About six years ago I began to study tai chi. When I began, I had already been studying karate for several years, but my instructor encouraged me to add tai chi to enhance my martial arts abilities even further. It seemed interesting to me from the very beginning, but I was totally unprepared for what I have received. What I have learned is far beyond anything I ever expected.
Tai chi is a martial art that takes you through a series of very slow movements. You have probably seen people do it on TV commercials to advertise arthritis medicine. It seems rather strange and exotic for people who have never been around it. And because it is so slow and easy going, it seems like it would be very easy to do. But I assure you, it is actually a very powerful and practical form of exercise.
When I first started practicing these moves it was quite awkward. It is amazing the amount of strength and balance it takes. But as I practiced over the next several months and years, I began to notice a number of things begin to happen in my body. I began to develop greater leg strength. My balance improved. I gained better posture. I began to be able to control and conserve energy. I gained more powerful breath support and control. I also saw my ability to concentrate become stronger.
If you did a deep examination of tai-chi training, these things should really be expected because of the nature of the exercise. But there is one other thing that has happened in my experience that, even to this day, I continue to marvel about. No matter how far I seem to progress, there seems to be further to go. I make a major advance and think I am mastering the art and, behold, a whole new level unfolds before me. This has happened so many times that I have come to believe that there is no limit to the amount of progress I can make. As I have discussed this with my instructor, he has assured me that this is so.
Now, this is a significant realization, and is particularly helpful with an activity like tai-chi, where the movements are so slow. In our fast-paced society, slow is very difficult. In fact, many people who start tai-chi don't end up staying with the discipline very long because activity and progress seem so slow.
But, there is a much broader application that needs to be recognized that has very profound implications for every area of life. No matter where you are in your life, no matter what activity you engage in, no matter how much of an expert you are, you have only taken baby steps compared to where it is possible to go. But, don't be fooled by this statement. It is easy to accept this as an intuitive intellectual understanding. It only becomes profound when it is discovered in the course of experience.
Consider this. There are four areas of your life where your humanity is expressed. The four areas are the emotions, body, brain activity, and spirit. And the profound truth is this: in each of the four areas it is possible to literally explode beyond where you are now to ever higher and higher levels of development.
You can develop control over your emotions so that you are always positive and upbeat. You can overcome depression and negativity. You can put yourself in the appropriate emotional state for any situation you find yourself in.
You can develop control over your body. You can provide it with the nutrients, rest and exercise that will keep it healthy. You can sculpt your muscles so that you look good.
You can learn to control your brain function. You can gain greater and greater ability to absorb content, to think quickly, to shift your outlook, to concentrate, to control your focus and your perspective. These are all amazing abilities and anyone can become better at them.
Finally, you can develop control over your spirit. You can become more and more skilled at self-awareness, creativity, communication, decision making, analysis, contemplation, imagination, and self-discipline.
The sad thing, though, is very few people ever move on a life path that causes them to continually develop in all four areas all the time. The average person will work on one area then another, in fits and starts, but very few are focused on developing all four all the time.
So this brings us to a final, and profound, question which will determine what you do with the rest of your life. How much further do you plan to progress in your life beyond where you currently are? Your answer will determine the extent to which you are able to live life to the fullest. There is more to gain beyond where you currently are. In fact, the potential is unlimited. But, you will determine your reality. There is more and more and more and more.
About The Author
Dr. Freddy Davis is the owner of TSM Enterprises and conducts conferences, seminars and organizational training for executives, managers and sales professionals to help develop greater effectiveness and productivity. He is the author of the book Supercharged! as well as the Nutshell Series of books for strengthening business. You can visit the TSM website at www.tsmenterprises.com, or you can contact Freddy directly at 888-883-0656 or www.tsmenterprises.com.
Chicago limo Skokie ..There have been a lot of really good movies made... Read More
You have complete control over your thoughts. Thought patterns develop... Read More
What do you need to have for a successful business?... Read More
This past Memorial Day weekend I decided to revisit my... Read More
We all want something to look forward to. The best... Read More
Success is a word that is much used in our... Read More
Want more success in your business or professional life? Here's... Read More
Take a page from Eastern wisdom Meditation, martial arts that... Read More
Are you successful? What does that word mean to you?... Read More
Your own pressing needs, your long-standing frustrations, would benefit tremendously... Read More
Wow, what an outrageous claim! Why do I say this?... Read More
Often, what people say about other people behind their backs... Read More
One of the most overlooked opportunities for learning and personal... Read More
No matter what goals and dreams you desire, there's a... Read More
Each and every day, there are people all around the... Read More
Hope you're having a GREAT Day!Last night I was reading... Read More
Temp your way to the top Want to take the... Read More
It's simple and powerful.The philosophy of successful people is often... Read More
Q. My problem is that I have trouble keeping my... Read More
"Nothing in this world can take the place of persistence.... Read More
There's always a first time to meeting people. We want... Read More
Sit up straight! You may recall hearing those words as... Read More
I could labor the idea but then that would only... Read More
So you vowed to make some changes - develop healthier... Read More
1)Failure is normal.Everyone has faced failure. Some people talk about... Read More
limo O'Hare Bonfield ..With the end of the year fast approaching, now is... Read More
Step 1 ? Learn a powerful key to increase financial... Read More
Thomas Edison has done it. Naomi Watts often jokes about... Read More
In the first part of this article you learned some... Read More
So many of us want success, but how many of... Read More
Ray Winstone, the London East End barrow boy, who became... Read More
What is Optimum Performance? This question raises different responses from... Read More
"I am the greatest warrior. I have fought with gods... Read More
People often ask me, "Josh, if you had one bit... Read More
Before we can unlock human potential, we need to know... Read More
Courage is something that is reflected and reciprocated, and is... Read More
Absolutely no one can underestimate the power of the mind... Read More
I want to focus our thoughts on each of these... Read More
If you are like me you have probably lost a... Read More
"If you can tell the world who you are and... Read More
Choose a personal theme song and soundtrack that stirs you... Read More
Successful people do not achieve success on their own, they... Read More
I confess, I love westerns. There is nothing like those... Read More
OK, so here we are. We've switched the calendars out... Read More
If you are not experiencing perfect, harmonious, pressure-free life experiences... Read More
Our thought are magnetic ! Like a magnet we attract... Read More
As a golfer and coach, I've been thrilled to watch... Read More
How many people do you hear complaining about their job,... Read More
I remember, about 35 years ago, reading two books by... Read More
Many different daily tasks require a strategic process to be... Read More
Success |