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Hang around any successful achiever and you will soon realize why they are so successful. They always strive to get better. Study the best in sports or athletic competition, study the best in business, art, leadership, or any endeavor: you’ll quickly see that they are always striving to get better. The best must always get better.

Anyone that has made it to the top of their field, is likely to be highly ambitious and driven for success and achievement. You will also note that they are focused on others success as much as they are focused on their own success. They are not likely to be satisfied with being second best or accepting mediocrity in their life. They also are very focused on helping others to improve and get the best out of themselves. This philosophy is not about ego but rather about what the Japanese call “Kaizen”. In the West this is often referred to as “can’t” or constant and never ending improvement.

One of your goals should be to get better every day. Whether it is your martial arts training, your school’s progress, or your relationships, it is always best to live by the principle that the, “biggest room in the world, is the room for improvement.” As the saying goes, “Goals we set are goals we get”. Take action everyday to make yourself smarter, stronger, and more effective. Work on improving your overall health & fitness and you will simultaneously improve all the relationships in your life. If you want to be the best, and I am assuming you do, strive to improve yourself everyday in every way. Every class, become and better student of the Martial Arts. Every day become a better student of life. As I have said many times before, you must first be a great student and or follower before you can be a great leader. Use peak performance prompts to remind yourself of your goal.

One of the ways to accomplish this is to follow the 8 Paths to Enlightenment. This is sometimes also referred to as the 8 Paths of Success. That is,

1. The Right Understanding
2. The Right Thoughts
3. The Right Words
4. The Right Actions
5. The Right Livelihood
6. The Right Effort
7. The Right Mindfulness
8. The Right Concentration

Black Belt Leaders and Champions follow the above philosophy and strategy to improve everything they do.

1. I hear and I forget. I see and I remember. I do and I understand.
2. By nature, men are nearly alike; by practice, they get to be wide apart.
3. Respect yourself and others will respect you.
4. It does not matter how slow you go as long as you do not stop.
5. Before you embark on a journey of revenge, did two graves.
6. A journey of a thousand miles began with one single step.
7. Our greatest glory is not in never failing but in rising every time we fall.
8. Learning without thoughts is labor lost.
9. Everything has beauty, but not everyone sees it.
10. Do not impose on others what you yourself do not desire.

Belief is the knowledge that we can do something. It’s an inner feeling that we can accomplish the things we desire and decide to achieve. When you believe in yourself, you gain power and your eyes are open to opportunities that lead to greatness. To achieve high levels of success and achievement, you must believe you can and will succeed. You must also take action.

“Nothing is impossible to a willing mind.” – Books of Han Dynasty

Warriors do not make excuses. They take responsibility for our own destiny. This includes whether or not they are happy, sad, successful or unsuccessful.

“Whether you think you can, or think you can’t, you’re right!” – Henry Ford

Your thoughts can be positive and filled with belief, or they can be negative and filled with disbelief. Either way, your mind will convince you to succeed and achieve, or to fail. The choice is yours.

“What the mind can conceive and believe it can achieve” – Napoleon Hill                                                                                      

Confidence and self-belief are like muscles that have to be exercised and used to become stronger.

“Believe you can and you are halfway there.”   – Theodore Roosevelt

Fill your mind with thoughts of success and victory and there will be no room for thoughts of failure and defeat. Surround yourself with people that support and encourage you to go for it versus the naysayers that fill your mind with fear and doubt. Live your life “full out” and practice the habit of self-belief.  See it…Believe it…and you will Achieve it as long as you take action!

Be Well, Stay Healthy, & Believe!

One of the most effective ways to condition yourself for success and achievement is to constantly feed your mind with positive thoughts, ideas and goals. There are many ways to accomplish this. It can be done by reading, listening or watching inspirational and educational materials. You can accomplish it by modeling other successful peak performers. Yet another way is to network, attend seminars and webinars, and most importantly apply what you have learned. We call this closing the gap or turning intent into action.

You can also achieve this by observing your thought, contemplating or reflecting on your reality, and or meditating on your future success. Yet another method to train your brain is to focus on your intention, attention, and attitude.

• Intention: setting the stage with no attachment to the outcome. Examples include adding value, seeking to improve, relieving suffering, and doing no harm.
• Attention: what you focus on manifests. This is why you are best to focus on what you want rather on what you don’t want.
• Attitude: how you perceive your life experience. It is how you read things. It is being mindful that life is full of duality. Good and bad, life and death, give and take, high and low, blessing and curse.

It’s been proven that the more good you put in, the more good will come out. If you constantly allow garbage to go into your mind and body, you better be ready to deal with the garbage that is going to come out.  Positive input, combined with positive self-talk and affirmations, will keep you motivated and inspire you to take massive action toward your goals. Champions in life frequently use these powerful tools to prepare themselves for Peak Performance.

For most people, one of the biggest enemies to success is their own limited thinking and the feeling that they’re not good enough. Some people even put themselves down and fill their mind with fears, uncertainties and doubt. Better known as F.U.D.’s.  This can be very damaging to your desire and motivation to succeed. The more you fill your mind with positive thoughts, ideas and goals, the greater your self-esteem and confidence will become.

Every day you train your brain is a good day indeed so train your brain today and most importantly stay healthy!