(Approx 2 minute 25 second read)

A riddle I’m sure you have heard before: What is always coming but never arrives? The answer is; tomorrow.
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What does this riddle tell us? Today, now, that’s all there is. Don’t dwell in the past, don’t dream of the future – concentrate the mind on the present moment.
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Life is not as serious as the mind makes it out to be. We only have control over two moments in our lives: the here and the now.
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Mental training is probably the most neglected aspect of karate for most students. Ironically, it’s likely the element that can best be applied to many aspects of life: sport, school, work, and so much more.
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Mental training can and should be practiced just as much as the physical elements. It’s your body and your mind – you’d better understand how they work under stress!
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Every time those inner voices send negative messages, we have to try and shut them down quickly and counter them with a positive response. We need to become masters of our own inner negative talk.
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Those inner voices that make excuses for you and produce negative self-talk can be thought of as the ‘monkey mind’. According to Buddhist principles, the ‘monkey mind’ refers to being unsettled, restless, or confused. Their incessant chatter is often negative and distracting, so we need to silence the meaningless chatter and try to live in the moment.
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Like anything else, this type of training takes time, but it is just as important as the physical aspects of your training.
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For many years, I suffered from depression and PTSD, mainly from my career path. Over time, I have learned to quiet my mind and live in the moment. Of course, I’m not always successful, but overthinking life’s problems is seriously detrimental to your health. It’s taken me a long time, but mostly I am free of my ‘monkey mind’. There are still many problems I have to encounter, of course, just like everyone else, but at least now I can quieten the noise a bit.
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Sometimes, this inner voice can turn dark, leading to feelings like fear, guilt, anger, sadness, envy, and resentment. It can resemble someone nagging you.
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It can be the ego generating these false thoughts, creating the inner chatter we often wish to silence. If unmanaged, this chatter can overwhelm us or distort reality.
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When considering how to quiet your mind, try to sit still for a minute and think about what calms you. Contemplate how you can incorporate these activities into your daily life. Even just a few minutes of walking meditation or mindful breathing can bring you into the present moment.
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During meditation, it’s helpful to let thoughts pass without fixating on them, maintaining your connection to the present.
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Many times when in the dojo, I hear a student say, “I can’t”. Remember, that monkey mind is listening. So, you can start by silencing the “I can’t” and replacing it with “I’m going to try my best.”
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The goal of this positive thinking is to give yourself a more positive self-image while seeing yourself honestly and accepting of yourself.
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Focus on what you CAN do, not what you can’t. Encourage yourself instead of criticizing yourself. This is just a small part of your mental training.
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Try to improve the quality of your karate and your life, quiet down the chattering, breathe, and try your best in all things. It’s a start.
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AC
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Photo Credit: Image of ‘Takigyo’, a form of meditation performed under a waterfall.
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