Questions

Asking questions allows you to get more specific information about what you are learning. As well, you become much more engaged and immersed into whatever you are involved in. Earlier this week, Sifu Brinker emphasized the importance of asking questions. Not just that, but asking the right questions.

Don't look for THE answer, look for AN answer. If you merely try to find a specific answer, you may lose what you were asking in the first place. What I mean by this is you are given the answer, great. However, you will most likely lose that information as soon as you get home. Your brain did not have to work for it, so it will remember the information as easily. As well, the instructor might not understand what you're getting at. The key, I find, is to think about possible answers to your own question. Sometimes, just thinking about possible answers gets your brain thinking and you may find your answer yourself. This also allows you to intelligently ask what you need to know. This is definitely something I am still working on myself.

Another reason I think Sifu believes questions are so important is because it show him and other instructors that you are in the moment. If you just do what they say and don't question, they don't know if you are truly getting what they are trying to pass on to you, or if you are simply going through the motions.

I find it difficult asking questions most of the time. It's not that I'm not in the moment, I am certainly thinking about the lesson, but it takes me a while to think about the proper question. This again is something I have become better greatly since becoming part of the I Ho Chuan. I've recently made a point of asking at least one question per lesson, becoming more engaged and attentive and I'm learning way more!

Take care everyone.

Adapt

These past couple of weeks I have not been my usual self. My numbers haven't been anywhere near what they usually are, I haven't been blogging and I haven't even been posting my numbers.  Not to worry, nothing has happened to me, it's actually a good reason.

This is due to the fact that I have recently got possession of my house. I have been spending much of my time getting everything settled. The problem is I didn't anticipate this and adapt my training and mindset for this. Lower numbers may be acceptable for a short period given the circumstances, but with posting numbers and blogging there is no excuse. It takes no time at all to simply post my numbers from the day and if I truly put my mind to it, a blog post should be a simple task as well. In fact I already had this post setup and good to go earlier today, but the app deleted it! This one is fresh and is taking me no time at all. Posting numbers and journalling are two of the most important goals in the I Ho Chuan program. They connect the team and keep everyone motivated. I have missed a couple blogs here and there this year and tried to make them up by blogging twice in one week, it doesn't work that way. That being said, sometimes it's difficult to blog knowing I already failed that requirement for the year. That's when I shake my head and look at the bright side, at least that is something I can look forward to next year.

Back to the topic, the ability to adapt to different circumstances is a difficult skill to have, ( at least in my case) let alone master. It takes a great amount of mindfulness and determination to pull it off. I find I would be too rigid with my scheduling and if I can't make it all happen, none of it will. Finding a kind of flexibility in time management is key I think. Smaller training reps that can be completed in a smaller amount of time would help squeeze in as much training in our busy and hectic lives as possible.

Another thing that will come to me with time and experience! My numbers will be posted vigilantly from now on.

Take care everyone.

Lesson Learned...

This past Friday I learned a valuable lesson, a lesson involving reading EVERYTHING in a letter or document. 

In the beginning of July, I received a letter of possession for my house. I read from it that my final inspection was to be on the 7th of August and possession was to take place August 18th. I was so excited! that is all I read, that's it. Then I put it aside and thought nothing more of it.

I re- read it on Friday just before my inspection and found out that there was a lot more information in the letter that I failed to read; the fact that they wanted me to contact the mortgage advisor as soon as I got the letter and finish the legal paperwork with the lawyer. Pfft, I don't need to do any of that! It's not important at all! Right? WRONG.

So, as you could guess, my brain was not in the moment as I was inspecting my house.

All I could think of was, "Dangit! I need to call the lawyer now! I might not get my house when I was supposed to! I'm a total and utter moron, why didn't I just read that darn letter!!"

After a few minutes I managed to calm myself and just focus on finishing the walkthrough and figure everything out one step at a time.

I'm very grateful my Dad and little brother were there with me, they were a huge help! They caught several deficiencies with the house I missed!

After the inspection I did the only thing I could, phone the necessary people and beg for forgiveness in my tardiness as well to help me stay on track with my possession. My mortgage specialist is great! I need to send her flowers or something because she simply went above and beyond! She already had most of it taken care of, she was basically babysitting the whole thing while my house was under construction. She advised me on exactly what to do given the circumstances and assured that we can get back on schedule. Now that's mastery of a chosen field if I've ever seen it!

She helped me set up an appointment with the bank on the weekend to finalize everything on her end so she could send all of the paperwork to the lawyer early this week. This is why I had to leave early on our meeting on Saturday, I assure you all I tried every other possible time on the weekend to get it done, 3:00 was the best I could do, sorry for that team.

On a positive note I also found an application for this lesson in kung fu! It goes back to not assuming you know what you are going to be taught. Look at it like it's your first class, everything is new and you want to pay attention to every detail.

So now I can breath a little bit, things should be smooth now, should be. I just hope there is enough time.

I know for sure I will not fall prey to mediocrity any longer when it comes to reading and understanding something I receive in the mail.

See you when I see you.

Take care everyone!

Perspective

I found a poem on the internet and I thought I should share it. It falls exactly within the subject of our latest conversations regarding keeping perspective.

It really reinforces fact that it's all about how you look at the world around you. Here it is,

Today was the absolute worst day ever

And don't try to convince me that

There's something good in every day

Because, when you take a closer look,

This world is a pretty evil place.

Even if

Some good does shine through once in a while

Satisfaction and happiness don't last.

And it's not true that

It's all in the mind and heart

Because

True happiness can be obtained

Only if one's surroundings are good.

It's not true that good exists

I'm sure you can agree that

The reality

Creates

My attitude

It's all beyond my control

And you'll never, ever hear me say that

Today was a good day.

NOW READ FROM BOTTOM TO TOP

This just goes to show how easy it is to find the positive in the negative. This is something I now read everytime I have a bad day.

Take care everyone!