Meditations on God

A Reason To Smile
There is always something to smile about.

Our task is to find it.

It may not be obvious.

We may need to search for it deep inside of ourselves.

But, it is there.

Some days this will be more difficult than others.

There will be a lot of noise, distractions, and what will feel like more pressing issues with which to concern ourselves.

We will be pushed and pulled every which way by forces coming from both inside and outside of us.

However, without a reason to smile, none of these other things matter all that much.

It exists.

We must find it for ourselves and for those we aim to serve through our efforts.

Once we do, everything else will feel insignificant by comparison.

A reason to smile, no matter how small, has the power to change our whole perspective.

Holistic Budo: As it is in budo, so too it is in life. As it is in life, so too it is in budo.

Robert Van Valkenburgh is co-founder of Kogen Dojo Self Defense Academy where he teaches Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.

All photos by Robert Van Valkenburgh unless otherwise noted.*

*Robert Van Valkenburgh’s black and white photography can be seen at My Darkness To Light

Follow Robert Van Valkenburgh and Holistic Budo on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Tumblr, and LinkedIn.

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December 5, 2020

goals, happiness, optimism, perspective, purpose, reason, service, smile
The Vacuum Of Self-Pity
Self-pity is counter-productive.

Not only does it not get us what we want, but it actually helps to ensure that we never get it.

It keeps us alone and unhappy, feeling sorry for ourselves for being alone and unhappy.

Regardless of what we have been through or what we are currently going through, feeling sorry for ourselves for our troubles, our difficulties, and our suffering does nothing to change things for the better.

It does nothing to change us for the better.

In fact, self-pity tends to make things worse.

It makes it difficult to see the good in life, to see the upside, and the possibility.

And, it makes us difficult to be around.

Self-pity is like a vacuum that pulls all of the hope and happiness out of us and those around us.

Not only that, it offers no solution to whatever problem or problems we believe ourselves to have.

There is no aspect of self-pity that can improve our situation or our relationships.

Even if we are justified by all possible measures to feel sorry for ourselves and to expect others to feel sorry for us as well, it does absolutely no good to do so.

It is important for us to understand this fact, to accept it, to embrace it, and even to celebrate it by doing its opposite.

We are better than our negative emotions and the best way to demonstrate this is through positive action.

Holistic Budo: As it is in budo, so too it is in life. As it is in life, so too it is in budo.

Robert Van Valkenburgh is co-founder of Kogen Dojo Self Defense Academy where he teaches Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.

Photo by Ana.*

*Robert Van Valkenburgh’s black and white photography can be seen at My Darkness To Light

Follow Robert Van Valkenburgh and Holistic Budo on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Tumblr, and LinkedIn.

If you found this post helpful or meaningful in some way, please feel free to Share, Comment, and Subscribe below.
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December 4, 2020

change, improvement, loss, optimism, positivity, sadness, self pity, sorrow, tragedy
Anger Is Not Additive
As soon as we add anger to our cause, we begin to lose credibility.

No matter how righteous and justified we may be, anger distorts the truth.

It blinds us from its own ill effects and deafens others to what we have to say.

There is nothing good that anger can make better.

And, there is nothing bad that anger can not make worse.

It is never additive.

It always takes more than it gives in return.

Anger is a detour from our path.

It is not the path.

Holistic Budo: As it is in budo, so too it is in life. As it is in life, so too it is in budo.

Robert Van Valkenburgh is co-founder of Kogen Dojo Self Defense Academy where he teaches Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.

All photos by Robert Van Valkenburgh unless otherwise noted.*

*Robert Van Valkenburgh’s black and white photography can be seen at My Darkness To Light

Follow Robert Van Valkenburgh and Holistic Budo on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Tumblr, and LinkedIn.

If you found this post helpful or meaningful in some way, please feel free to Share, Comment, and Subscribe below.
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December 3, 2020

anger, cause, change, purpose, righteousness, the path
Unnecessary Suffering
No one is immune from experiencing hardship.

Young and old, rich and poor, we all experience pain, tragedy, and loss at one point or another in our lives.

As beautiful and joyful as life can be, it can also be difficult and cruel.

Knowing that we are not alone in our suffering may not provide much comfort or consolation.

However, it should give us some perspective.

While our struggles may feel like they are uniquely our own, it is important to understand that everyone else also feels this way about their struggles as well.

With this in mind, with the knowledge that, to some degree, we are all lonely in our suffering, maybe we can work a little bit harder to connect with the people around us in a way that alleviates some of these feelings instead of exacerbating them unnecessarily.

We may not be immune from experiencing hardship, but, at the very least, we can try to not add to it.

Holistic Budo: As it is in budo, so too it is in life. As it is in life, so too it is in budo.

Robert Van Valkenburgh is co-founder of Kogen Dojo Self Defense Academy where he teaches Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.

All photos by Robert Van Valkenburgh unless otherwise noted.*

*Robert Van Valkenburgh’s black and white photography can be seen at My Darkness To Light

Follow Robert Van Valkenburgh and Holistic Budo on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Tumblr, and LinkedIn.

If you found this post helpful or meaningful in some way, please feel free to Share, Comment, and Subscribe below.
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December 2, 2020

community, compassion, connection, difficulty, hardship, suffering
Embracing Change
We are all capable of change.

Whether we embrace or reject this fact about ourselves determines who we will inevitably become.

If we embrace the possibility of our own evolution, we have the potential for near limitless growth in ourselves and in our relationships.

If, on the other hand, we reject our ability to change, if we insist that we are who we are no matter what and demand that the world accepts us as such with no consideration or compromise, there is very little hope that we will adapt and grow in our lives.

Change requires humility.

To stay the same in spite of all evidence and consequences is the epitome of arrogance.

Holistic Budo: As it is in budo, so too it is in life. As it is in life, so too it is in budo.

Robert Van Valkenburgh is co-founder of Kogen Dojo Self Defense Academy where he teaches Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.

All photos by Robert Van Valkenburgh unless otherwise noted.*

*Robert Van Valkenburgh’s black and white photography can be seen at My Darkness To Light

Follow Robert Van Valkenburgh and Holistic Budo on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Tumblr, and LinkedIn.

If you found this post helpful or meaningful in some way, please feel free to Share, Comment, and Subscribe below.
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December 1, 2020

change, evolution, growth, possibility, potential, purpose

A Reason To Smile

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The Vacuum Of Self-Pity

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Anger Is Not Additive

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Unnecessary Suffering

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Embracing Change

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