothing. In fact, that is one way your Silent Master communicates with you and attempts to give you direction.

Then, once you have your goal, make it measurable somehow so that you know when you’ve reached it. Again, that may sound overly simplistic, but you may be amazed at how you refrain from doing this on a regular basis. We tend to state our goals vaguely and loosely like: Yes, I am going to lose weight…or, my new goal is to find a different job…or, I am going to move soon…..How much weight are you going to lose, and by when? What kind of job do you want, in what area, in what salary range, and by what date? Where are you going to move, to what kind of house, for what price range, and by what date? If some of these parameters are open-ended, fine…but at least include them in your goal.

Set up milestones along the path to realizing your goal, ways you can check your progress. There are usually steps that you will take to fulfill a goal, and as you reach each step you can determine if you’re truly moving forward of if you like where you are going. For instance, if your goal is to find a new job, one of your milestones may be simply getting a resume printed. Another might be finding an agency to help you. Another might be getting some interviews in an area you like. At each of these points, you will be able to evaluate your progress and make changes if necessary.

Choosing milestones, of course, is part of forming your plan. You can’t overlook the fact that you must proceed in some kind of orderly fashion, and this nearly always means forming a planned procedure to take. Here you will see the power of choice at work. Once choice about what action to take opens up a whole range of other choices. Your first choice will lead you to the next step and the next if you just make a start!

You may want to actually make a contract with yourself to really sew up your plans! I often recommend to students that they write out an “agreement” which states the goal specifically, outlines steps they will take, sets milestones they will encounter, and the terms of fulfillment. Then I ask them to sign it and read it as often as possible. The content of the agreement must permeate all four bodies: physically in the actions you take, mentally in your thoughts, emotionally in your feelings, and spiritually in your dreams, aspirations and subconscious mind.

Grandmaster Tae Yun Kim's advice on achieving goals

Here is something I really like. Grandmaster Tae Yun Kim talks a lot about setting goals, but she doesn't stop there. Read on to see...

It’s easy to set goals, it’s easy to list down all the things you want to accomplish, the dreams you have. But what are we going to do about them? How can we reach them? How can we make sure they don’t remain words written down on pieces of paper?

So before we do anything else, let’s meditate together. You can either sit down in formal meditation position, or just find a quiet moment in whatever position is comfortable to you. Calm you thoughts, let them go…..breathe deeply and quietly….there you go….that’s better….continue as long as you feel like it. You will know when you are finished.

Now we are ready to think about following through with our goals, with actual pursuing our dreams. First thing: you need to give your goal a chance to come true! You have to give yourself a chance to realize your desire by setting specific goals and charting a specific course towards that goal. Daydreaming and wishing aren’t goals, no, a goal is something that can be realized when you follow through with appropriate action. Here are some principles I have been using all my life in setting goals that I want to fulfill. First and most important, make your goals realistic. Here you will have to use your own judgment and follow the inner direction of your Silent Master. Only you know what’s truly within the parameters of your life purpose. All of us are born with a specific purpose to fulfill, and we already possess the potential to fulfill it. That’s why we can follow our true desires, which will attract to us all the tools we need to do our work.

Grandmaster Tae Yun Kim's epilogue to the Frog and Scorpion story

Let’s look at this story closer. How are you going to deal with your bad habits, when they come to you again and again, trying to lull you into giving in to them? Are you ready to fight back?

Instead of being inflexible like the scorpion and regarding your bad habits as “just your nature,” or “just the way you are,” why not try another approach? Let’s assume for a moment that your negative traits are beliefs that you have adopted about yourself, and that you can use your will power to begin the process of conquering them. If you have beliefs like “I’m lazy,” “I’m shy,” “I’m useless,” “I’m poor,” “I’m stupid,” let’s ask, what do you get out of these beliefs? If you’re holding on to them so tightly, you must be getting something you think you want. But is it happiness you’re getting? Success? Achievement? Growth? I really doubt if you’re getting anything good from those beliefs.

If you really want to change your life, you may have to see that what you’re really getting out of these beliefs is an excuse not to face up to some fear or weakness you have. As long as you believe you’re lazy, will you focus your will on going to school to learn something new? No, because if your laziness is really a fear of failure, you won’t test yourself in school. As long as you believe you’re shy, will you use your will power to seek out a new, more fulfilling career in which you have to meet many people? No, because if your shyness is really fear of talking to others, you’ll keep your undesirable present job where there are few people. In both of theses situations, you are afraid, not really lazy, and not really shy.

But feelings of limitations are so unnecessary. Fear can be conquered! Weakness can be overcome! Each time you use your will power to stand up and throw yourself into the face of another “I can’t,” you are getting ready for a victory. So, you begin to identify your fears and weaknesses, and start to confront them.

Realize that “I Can’t” usually means, “I won’t.”

All of us, at some time or another, have felt the limiting power of “I can’t.” Even when we really want something, and even if that something is within our power, those two simple words can prevent it from happening. When you find yourself saying, “I can’t,” look deeper to see if you’re making another excuse. If you look honestly, you will usually find that your words “I can’t” actually mean, “I could, but I won’t for this or that reason.” For instance, “I can’t do well in school” might easily mean, “I could do well in school but I won’t put in the time and effort to study.” When you become willing to say, “I can,” you find the power to carry it out from your Silent Master within.

So, when your old habits want to come creeping back, when your old self wants to take over again, know that you have the power to change. The power is in you; it is your personal choice what you do in your life! Take charge of your life!