Lessons 06_2.pdf - GKR Karate

“The book you don’t
read won’t help”
• Sensei Andrew Ward
LESSONS THAT
HAVE HELPED
SHAPE MY LIFE
“The book you don’t read won’t
help”
This affected me very strongly about 9
years ago. I hadn’t read any books since
leaving school at 16. I started by getting
one of my now all time favourite books,
‘The Magic of Thinking Big’. I got so into
this book that I couldn’t put it down. Since
then, I have improved others and myself
through reading. I enjoy it much more
than listening to something on a tape
or CD. Reading is a great time for you! I
find reading very relaxing and use it as a
means to develop my mind.
1 | SHIMBUN

“Time is more valuable
than money. You can get
more money, but you
cannot get more time”
“If it’s to be, it’s up to me”
“Don’t dwell on past
victories or failures.”
“Time is more valuable than
money. You can get more money,
but you cannot get more time”
This saying changed me. It made me
realise how much time I was wasting every
day. Wasted time is time that you know
you should be doing something, yet you
don’t get it done. I have had lots of lost
time in my life but after learning this lesson
I have tried to change it. ‘Procrastination’
is putting off until tomorrow what can be
done today. I have become a reformed
‘Procrastinator’ thanks to these words.
“Do unto others, as you would
want others to do unto you”
When I was young I was the biggest sulker
around. My mum used to call me “The
Incredible Sulk”. I remember missing out
on lots of good things and upsetting lots of
good people because of my sulking. I was
‘cutting my nose off to spite my face’ as
the saying goes and generally making life
unbearable for everyone around me. Upon
leaving school and joining the workforce, I
realised this was not conducive to getting
on with others or getting ahead. Learning
this lesson was my trigger for changing my
ways. I got on better with others around
me by treating them the way that I wanted
them to treat me. After I made these
changes I found many new friends and
enjoyed lots of good times. People who
know me now don’t believe me when I
tell them what I was like when I was young
because they have only seen me as I
am today.
“If it’s to be, it’s up to me”
I first heard this when I first started training
in GKR. I was like all new students,
struggling to do something in class. I was
getting very frustrated and started to let
my frustration affect the other students
around me. The instructor came over
and said these words to me. This had
an instant effect as it got me focused on
what I was doing wrong and created the
mindset that ‘I needed to fix it’. I am now
the first person to jump in if something
needs doing and always the last to leave
until it is done. I never expect anyone to
do something that I haven’t already done
or am prepared to do.
“It is not the failure of others to
appreciate your abilities that
should trouble you, but rather
your failure to appreciate others”
I remember spending a lot of time
when I was young looking for people to
appreciate what I was doing. I believe
many people fall into this trap also. For me,
it was with the help of this statement from
‘Confucius’ that I realised that appreciation
for my work isn’t important compared
to the appreciation I could give to others
as encouragement and reward for their
efforts. Be modest about your own work
and give your honours to the others who
have accomplished their tasks around
you. It is the person who is satisfied in his
own work that looks to give praise and
appreciation to others.
“Don’t dwell on past victories or
failures.”
As I have already mentioned I used to
be a very moody child and could find a
reason to sulk in everything. I was also
very good at making these sulks last for
days or even weeks. Since those times I
have changed a lot, I don’t sulk anymore
and also realised that whatever happens
in my life, once it is done it can’t be
changed so there is no point worrying
about it. Whether I have a disagreement
with someone or something goes wrong
I can’t take it back so I forget about it
and move onto the next thing. This is
also true if something goes right. I don’t
gloat, I get onto the next thing because
resting on your laurels will mean that you
may miss another opportunity to learn
or grow while basking in your success.
These simple ideas have made my life
much better and have made relationships
with people I know much stronger. I hope
that this is something they notice about
me. I remember another saying that is
encompassed in this lesson, ‘Never go
to bed on an argument’. By the same
principle, you go to bed angry and you
wake up angry. Forget about anger and
move on or it will eat us all up inside.
Repressing feelings builds up and hurts
more, let them go. Really do, ‘Forgive
and Forget’!!
SHIMBUN | 2