On behalf of all of us at Way of Life Shotokan Karate-Do I would like to wish you Happy New Year and to all a healthy and fulfilling 2012 where your dreams and desires are realized whatever they may be. Now that the new year is upon us, it is the ritual season of making resolutions now that the calendar has turned a page. Here is my advice for your 2012 New Year's Resolution- don't bother.
Before I begin I would like to start off my saying that I do not have a negative view of the intent behind resolutions and the positive change that can accompany them. I sincerely hope that 2012 brings about positive changes for everyone who reads this article. My point is with how people go about planning for the changes they desire. In doing some research for this article I found a quote that sums up my thoughts around the issue of New Year's Resolutions:
"What the heart loves, the will chooses, and the mind justifies. The mind doesn’t direct the will. The mind is actually captive to what the will wants, and the will itself, in turn, is captive to what the heart wants". Theologian Thomas Cranmer
Google New Year's Resolutions and you will find millions of related articles- most of which focus on a checklist of "to-do's" in making resolutions. Make a plan. Set small realistic goals. Focus one day at a time. Have checkpoints throughout the year and so on. All of these are practical ways of attaining your resolution- yet most resolutions are doomed to fail. We have all experienced it at some point. The New York Times wrote and article yesterday entitled Your Recycled Resolutions Are a Boon For Business, and quoted a study that shows that Americans spent $62 billion on health club memberships, weight-loss programs, exercise tapes, diet soda and the like. In fact, this is the busiest time for health clubs in any given year. Then why would I write an article discouraging your from making a resolution and joining our club on that premise? Isn't that bad for business? Because we want members to join for the "right" reasons and is summed up in our business name "Way of Life" Shotokan Karate-Do.
One of the best articles I found in my research that encapsulates the quote from Thomas Cranmer above was from Lifehack entitled New Year's Resolutions Don't Work- Here's Why. The premise of the article is to focus on what you really want- something that is core or fundamental to you- what matters most. The point is- stop "thinking" your way to changing aspects of your life and start envisioning, feeling and believing what you want for yourself at a deeper level. Lasting change is attained when the heart, mind and soul are engaged. There is a big gap between knowing vs. doing. We all know we should do things we don't do. You have to really want it for it to be sustainable.
Another article that I found from the Huffington Post entitled Why New Year's Resolutions Don't Work addresses another fundamental issue- self identity and the gravity we all face in making a change- our self image. Change is scary. The "bad habits" or things we want to change can be a comfortable crutch even though they are harmful to us or hinder our growth. Think about change in 2012 in terms of who you are and what you really for yourself instead of trying to change an aspect of your life simply because you turned the page of a calendar, or overindulged during the holidays and now you "have to" get in shape.
What does all this mean if you are a new or prospective student? We are not here just to take your money and sell you a long term membership whether you train or not. In fact, that is the reason we do not sell annual memberships or have contracts. Give us a try- but do it for meaningful reasons. Don't think small, think big. How does karate fit into a more holistic personal vision for yourself in 2012? What are you prepared to do to make that happen? Do you "think" you "have to" get in shape or do you really believe you want to make positive changes your life beyond an exercise program? That is also one of the reasons why we offer a free week trial with no commitment and/or offer 50% off the first month. We want our students make an informed choice to train with us. We want our students experience the benefits of karate as as a "Way of Life". Karate can bring many benefits to anyone who trains both in and outside the dojo, in all aspects of your life. This is one of the reasons why we write about the philosophy and history behind karate and the martial arts in general. If you are new to our website please take a moment to read some of our other blog posts.
What does this mean for you if you are a current student? Take some time to reflect on your training with us in 2011. How has it benefited you beyond the dojo? What you you want for yourself in 2012 and how does karate enable you to make that happen? Please don't make a resolution to "come more often" in 2012. Hold a vision for yourself of where you want to be at the end of the year in your training, make it a part of who you are at an emotional level and continuously revisit that self image throughout the year. If you do this the "coming more often" will take care of itself. Our students know that we harp on continuing your training outside of class through practice, reading, watching videos and/or even just envisioning your training as you go about your day. We are prepared to do everything we can to support you in doing so but you have to really want to do it to take your training to the next level.
In summary, don't make a resolution for the new year. Rather, resolve yourself at an emotional level to make the changes you desire and hold that vision throughout the year. Start by feeling it, not by thinking it. I sincerely wish you everything your heart desires in 2012.
Way Of Life Shotokan Karate Do martial arts school is now offically open at 501 East Boston Post Road, Mamaroneck NY, 10543 serving the local Westchester County communities of New Rochelle, Larchmont, Mamaroneck, Harrison, Rye, Port Chester, Mount Vernon, Scarsdale, White Plains and Yonkers as well as the Bronx and NYC metro area.
What does all this mean if you are a new or prospective student? We are not here just to take your money and sell you a long term membership whether you train or not. In fact, that is the reason we do not sell annual memberships or have contracts. Give us a try- but do it for meaningful reasons. Don't think small, think big. How does karate fit into a more holistic personal vision for yourself in 2012? What are you prepared to do to make that happen? Do you "think" you "have to" get in shape or do you really believe you want to make positive changes your life beyond an exercise program? That is also one of the reasons why we offer a free week trial with no commitment and/or offer 50% off the first month. We want our students make an informed choice to train with us. We want our students experience the benefits of karate as as a "Way of Life". Karate can bring many benefits to anyone who trains both in and outside the dojo, in all aspects of your life. This is one of the reasons why we write about the philosophy and history behind karate and the martial arts in general. If you are new to our website please take a moment to read some of our other blog posts.
What does this mean for you if you are a current student? Take some time to reflect on your training with us in 2011. How has it benefited you beyond the dojo? What you you want for yourself in 2012 and how does karate enable you to make that happen? Please don't make a resolution to "come more often" in 2012. Hold a vision for yourself of where you want to be at the end of the year in your training, make it a part of who you are at an emotional level and continuously revisit that self image throughout the year. If you do this the "coming more often" will take care of itself. Our students know that we harp on continuing your training outside of class through practice, reading, watching videos and/or even just envisioning your training as you go about your day. We are prepared to do everything we can to support you in doing so but you have to really want to do it to take your training to the next level.
In summary, don't make a resolution for the new year. Rather, resolve yourself at an emotional level to make the changes you desire and hold that vision throughout the year. Start by feeling it, not by thinking it. I sincerely wish you everything your heart desires in 2012.
Since 1988, Way Of Life Shotokan Karate has been committed to teaching traditional karate and values for a modern world. Under the leadership of Norman Smith Sensei, Way Of Life Shotokan Karate instructs hundreds of students at our various locations from beginner to advanced levels of all ages that come from across the New York City metro area. Our unique way of combining martial arts training, etiquette and philosophy with the modern concepts of fitness, self-defense and competition is unparalleled. We ensure your training is vigorous, while maintaining a safe and fun learning environment that encourages students to reach their fullest potential.
Way Of Life Shotokan Karate Do martial arts school is now offically open at 501 East Boston Post Road, Mamaroneck NY, 10543 serving the local Westchester County communities of New Rochelle, Larchmont, Mamaroneck, Harrison, Rye, Port Chester, Mount Vernon, Scarsdale, White Plains and Yonkers as well as the Bronx and NYC metro area.
