This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Health & Fitness

Why Have Mindfulness? - Today's Martial Arts Principles For Life

When people say they want to develop more of a mind-body connection, one has to take the time to find out what do they exactly mean by that?  Do they mean they want more awareness of their mind and body?  Do they want more control over their mind and body?  Are there stress and health issues they are looking to eliminate?  Are they looking for greater success in their life?

 

First, you’re only born with a mind and body.  You’re responsible for both, regardless of what anyone else has told you otherwise.  You can’t blame your parents, your doctor, your spouse, your work, society or anyone else for what condition your mind and body is in.  You’re the one who has to live with the mind and body that you have.  Even if something else seems to have affected your mind and body, you still have to deal with the condition of your mind and body.

Find out what's happening in Belmontwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

 

First, the simple version of the mind-body connection is that your mind controls everything.  Your attitude controls everything.  Your thinking causes your actions or inactions.  Whether you say you can or you say you can’t, either way you’re right.

Find out what's happening in Belmontwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

 

Second, the mind is the mature adult and the body is the immature child.

 

Most people make decisions based on what the body says and not what their mind says.  The body operates on a few simplistic principles: avoid pain; seek pleasure; avoid doing any more work, inconvenience, hardship, or discomfort than necessary to stay alive; sleep when you can; eat when you can.

 

Here are some examples of decisions based on what the body says:

 

  1. I want a better job that pays more but I don’t want to try because I think I might get rejected.  I don’t want to leave a job I don’t like but I don’t like a new, unknown job environment even more.
  2. I promised to see a friend who I haven’t seen in years but I canceled because it’s late, I’m tired, I’m sick, I have to go too far, etc.
  3. I want to go to school but I’m not because I don’t like to do work, I don’t like to study, and it’s too expensive.

 

When a person listens to the mind, they arrive at the reverse conclusions:

 

  1. I need a better paying job because I want to improve my financial position which would take less stress out of my life plus it’ll help my family and it’ll help me acquire more of the things that I want.  I don’t like the job I’m doing and this other job is definitely going to be better than the company I’m at now.
  2. I’m tired from work but I’m keeping my promise to my friend to meet up because it’ll inconvenience them if I change my mind.
  3. If I don’t go to school, I’m not going to have the success I want out of life.  I’ll find some way to pay for school, get the grades that I need and do the work that’s required to graduate, no matter what.

 

Average people live most of their lives based on what their body says.  Above average people live based on what their minds want from life.

 

The next step is: do the above average people have the tools and knowledge they need to maintain and improve their mind as well as the health and longevity of their body so they can accomplish even more in life?

 

 

 

Kind regards,

 

Bob Lee

Head Instructor

3rd Degree Black Belt

www.bodymindsystems.com

 

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?

More from Belmont