Accountability is more desirable than authenticity. There is a lot of focus these days on being authentic, but authenticity does not really get things done. Obviously, no one wants to deal with people who are fake, who do not mean what they say, or who pretend to be something they are not. However, no one…
Author: Robert Van Valkenburgh
Co-Founder of Kogen Dojo of Severna Park and Taikyoku Mind & Body
A Reason To Change
It is very difficult to improve upon an aspect of our life that we do not first acknowledge as being in need of improvement. There is not much motivation to change what seems to be working for us. This is true with regards to our beliefs, our character, or our relationships. Unless we perceive a…
The Difficult Thing Is For Something
Do the difficult thing first, but do not stop there. As children, we want to have fun. We want to play. We want to do what is easy, what feels good, and what makes us feel free. We want what we want immediately, with no compromise, and we want to be able to change our…
Take The Trip (Some Unsolicited Advice)
Take the trip. Try new things. Do not wait. Life changes quickly. Tomorrow is promised to no one. Be brave. Take a chance. Fear is an excuse. Busy is an excuse. Conformity is cowardice. Procrastination is cowardice. Embrace whimsy. Chase your dreams. Every moment matters. Nothing is insignificant. Your muse will not find you. You…
A Baseline Of Quality Over Convenience
I started my day today grinding this up and brewing a cup, realizing how much I enjoyed being in Australia. Not only was it great taking a family trip and spending time with my sister-in-law there, but I learned a lot about how much of a difference culture makes on character. In general, at least…