Journaling

It has been mentioned several times over the years during I Ho Chuan classes and meetings I have attended that one of the most critical tools for success on the quest for mastery is our journaling. It is the absolute minimum requirement, a perfect tool to asssit with accountability and engagement. A lot of problems or issues an individual may face during the course of their journey or troubleshooting things can be exposed or repaired through consistant journaling. A measure for success, personal discovery and insight through our Kung Fu. Our fails and how we dealt with it and how we grew from the experience. A tool to help ourselves and others along the way. It provides the abilility to let everyone know where we are at or where we are not. Nobody on a crew should be left alone or forgotten, we all struggle from time to time and need a helping hand or a swift kick.

We have all heard from experience that if your not journaling, your not training or engaged. I didn't really buy into it at the time or honestly give it a chance because I didn't see the value or apply the tool as it was meant to be used. I tried to justify this misconception, or I'll be even more honest my stubborness. I would use every reason or excuse I could find. I would say that I am a private person, (which to a strong degree I am, but that is irrelevant to the prurpose.) I would say to myself I have nothing to journal about, I don't have time, etc, etc. I thought that in order to have a successful year you just train and stay on the path. Little did I realize at the time that our journals are the path, they are one of the primary tools for success. You could say the perfect sound board to some degree.

Up until this year I never fully embraced the mindset or appreciated the tool, and it showed. Sometimes it takes me a while to get it or maybe even go as far to say acceptance to something that is designed to help, but requires change or the need to come out of the comfort zone. I think I get it now....it just took a few years! When it comes to journaling I can only speak for myself here but this year a lot of light bulbs lit up as ventured down the path and made some discoveries and insights to my Kung Fu. In fact a recent challenge gave me some very sound proof to the value of journaling because I applied the tool as it was meant to be and it was working great. Then I started to slip a bit and not journal and as a result so did my discipline and focus.

The last few weeks have been tough, weird hours, lot's going on at home, working hard all day in the heat, really, really....really crappy drivers on the road, and not much left at the end of the day. Because of my weird hours and other areas of my life currently I haven't made it to the Kwoon yet since it re opened. I'm not getting in the amount of training I want and that time for me to escape the day and do my Kung Fu is becoming less. I started to get down on myself about it and angry about things. But then I thought about it, hold the phone man, what's missing? These last few weeks are no different than the previous two. I might only be getting in a little bit of training but I'm training consistantly and the quality holds....then it occured to me, my journaling.

I have missed sealing off the last two weeks with a journal and I finally realize the value. My tool for engagement and assurance that I am moving forward is missing. That journal that marks my progress and helps me keep the discipline alive and the goal in my sights is not part of where I am at. My teachers or team mates have no idea where I am at, so now I am doing this alone. That record that assures me I am committed to see this through and Kung Fu is here with me solid. It's that hand that reaches out and says things are cool, forgive yourself and smarten up. It might not be so exciting for others, but for me this was a really cool moment of clarity because I know this year I am doing things right and still managing to grab that gear when the clutch slips. Where I am at and what I am doing is a whole lot of alright. I just need to keep using my tools and believe in something I am not used to putting faith in. My journals will keep me committed to my Kung Fu, the I Ho Chuan crew, and of course my Sifu's. See you at the Kwoon.