Meditations on God

Setting Our Pace
Simply because we are capable of something does not mean that we should do it.

In fact, there is a great deal that we can do that we simply should not.

Obviously, some things we are capable of are just plain wrong.

We should not do them because they are immoral, unethical, or harmful to ourselves or others.

However, much of life and many of our choices exist on the blurry line that divides right from wrong.

That is to say, a lot of the decisions we must make are not as obvious as merely doing what is right and not doing what is wrong.

But, all of our decisions have consequences.

All actions have a cost.

Our time, energy, and attention are finite resources.

Our bodies and minds are only capable of so much.

Beyond morality, we must also consider longevity and sustainability.

We cannot consistently make choices and take actions that push us to or past our edge and expect to be healthy and successful in the long run.

We may be able to push ourselves like this for a short period of time, or even in repeated bursts for a relatively long period of time, but we cannot live like this forever.

We have to find a pace and make choices that we can live with.

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

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November 20, 2020

boundaries, choices, decisions, limitations, longevity, morality, sustainability
Beyond Our Capacity
Sometimes people will ask more of us than we have the capacity to give.

If we do not inform them of this fact, it is not likely their fault.

When we are pushed or pulled too far, the onus is on us to say so.

It is not the responsibility of others to know our boundaries and limitations.

Our boundaries and limitations may be different than theirs.

When this is the case, we will need to speak up for ourselves.

We will have to stand up for ourselves.

We will have to say what we need.

Of course, there are some standards of physical, emotional, and psychological integrity that should go without saying and should never be compromised.

Abuse is never acceptable or tolerable.

But, in most instances, people generally mean well and are simply ignorant of what we require, what we are capable of, and what we are not.

If we make our case intelligently and respectfully, they will understand.

If, however, they do not, it may be better to seek out different, healthier, and more balanced relationships than to allow ourselves to give beyond our capacity.

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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November 20, 2020

boundaries, capacity, integrity, limitations, potential
Prioritizing Importance
There is only so much we can accomplish in a day.

As long as we have used our time wisely and have not squandered it, we should not be hard on ourselves for tasks left undone.

If we have prioritized well, the things we were unable to get to were the least important anyway.

We should not fret about that which is unimportant.

There is not enough time in the day to give our energy to that which does not matter.

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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November 18, 2020

goals, importance, priorities, prioritizing, time, value
Mutual Uplifting
Every day, we have the choice to treat others in a way that builds them up and makes them feel important, included, and involved, or to behave toward others in a way that puts them down and makes them feel small, insignificant, and irrelevant.

It does not take much effort to see which of these alternatives is more desirable.

And still, we live in a world wherein the latter is becoming more and more common in our daily interactions, and the former is becoming less and less so.

Instead of building each other up, treating each other as necessary and vital, we find ourselves divided by conflict, putting each other down as a way of securing our place in the world and telling ourselves that we are important, powerful, and relevant.

In reality, we are more powerful together than we are apart.

Additionally, our greatest power is expressed through our ability to come together, to join forces, and to build each other up in ways that we could never do alone.

Our greatest power is found through our relationships and empowerment is a process of mutual uplifting.

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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November 17, 2020

community, conflict, empower, empowerment, power, relationships, togetherness, uplift, uplifting
The Need For Love
“Love never leaves us. It is always in our hearts.”
-My Daughter

The underlying truth of our existence is that we need love.

We need to receive it and express it.

This need, even if ignored, denied, or rejected outright, never truly goes away.

It is our reason for being.

It is our purpose, our meaning, and our mission.

Everything else is a distraction.

Everything else is a compromise.

There is no substitute, no replacement, and no second best.

It is what we yearn for, what we fight for, and what we cry for.

It is why we help and hurt, support and reject, and embrace and abandon each other.

It gives us a reason to live and a reason to die.

Love is the only thing that truly matters.

No matter what we are told, what we tell ourselves, or what we tell others, this truth never changes.

This truth cannot be talked, torn, or beaten out of us.

Our need for love, both expressed and received, never leaves us.

The farther away from it we get, the more we need it.

The closer we get to it, the more we want it.

This need is always in our hearts.

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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November 17, 2020

love

Setting Our Pace

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Beyond Our Capacity

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Prioritizing Importance

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Mutual Uplifting

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The Need For Love

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