If we resist our calling, if we attempt to ignore it or push back against it, all we will find on the road ahead is pain.
When the pain of resisting the call is greater than the fears and insecurities that are keeping us back, we will take action.
We may not know why we are called to a certain path, but if we ignore the call, we will never find out.
So we must step out in faith.
The Way is only revealed along the way.
We can either wait to be happy or we can take action toward that result.
Neither choice guarantees us success.
We may fail either way.
The difference is that waiting is almost certain to result in failure.
While action, on the other hand, at least gives us a fighting chance.
Happiness, as it turns out, rarely ever comes to us on its own.
It must be sought and worked for.
In this way, it is like everything else worth having in life.
We must be careful that we do not allow ourselves to become so immersed in the seeking itself, however, that we miss our target altogether.
Happiness is not actually that far away.
In fact, most of the work we need to do in order to find it is within ourselves.
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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As we walk our path, from time to time, we will be get distracted.
Sometimes these distractions will cause us to stray off course.
This is an inevitability.
In fact, one could say that this, too, is part of the path.
But, our goal should be to ensure that, when go astray, we recognize it as quickly as possible, learn whatever lessons we were meant to learn, right whatever wrongs we are meant to right, and then get back on track before it is too late to do so.
After all, it is possible to go too far in the wrong direction, so far, in fact, that we never find our way back.
We do not want what could have been a mere detour to become a dead end.
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.
“Honor thy error as a hidden intention.“
—Brian Eno, Oblique Strategies
When we do creative work, we will make a lot of mistakes along the way.
At least that is how it will feel.
Our projects will not always come out the way that we wanted.
We will sometimes find it difficult to get our ideas out in a way that also gets our intentions across.
Our finished projects will often be far different than what we imagined we would create.
There will be a lot of false starts, a lot of failed attempts, and a lot of what will feel like errors along the way.
In fact, as we hone our craft, find our voice, and develop our own personal style, this is likely to be the case more often than it is not.
This is all part of the process.
However, something is only an error if we allow to be so, if we perceive it as such, and if we accept that there is nothing to be gained, gleaned, or learned from it.
Errors are only defined as such because they are a divergence from our initial ideas, goals, or intentions.
If it leads us somewhere worthwhile, though, the error becomes the path itself.
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.
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.
Meditations on God 