Seven Challenges Smart People Overcome

There was a link that was sent at work.  It was very interesting describing the seven challenges that smart people overcome.  It was by the fourth point that I found so many things that related to Kung Fu.
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/seven-challenges-smart-people-overcome-dr-travis-bradberry/


1) Age - 'Kung Fu martial artists' don’t let their age define who they are and what they are capable of.   Before Kung Fu, I would never have imagined being excited about sparring or grappling on the floor.  Pushing limits that I have not done since my late teens.  Age really is irrelevant.


2) Negativity - 'Kung Fu martial artists' make their time count. Instead of complaining about how things could have been or should have been, they reflect on everything they have to be grateful for. Then they find the best solution available, tackle the problem, and move on.
As I reflected on this, my shoulder injuries came to mind.  There were times that I wanted to quit, that the constant pain would have been a good reason but I watched others deal with injuries around me. No complaining, just moving forward. So I found the things that I was able to do and worked on my shoulder problems and today it gets stronger day by day.


3) Toxic People - 'Kung Fu martial artists' believe in a simple notion: you are the average of the five people you spend the most time with.
When our family first started Kung Fu, we came to class and we left. As time went on, we found many people who had the same goals and ideas as ours, and they were in the kwoon.  We have developed many friendships in our Kung Fu family, relationships with people who I find are strong, reliable, honest, caring, and supportive.



4) What Other People Think - 'Kung Fu martial artists' know that caring about what other people think is a waste of time and energy.
You are never judged when you walk in the kwoon.  If I was worried about what others thought, I probably would have never walked onto the mats. 


5) Fear - 'Kung Fu martial artists'  know fear is a choice better than anyone does, so they flip fear on its head.
There are many things in Kung Fu that can install fear but Kung Fu also helps us deal with fear.  My biggest fear before I started Kung Fu was pain.  I never wanted to feel pain, I was afraid of being in a car accident, I was afraid of slipping on the steps.  But Kung Fu has helped cure that fear and now I spar knowing that I will get hit but I learn from each of those hits.  I wear my bruises with a smile knowing that I earned them. The quote attached to this point was my favourite as well.
The worst thing that can happen to you is allowing yourself to die inside while you’re still alive.




6) The Past or the Future - No amount of guilt can change the past, and no amount of anxiety can change the future.  'Kung Fu martial artists' know this, and they focus on living in the present moment.
Where am I and what am I doing? Be in the Moment.  This is something that we are always taught in Kung Fu.  Learn from the past and prepare for the future but stay in the present.  That is where we make the change. 


7) The State of the World - 'Kung Fu martial artists' don’t worry about getting caught up in things they can’t control. Instead, they focus their energy on directing the two things that are completely within their power—their attention and their effort. They focus their attention on all the things they’re grateful for, and they look for the good that’s happening in the world. They focus their effort on doing what they can every single day to improve their own lives and the world around them, because these small steps are all it takes to make the world a better place.
This is I Ho Chuan! 


Guess this just proves that Kung Fu makes us smart people. 


See you on the mats!