Meditations on God

Accountability Over Authenticity
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 wants to deal with people who are authentically unreliable, authentically uncaring, or authentically abrasive either.

What we really want is to know that we can count on each other. We want to know, when it matters, and it always matters, that the people around us are going to do what they said they were going to do, when they said they were going to do it, and they are going to do it willingly, enthusiastically, and professionally because they made a commitment. We also want to know that if, for whatever reason, they cannot do what they said they were going to do, that they will give an explanation, not an excuse, and a solution, not an apology.

We want dependability, reliability, and accountability more than we want authenticity for authenticity’s sake. Authenticity does not make up for hurt feelings, broken promises, or failed projects. Action, as they say, speaks louder than words, and accountability speaks louder than authenticity when a choice must be made between the two.

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 Taikyoku Mind & Body and Kogen Dojo where he teaches Taikyoku Budo and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.

All photos by Robert Van Valkenburgh unless otherwise noted.

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.
Share this:
X
Facebook
Like Loading…
August 12, 2020

accountability, action, authenticity, community, intention, promises, relationships, reliability, responsibility, service
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 problem, we tend to keep believing, behaving, and interacting in the same way almost indefinitely.

This is why having other people in our lives who hold us accountable for our mistakes is so important. If we do not have people around us who are comfortable telling us when we are wrong, in a way that we actually hear and accept what they say, we run the risk of staying wrong for a very, very long time. It is far too easy to perceive ourselves as being right when no one says otherwise.

As important as people who hold us accountable are, without the willingness to improve on the things that are pointed out as being problems, it is all for nought. If prejudice, obstinance, or denial prevent us from taking constructive feedback from the people around us, we put ourselves in a position wherein we are in a constant state of conflict with, not only the people who care about us enough to tell us where and why we should change, but also with our own growth and potential.

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 Taikyoku Mind & Body and Kogen Dojo where he teaches Taikyoku Budo and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.

All photos by Robert Van Valkenburgh unless otherwise noted.

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.
Share this:
X
Facebook
Like Loading…
August 11, 2020

accountability, beliefs, change, character, criticism, evolution, feedback, growth, improvement, progress, relationships
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 minds on a whim with no consequences.

We must be taught to do that which is difficult, that which is necessary, that which is for others, and that which is for the future. We must be taught to think beyond the moment, beyond ourselves, and beyond immediacy and want. We must be taught to be disciplined, considerate, generous, and to do what we must in this moment so that we can do and have what we want in the future.

While these lessons are vital to our development, equally important is the lesson that all of the work, the discipline, and the drudgery should be for something, that it should serve a greater purpose, that our time is valuable, and that we are doing that which is difficult not for difficulty’s sake, but to improve the quality of our lives, our circumstances, and our relationships.

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 Taikyoku Mind & Body and Kogen Dojo where he teaches Taikyoku Budo and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.

All photos by Robert Van Valkenburgh unless otherwise noted.

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.
Share this:
X
Facebook
Like Loading…
August 10, 2020

difficulty, discipline, effort, freedom, life lessons, maturity, parenting, purpose, relationships, teaching, work
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 must seek it out.

Create your own inspiration. It is everywhere and it is inside you.

The world needs creativity. The world needs leaders.

Do not try to be someone. Do not try to be something.

Be yourself. Do something.

Uniqueness is a superpower. Do not forget who you are.

Be kind. Be understanding. Be generous. Be of service.

Collect experiences not things.

Not all relationships are healthy. Do your best.

Laugh more. Smile more. Play more.

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 Taikyoku Mind & Body and Kogen Dojo where he teaches Taikyoku Budo and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.

All photos by Robert Van Valkenburgh unless otherwise noted.

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.
Share this:
X
Facebook
Like Loading…
August 9, 2020

bravery, change, courage, fear, life, life lessons, meaning, priorities, purpose, risk, the journey, the path, the way, travel
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 around Sydney and its suburbs, I found the people to be generally friendly, helpful, happy, and healthy. Unique, niche small businesses seemed to be consciously embraced and supported by the local community.

Both individuality and fitness seemed like the societal norm, not the exception.

Quality of life felt like it was measured more in the quality of one’s health and relationships than in the amount of hours being busy for busy’s sake.

Local, organic, and handmade was easier to find than corporate and mass-produced.

And, all of this was perfectly exemplified in this amazing little cafe in Nowra about two hours outside of Sydney.

Hyper Hyper Coffee is one of the coolest cafes I have ever been to. This tiny roadside walk-up coffee stand does basically one thing, espresso, and they do it perfectly.

There are other items on the menu (less than ten), but they almost all revolve around espresso.

It is not just any espresso, however, it is specifically 1950’s style northern Italian espresso, roasted, ground, and brewed on-site, to order, one cup at a time.

Simply put, it is as niche, as hand-crafted, and as perfect as you can get.

As I grind and brew my beans, and sip my coffee, I miss this place and I am reminded of the fact that quality can, and should be, the norm we strive for in everything we do, in every experience we have, in every moment, and in every relationship.

There is simply no time and no need to settle for low quality simply because it is convenient.

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 Taikyoku Mind & Body and Kogen Dojo where he teaches Taikyoku Budo and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.

All photos by Robert Van Valkenburgh unless otherwise noted.

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.
Share this:
X
Facebook
Like Loading…
August 8, 2020

coffee, coffee shop, espresso, hand crafted, handmade, hyper hyper, local, local business, niche, quality, small business

Accountability Over Authenticity

Share this:

A Reason To Change

Share this:

The Difficult Thing Is For Something

Share this:

Take The Trip (Some Unsolicited Advice)

Share this:

A Baseline Of Quality Over Convenience

Share this: