Intent with intensity = heart

Love love love this!  What I like is how they work together. Intensity is just busyness with out intent. I can become intense but what good does that do me if I can't funnel that intensity toward the intent of what I'm doing?  This is just "noise" combined with busyness fooling me that I'm doing the right things.  What I need to be doing is getting into the right mindset first then applying the intensity to deliver the desired results.  Sometimes easier said than done but also easily doable as long as I'm in the right mindset or simply in the right moment. 

My dad used to tell me that I needed to increase my intensity when he watched me play hockey as a kid.  I knew what he was talking about but I couldn't apply it becuase I couldn't understand it at that time.  I thought my skill alone would carry me to higher and higher levels, it didn't. What was most noticable to coaches, scouts and parents were the players that played with "heart" or played with a high level of intensity. They stood out on the ice, they got noticed becuase they were always involved in the play.   They simply played in the moment more often and longer than the rest of the players on the ice. 

I've only started to understand this because I believe I'm ready.  My mind is open and I'm understanding what Sifu Brinker talked about at last Thursday's class.  The challenge will be to consistently apply it.  However he gave us the tools, "where am I and what am I doing"?

Mr. Repay 

Not ready but ready

I'm finding that a lot of my journaling this year is fairly philosophical in nature.  I've spent more time than ever this year reflecting on my Kung Fu journey and life in general.  When I look back specifically on my Kung Fu journey I have to laugh at what I remember. About five years ago I got my blue belt and I was flying high with my progression or so I thought at that time.  I may have been putting in the most time I wasn't using that time effectively.  I thought I was ready for the next level but I wasn't.  I wasn't mature enough to understand why I was training.  I thought that if I train four hours a day everything would take of its self and I would be ready for my brown belt.  I didn't slow down to really understand what was being taught.  I didn't look at the finer details or the "why". I just wanted to consumer as much content as possible and I was far from ready for the next level.  

Fast forward to the present and I'm training less than I was five years ago BUT the training is at a higher level.  I've slowed down (mentally) to really think about the "why".  I've let that sink in and I apply the lessons to my personal training outside of the kwoon.  I'm getting to really feel my Kung Fu now. I can feel the six Harmonies when I move, I can start to feel my power like never before.  I've been a blue belt for longer than I can can actually recall.  So long in fact that the glue on my stripes has let go and my stripes are falling off lol!  I'm a ok with that as I wasn't ready to progress to the next level. Seeing those stripes starting to fall off the end of my belt has become a constant reminder. A visual and physical reminder to put the right kind of effort into my training every time I tied my belt on.

Mr. Repay

Mindless eating update

It's been a couple of weeks since I changed my diet.  I'm feeling the benefits to my health already.  I've really reduced my intake of refined sugar, bread and saturated fats from things like bacon etc.  What I'm noticing is that I'm not as bloated as I used to be.  I'm not gassy and I feel more alert.  I'm not a believer in diets and cutting out different types of foods completely.  I'm believer in eating good quality foods in moderation.

Since I started tracking what I'm eating I'm shocked at what a good portion size is Vs what I was eating.  I'm actually staggared by the amount of food I'm was consuming along with the poor quality of it.

Seeing exactly what I'm eating through the tracking app is extremely beneficial. It has the same effect as watching my I Ho Chuan numbers grow.  We talk about the benefit to tracking our numbers and the motivation it provides.  The same thing is happening when I see that I've stayed under my daily, weekly target.  

It is more difficult eating properly on the road but far from impossible.  I used to frequent drive through fast food places for lunch because it was quick and easy.  Now I've changed to going to Save On foods and grabbing thier pre cut fresh fruits with a side of hummus, some sliced salami along with nuts and some cheese.  This type of meal makes me very happy which makes eating better a lot easier.  

I'm feeling the benefits of the choice I've made and because of these noticable benefits it's unlikely that I'm going to allow myself to fall back into the poor eating habits.

Mr. Repay

Dietary Defense and mindless eating

My weight has become concerning to me.  I'm 43 years old and I know that the older I get the harder it's going to be to get back into a healthy weight.  I'm not looking to get back to my mid twenties weight (wouldn't that be awesome!)but rather a more healthy weight. 

I've started to track my eating and I'm using a points system.  What's shocking is exactly how much I'm eating because I'm mindlessly shoving food in my face throughout the day.  Once you apply a point system to food you quickly realize not only the amount I should be eating but what types of food I can eat without racking up a negative points balance. It's also staggering to learn how many "empty" and sugar laddened foods I've been eating. 

So far, I'm struggling to stay within my allowed target but I'm eating way better, more healthy foods this past week.  This is becoming a lifestyle change for me that will need to imbed itself into my mental and physical pysche.

As I become older diet will be so important in my life.  What I put into my body has a direct impact on what I put out into the world.  I want to be here for as long as I can and diet and Kung Fu will help me get there.

Mr.Repay

Everyday is a reset day

Lots of conversation recently about resetting. I've used meetings, classes and blogging to be my "reset button" for my traning and IHC requirements.  I've also realized that every day is an opportunity to reset my training.  Why wait for a blog, class or meeting?  

Last Thursday's IHC meeting was one of the best ones I've attended in a very long time.  There were many reasons but the most important one was seeing everyone in person in the Kwoon.  There's just something very important about being in each other's precence that had a profound effect on my mental state and every levels.  

My training has been up and down but the peaks and valleys have been leveled out Vs prior years IHC years.  I'm struggling with some of my non physical requirements.  I've not prioritized them and not surprisingly they're suffering.  No time like the present to reset on these requirements!

Ian Repay