Category: Uncategorized

Most people will have bad experiences in their lives. Always remember that experiences aren’t about what happens to you; they are about what you do with what happens to you. What happens is not as important as how you react to what happens. Some people allow the bad experiences from their past to affect a […]

Your thoughts, words, and actions have energy. A compliment or good deed directed at another person can have a butterfly effect on an individual in that in the long term it could make a significant difference in their life later on down the road. Just as well, an insult, harsh words, or a rude act […]

Choose to live your best life now. Dismiss the grudges, resentments, complaints and drama when possible; it’s always possible, and never worth the stress it brings. Those who died yesterday had a plan for this morning. Those who died this morning had plans for tonight. Never take the gift of life for granted. In the […]

When you have to choose between being right or being kind, choose being kind and you will always be right. You may not remember what someone may have said to you in the past but you will remember how they made you feel. Choose each day to make the conscious choice to represent the best […]

One of the Code of Ethics taught to students in my karate school for over 40 years is “I will give so much time to the improvement of myself that I have no time to criticize others”. Students from age 5 and older are asked to learn this code of ethic and to explain and […]

Remember that the best way to predict the future is to create it. The quality of a person’s life is in direct proportion to their commitment to excellence, regardless of their chosen field of endeavor. I firmly believe that universal forces are always at work that pulls us inexorably toward the deserving results of our […]

Many people may say they aren’t satisfied with where they are in their life for one reason or another, but continue to stay where they are. For many, this may be because change can take you out of your comfort zone. Sometimes we need to get comfortable with the uncomfortable in order to make positive […]

If you have to choose between being kind and being right, choose being kind, and you will always be right. Kindness is all about loaning someone your strength instead of reminding them of their weakness. Go out of your way to compliment the beautiful things you see in others. It may take a few seconds […]

You become what you think about most often. When you believe in yourself, you have 100% of the people you need on your side. You, yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe, deserve your love and affection. Know that there is something inside you that is greater than any obstacle. You are not […]

I firmly believe that universal forces are always at work that pulls us inexorably toward the deserving results of our thoughts and actions. When things in your life are not going well for you, pay close attention to the things you’ve been thinking, saying, and doing; especially, as these things pertain to others. We must […]

If you are not where you want to be in life, don’t blame your childhood, your previous relationships or other people, those are just excuses and do not dictate your destiny. Ultimately, the only person you are destined to become, is the person you decide to be.

As people grow older, they begin to find ways to be more productive and make use of their time. For senior citizens, in particular, they find that there is even more time they need to utilize and want to do so effectively. Many will go out and find other jobs while others will pursue hobbies […]

Every year, the American Heart Association celebrates Heart Month to raise awareness about heart disease and heart health. What you may not know is that martial arts are great for the heart. In fact, the cardiac benefits of martial arts give a whole new meaning to the idea of cardiovascular fitness. With that in mind, […]

Grade school can be quite the experience for any child. It is a place where a child not only learns academically but one where a child must learn to socialize and function in the world. Unfortunately, there are a lot of negative experiences that a child may have when going through school. Whatever those experiences […]

I have found over the years that one of the most challenging concepts to grasp for many individuals is that everything that’s around you in your life right now, both what you perceive as good or what you perceive as bad, you’ve attracted to yourself. Once you accept this concept it can be life transforming. […]

Almost every successful person begins their journey with two beliefs: the future can be better than the present, and I have the power to make it so. There is a lot to be learned about one’s perspective. The smallest change in attitude can transform a life. It’s not what you look at that matters, it’s […]

Sometimes the nicest people you will ever meet are covered in tattoos, and sometimes the most judgmental people you meet go to church on Sundays. The sign of a beautiful person is not the person who may externally look the best according to society, but that person who always seem to demonstrate kindness and see […]

Are you content with where you are in your life at the moment? Many humanistic psychologist believe that choices are key factors in the many possible outcomes of our lives. Cognitive psychologist Dr. Aaron Beck believes that the opinion that we have our ourselves is of the most extreme importance, because we tend to engage […]

People tend to get frustrated, upset or angry when their expectations are not met in some way. Chances are the last time you think someone made you angry, you were actually the culprit due to your personal expectations; it was not so much what the other person did or said. When you release your expectations, […]

A friend of mine that I hadn’t seen in a few years told me today that she hated Mondays, because Mondays caused her to be depressed. She indicated that her husband left her 5 years ago on a Monday. She said that she finds herself going into deep depression as Monday rolls around each week. […]

Never underestimate the positive difference you can make in another person’s life. Your smile, and acts of caring and kindness, can have a ripple effect that can literally transform lives. Success isn’t about your job, title, money, or the material things you’ve acquired, it’s about the difference you make in people’s lives. One day a […]

Perseverance is the work that you continue to do after getting tired of doing the work that you’ve already done. Character consist of what you do on the third and fourth tries. Refuse to be discouraged. It’s often the last key in the bunch that opens the lock. Thomas Edison said that many of life’s […]

You don’t have the power to make life fair, but you do have the power to make life joyful. Pain in your life is inevitable, but experiencing misery is optional. Understand the power in your words. Avoid using your word to speak against yourself, or to speak ill or gossip about others. Keep in mind […]

Always remember that when you choose to worry about yesterday or tomorrow, you are not making your today any better. Choose not to focus on what you want that you don’t have and what you lack. You rob yourself of joy and happiness when you focus too much on what you want and what you […]

I’ve often said you cannot control what happens to you, but you can control your attitude toward what happens to you, and in that, you will be mastering change rather than allowing it to master you. Our happiness is not a matter of good fortune or worldly possessions. It’s a mental attitude. It’s not a […]

Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, a show of appreciation, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to inspire and turn a life around. Be kind when possible; it’s always possible. People may forget what you […]

I often remind people to be kind to others when possible; it’s always possible. You should also make it a point to be kind to yourself. This includes respecting yourself enough not to accept disrespect from others. You teach people how to treat you by deciding what you will and will not accept. Sometimes in […]

Legend has it, that Harry Houdini, the master magician, once claimed that he could break out of any jail cell in the world. All he had to do was to walk into that jail cell with his street clothes on. He claimed that he could break out of any jail within 1 hour. A very […]

People have often told me that they were going to make certain changes in their life. Years later, the same people tell me that they are going to make those same changes. Albert Einstein said the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and getting the same result, but expecting a […]

I find that many of the choices that people make on a day to day basis are for the benefit of perception, and pleasing others. It seems that many people need the approval of others in the decisions they make in their lives, even when making basic decisions. People ask others, does this look better […]

Start your day each day in a great mood by simply focusing on the many things you are grateful for. Every day, without fail, I wake up and remind myself to be grateful of the simple things, and there are many. When you focus on what you are grateful for, you’ll always put yourself in […]

Happiness is a choice, not a result. Nothing will make you happy until you choose to be happy. Complaining is a choice, and will usually get you more worked up and stressed, and will not amount to anything beneficial. Entertaining negative drama in your life is a choice. If you look for it and seek […]

Each new day gives us a new opportunity to make choices that will make our day even better. What you choose to focus your attention on is imperative in determining the outcome of your day. It takes effort on your part to focus on both, the positive things that are going well in your life, […]

The people you surround yourself with in your life should be a source of reducing stress, not causing more of it. Choose to walk away from anything or anyone who robs you of your joy. Drama doesn’t just so happen to walk into your life. Either you create it, invite it, or associate with it. […]

Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the things you did do. Every minute that you allow yourself to be angry or upset, is a full minute of happiness you’ll never get back. Life is short, count your blessings, learn to forgive quickly and […]

Sometimes the nicest people you meet may have several piercings or may be covered in tattoos, and sometimes the most judgmental people you meet make it a point to go to church on Sundays. The sign of a beautiful person is not the person who may externally look the best according to society, but the […]

Many individuals choose to live above their means, which will eventually produce problems for them. If you can’t afford it at the moment don’t buy it, and definitely don’t charge it. When you borrow something, be sure to return it-money included. Make sure you don’t blame others for your shortcomings, and admit it when you […]

Make a personal goal today to complain about nothing, to criticize no one, to refrain from judging, gossiping, or speaking ill of others. Make a point to keep your thoughts positive, and enjoy a great day. Contrary to popular belief, there is no such thing as waking up on the wrong side of the bed. […]

Be kind when possible; it’s always possible. People may forget what you said to them, but they will never forget how you made them feel. Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, a show of appreciation, or the smallest act of caring, […]

There may come a time in life, when you will need to walk away from all the drama and people who create it. Surround yourself with positive people who make you laugh, forget the bad, and focus on the good. Love the people who treat you right; forgive and pray for the ones who don’t. […]

I was contacted by someone earlier today who expressed that they needed some advice on how they were feeling. They expressed to me that they often feel like they have missed out on something in life, which makes them sad. I’ve heard this often, so I wanted to share a few words about this. When […]

I’ve worked with people in the past who were suffering from depression, and had an exercise in which I asked them to focus on something enjoyable; a time when they really had fun and a great time. Each time I’ve asked someone to do this, I’ve always noticed the pleasant look on their face, not […]

P. T. Barnum said, ” The noblest art is that of making others happy”. I couldn’t agree more. There is nothing more beautiful than someone who goes out of their way to make life beautiful for others. How you make others feel about themselves says a lot about you. You will find in life that […]

Many humanistic psychologist believe that personal choices are key factors in the many possible outcomes of our lives. Other theorist believe that the opinion that we have our ourselves is of the most extreme importance, because we tend to engage in those activities and experiences in our lives which seem to validate the opinion that […]

A favorite Zen story of mine, that I like to share with my karate students is called “Muddy Road”. It goes something like this: Two monks, Tanzan and Ekido were once traveling together down a muddy road while walking on a 20 mile journey to their temple. The road was muddy due to an earlier […]

In my karate school, we have a Code of Ethic that says, ” I will give so much time to the improvement of myself that I will have no time to criticize others”. It is easy to criticize and point out the faults of another person, and sometimes a challenge to see the good in […]

As you move towards a new year, remember the lessons that you’ve learned this year, and the positive changes you will make moving forward. There may come a time when you will need to walk away from all the senseless drama, spiteful criticisms, misguided opinions, and people who create it, and surround yourself with positive […]

Benjamin Franklin said, “The Constitution only gives people the right to pursue happiness. You have to catch it yourself.” Do you tend to consistently pursue happiness or do you find yourself at times focusing on what you don’t have or lack? Our minds are naturally drawn to focus on lack and what we don’t currently […]

No one ever dies from a snake bite. It’s the venom that continues to pour through your system after the bite that ends up destroying you. Choosing to hold on to resentment is like allowing venom to run through your body. I believe there are no justified resentments, regardless of what you’ve been through. Someone […]

We’ve all heard the expression that Christmas is not just about giving and receiving gifts, it’s about the spirit of Christmas, which brings about love, kindness, and generosity, among many other emotions and positive actions. But regardless, each year, many individuals continue to overextend themselves financially, as they charge up those credit cards, feeling compelled […]

I was watching How The Grinch Stole Christmas this weekend, and was reminded of a very valuable life lesson. Even though the Grinch comes down from his mountaintop home and sneaks into town to swipe everything holiday-related from the citizens of Whoville, he finds the next morning that his ill meaning acts did not deprive […]

There may be times when you may experience difficult times in your life, and things may not go as planned. When facing some of life’s challenges, always keep in mind that the future can be better, and you have the power to make it so. Know that life offers us a second chance each day, […]

Your chances of success in anything you choose to do is measured by your belief in yourself. It’s not who you are that holds you back, it’s who you think you’re not. Where you are from, or circumstances from your past, cannot hold you back unless you choose to allow them to, and many people […]

With each new day, we are given the opportunity to be a blessing to others. When you go out of your way to be a blessing to others, you open the doors to receive more blessings yourself. Sometimes when you may be feeling a bit down, showing kindness towards another or just doing a random […]

I firmly believe that everything that happens in your life happens because it’s suppose to happen. If you hold on to the certainty that things will eventually turn out for your overall best interest, it will significantly reduce the stress and worry that you may experience from day to day, stressing and worrying about certain […]

Choose not to worry about what other people think about you. It’s amazing how stressed people get over what others think about them. Another person’s opinion about you is not more important than the opinion you have about yourself. If you have an over pre-occupation with perception and trying to please other people’s expectations, you […]

Sometimes in your life, things may not go your way. If you look back on your life you will find that when one door closed, another opened for you. Some choose to spend so much time focusing on the closed doors that they fail to see the open doors right before them. Your perspective is […]

The martial arts is much more than simply learning to defend yourself, it’s also about how you project yourself each day. Each new day, you should choose not to complain or criticize others, refrain from judging, gossiping or speaking ill of others, choose positive thoughts and affirmations, and choose to have a wonderful day. If […]

Positive thoughts each morning can elevate your entire day. There is no getting up on the wrong side of the bed unless you’ve already made that decision. It’s not about expecting the best to happen every time, but simply accepting that whatever happens is the best for this moment. Our situations in life are temporary. […]

Any minute that you choose to spend angry, upset or frustrated, is a full minute of contentment you’ll never get back. Life is short, be sure to count your blessings, and learn to forgive quickly, not for their sake, but for yours; it keeps what they did from continuing to hurt your heart any longer. […]

Regardless of what has happened in your past, always remember that you are not a product of your circumstances, you are a product of your decisions. Don’t ruin a good today by thinking about a bad yesterday, learn to let things go for your sake. If you put a hot rock in your hand, it […]