TWA

 

If you asked me to sum up the key objective of training in martial arts in a single word it would be: 

ALIGNMENT

Alignment between ourselves and others. Alignment with our beliefs. Alignment in our lifestyle. Alignment is often called "balance" which many of us are seeking (and need desperately) in our lives. So does one achieve alignment?

Like most things, it starts with the self. We must align internally before we can align externally. In this case, the alignment I'm looking for I call TWA.

Thoughts

Words

Actions

TWA operates like a chain reaction of cause and effect: thoughts lead to words which cause actions. This works in both positive and negative directions. In a positive way, a change in mindset can lead to re-framing descriptors for our goals and then to specific sequences of daily actions needed to achieve them. On the opposite side, negative thoughts are often the first step toward loneliness and despair. These thoughts become negative words which may, in extreme cases, lead us to negative actions of self-harm or casing injury to others.

So, where to begin?  With the thoughts.

Aligning the thoughts means to anchor ourselves firmly in a positive mindset. It means  being committed to personal integrity and to focus on the good in things (ourselves and others) rather than seeking fault or blame. Alignment takes us out of the victim mindset and puts us in the victor mindset, reminding us of our possibilities rather than our limitations. Visualization can show us a better version of ourselves and help us understand who we want to become - a better version of ourselves. Imagining is the first step to becoming. If you can dream it you can do it. Daily meditations/affirmations are useful here. Good training in the dojo should help us develop a positive, challenging mindset and a good dojo should have a warm, healthy, happy energy among all the students and instructors.

Our thoughts give birth to our words. Since words bridge the gap between thoughts and actions, they can be considered the most important part of success. Making our thoughts into tangible, quantifiable ideas requires us to describe them, however the specific language we use to do so is of utmost importance. NLP, neurolinguistic programming is one of many sets of techniques designed to help us understand and improve ourselves through analysis and enhancement of the words we use. Using negative words about ourselves and others (written, spoken or otherwise) is emotionally harmful and limits our potential. As we are all too aware, words can be very damaging, to ourselves and others, and very hard to erase once they manifest. Even if sometimes negative thoughts emerge, good Zen practice helps us become able to let them go before they become specific words. In the dojo, it is good to deeply focus on using positive and empowering language to help enforce the supportive intentions of the dojo community. Negativity and guilt are tools of manipulation and do not belong in martial arts training.

Lastly, actions tie it all together. Without actions, all the well intended thoughts and words disappear without effect. In the end, we must execute on them and that takes courage. Standing up for ourselves and for others; lifting up ourselves and others is the central and highest mission of the martial arts. We should strive to be the positive and empowering spirit, voice and hands of others when they need us. When we embody the true spirit of martial arts, our positive energy brightens everywhere we are. Our encouraging words uplift those around us and provide comfort in the face of hardship. Our actions allow others to feel safe around us and position us as change makers. Constant, diligent training develops assertiveness, not just for ourselves but for others (once we become instructors). Our black belts, once worn, are with us every moment of every day, and that responsibility should motivate us to push as hard as we can for our alignment.

It is said that the journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. The thoughts and words can get you to the starting line, but in the end it is the step that will get you going on the way to your goals. Discipline and repetition require courage to let go of the old, negative habits and replace them with newer, healthier positive ones. Change needs bravery.

I think that in some way my entire life has been connected to trying to align my TWA. I'm still working on it, but I believe I am more consistent than before. Day by day, with focus and awareness, I try to improve on this point until the day when I am always aligned. No matter how long it takes, for me this is the most important achievement.

See you at class.