August 2008
Monthly Archive
Child Too Good to Play - What in the World?
Denny 29 Aug 2008 | : Parenting Tips
I came across this story today and just have to shake my head. A 9-year-old boy has been banned from his baseball league because he throws the ball too hard.
Not because he has hit anyone while pitching
Not because his age is in question
Not because he broke any of the league rules
But simply because he throws the ball too hard. The parents of the other children decided it would scare their child too much to face him. So, they banned him from pitching. They said he could play any other position but if he pitched the other teams would forfeit.
Sure enough, game time came up and he stepped on the mound and the other team packed up and left the field.
The messages parents send to their child with actions like this scare me to death!!
This teaches children to give up if things are too difficult, or too scary. That is no way to go through life!!
It also teaches them to get rid of anything or anyone that is too good. FInd the best person and then find a way to complain and make sure they are not allowed to participate.
Please take a look at this real life example of what parents teach their children and make it a point to do the exact opposite. Teach your child to stand up and face their fears. Confront them head on, and do not rest until they conquer them.
That will make your child a true champion in the world and give them the skill to be a successful adult.
No Bullies Here
Denny 26 Aug 2008 | : Parenting Tips
As one of my Community Service Projects I have decided to help eliminate bullying from our schools.
I have created the web site www.NoBulliesHere.com which will allow anyone who is the victim of a bully to contact me and I will help them find a solution to their issue.
I plan to contact every counselor and principal in our school district and pass out flyers to all the students to help spread the word about this program.
Choose Who You Share Your Time With Carefully
Denny 22 Aug 2008 | : Self-Improvement
Everyone can become a totally focused, driven, motivated goal achieving machine. It’s all in how you use your mind - it’s all in what you DO on a regular basis - and it’s all in whom you spend your time with. If you spend your time with do-nothings, know-nothings, and big talkers, you won’t accomplish much.
If, on the other hand, you become very selective with whom you will associate with - and only choose winners, you will naturally start to catapult upward, even when you may not consciously think you are trying to do so.
How to Be an Extraordinary Human Being
Denny 15 Aug 2008 | : Parenting Tips, Self-Improvement
By nature we are all self-centered. But, if we are living our lives the right way,
we constantly seek to be "other-centered."
Here’s one measurement.
How much does the happiness of other people cause you to be happy?
Do you rejoice in the good fortune, the blessings, of your co-workers, extended family;
neighbors; friends?
Or does their happiness leave you envious and resentful?
Pay attention to this measurement…and learn to take joy in the blessings of others.
Champions are Achievers - in and out of the dojo
Black Belt Champions strive to be their best in every area of life.
A true Champion is always striving to get better and better, on and off the mat.
Why is it so common to see a well trained Black Belt Champion become a high achiever
outside of the dojo as well?
outside of the dojo as well?
One of the reasons is that Martial Arts instills the desire to become the best you can be.
Another reason is that it teaches you about commitment to worthwhile goals and objectives…
Black Belt Champions are always striving to grow to the next level.
No matter how great a Champion you become, no matter how many titles or degrees you earn, the biggest room in the world is always the room for improvement.
Black Belt Champions always strive to be Champions in life. Junior Champions strive for academic excellence and to be the best they can be, at home, at school and in the dojo.
Adult Champions strive to be achievers and leaders in their personal and professional lives. The best must always get better and achievers are always searching for ways to improve themselves and the results they produce.
Life is so much more fun when you are excelling at it!
Look at your Martial Arts as much more than learning self defense or training for another belt, losing weight or getting in the best shape of your life. Think of it as a success conditioning program that is preparing you to excel in every aspect of life.
Be the best Black Belt Champion you can be…be an Achiever!
Martial Arts Isn’t Just for Kids
Denny 11 Aug 2008 | : Karate, Self-Improvement
A recent Consumer Reports article presented the latest research about keeping your mind sharp, especially as you age. As I read the article, I couldn’t help but notice that you could follow, or fulfill, all five of the report’s recommendations with martial arts training!
1. Reduce Stress. Exercise is a well-known activity to help you reduce stress. Martial arts, as an exercise regimen, is a real stress buster, since it provides even more stress-reducing benefits.
2. Stay Connected. Be sociable and enjoy the company of others. Your martial arts training is serious, but it can also be a very sociable experience. Martial arts classes are fun and engaging, helping you to commit to its long-term benefits.
3. Feed Your Brain. A nutritionally balanced diet is key to any martial arts program and to your complete healthy lifestyle. The recommendations to maintain healthy brain functions are much the same as for healthy bodily functions: minimize trans-fat intake, reduce saturated fat intake and consume more fish and other foods that contain healthy fats.
4. Stay Fit. Physical activity is the best-known method to protect your brain against aging. The recommendation is the same as for general health and wellbeing: at least 30 minutes of exercise most days. Martial arts training incorporates daily exercise into your routine in a fun and exciting way, so you can stick with it.
5. Flex Your Brain Muscles. Use it or lose it. The mental aspect of martial arts training provides this type of mental stimulation and a great physical workout.
Keep in mind that "aging" doesn’t necessarily refer to your chronological age. Depending on your lifestyle, aging-related changes to your mind, such as memory loss, can begin as early as your 20s or 30s. Stay committed to your martial arts training. Your mind will thank you for it.
The Choices You Make Says Who You Are
Denny 08 Aug 2008 | : Self-Improvement
You make choices everyday that reveal your character. The choices that you make should be the best decisions possible. The choices you make determine just how successful or unsuccessful you are. When you choose to exercise, you are choosing to be healthy. You must also make healthy choices about your emotions, such as anger, happiness, sadness, etc.
Your emotional choices are your reactions to your emotions. If your little brother spills water on your schoolbook, then you may become angry. Anger is your emotion. If you yell at your brother, then yelling is your reaction or behavior to your emotion of anger.
When you are emotionally intelligent, you choose not to yell at your brother. You choose not to behave badly, even though you are experiencing a bad emotion. This is a lesson that Black Belts understand and practice every day.
Making good choices is a skill you must learn. You must practice making good choices. Sometimes you will make bad choices, but you can learn from your mistakes and be more emotionally intelligent. You may not control many things in life, but you can control your reactions to emotions. When you learn how, you will live a more successful and positive life.!
Learn to Relax and Relieve Stress
Denny 06 Aug 2008 | : Self-Improvement
In order to get the absolute most out of the time you spend in the Playhouse of Your Mind, it is imperative that you learn to relax, physically and mentally.
Why is this?
Because a mind that is filled with stress cannot easily absorb a new idea.
The good news is that regardless of how much stress you currently feel, you can learn to relax very quickly. Regardless of how much of yesterday you are carrying into today, you can get yourself to emotionally deflate within seconds.
One of the fastest ways is to pay attention to your breathing. Watch yourself breathe. Inhale deeply. Pay attention to the air filling your lungs. Exhale deeply. Feel the old energy leaving your body.
After a few deep breaths you’ll wonder where all the mental stress went and once you get your muscles to simply ‘let go’ you’re ready to work on improving your self-image. You’re ready to begin building the NEW YOU - the person you instinctively know you can be - the person you really really want to be.
It is great idea to visualize for a few minutes just before lopping off to sleep. But be careful. Avoid the temptation to lie down for your ‘Theatre of the Mind’ session. Sit up in bed or sit on the side of your bed with your feet on the floor. This will help you avoid falling asleep before you get to the highlights.
If you visualize before sleep your subconcious mind will work on your goals while you’re in dream state.
And that’s a wonderful thing to know.
If you tend to doubt the effect that what you think about before sleep has on your next day, then consider this. Most people go to bed with a final thought of ‘I’m tired.’ Hence, they wake up tired.
The very first day you say to yourself, ‘Tomorrow I’m going to wake up feeling totally energized and refreshed.’ - you will discover that you no longer wake up feeling tired.
Try it if you don’t believe me. I dare you.
How To Get More Done In Less Time
Denny 04 Aug 2008 | : Self-Improvement
Want to know the secret of getting more done in less time? Okay, great. Let me give you three things you can do to double your "done" rate.
Number One, make out your "to do" list before going to bed each night - or when you first wake up. You may not think you have time for this, but studies prove those who spend 15 minutes planning their day get back 2 hours in greater productivity.
Number Two, highlight the tasks you have to do that are "important" but not urgent. These are the tasks that build a great career, but never fall onto the "urgent" list because they don’t really NEED to be done. It’s never an urgent task for me to excercise or to hug my wife.
Yet, these things are "important" to me and when I do them, not only do I benefit, others do, too.
Number Three, do the "important" tasks that you’ve highlighted and find other people to help you do the "urgent." In fact, the less you do of the "urgent" - the more time you’ll spend on the truly important - and the more you and the world will benefit.
Last of all, never forget that daily exercise falls into the "Important" category. You don’t have to do it. You can put it off forever. But doing so not only leads to health problems, it leads to far, far less ability to "get things done." Remember, 15 minutes of exercise per day won’t just get you into great shape - they give many people as much as two extra hours of increased productivity.
Are You Really My Friend?
Denny 01 Aug 2008 | : Self-Improvement
Never be afraid to lose “friends.” A true friend is someone who takes pride in seeing you succeed. Some friends can only handle your success to a certain point - then they get jealous. If and when that happens, slice them out of your life immediately and never look back. When one door closes another opens.
And take it from someone who knows: The new door is much bigger, much broader and brings much more success and happiness your way.
