Mental Toughness: How to separate Truth, from Fact

SECTION 1: 1.3.1.5
Learn to question that which you "know."

There are different levels of belief, and faith.  Learn to appreciate both.  There is astounding power in faith, and, inherent weakness.

For example, if your faith empowers you and emboldens you to take action to enhance the world and yourself, fantastic!

If it helps you belittle and judge others... less good.

Truth is a personal thing.  It is not a fact that you are a nice person, but a truth.  I'm sure somebody thinks you're a dickweed, right?  If they don't, that likely means you aren't taking a stand one way or the other on anything.

Here's the thing.  If you name one person, any person, there's going to be a love group, and a hate group for them.  People absolutely positively love, and despise, every movie you've ever seen.

There's nothing wrong with being disliked, it means that you are standing for something you believe in.  (there's obviously nothing wrong with being liked, for the same reasons)

If your passion is driving you, and you are motivated by love, let the judgement fall where it may.

It is okay to have your own personal truth.  However, if your truth was that you were a nice guy, and... the majority of the people you know and are close with would use a different description, perhaps a look at the fact might be beneficial.

Objectivity, again.

Sensei Ono, Shinka Martial Arts
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Mental Toughness: How to drive yourself with emotional motivators

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Logic only gets people so far.  It helps us justify our actions, but not motivate them.  To truly motivate yourself mentally, you must use emotion.

Take a look at your eulogy statement and make it as emotional as possible.  Take hold of that emotion, make it both positive and negative.

Think protecting a loved one's life.  There is the positive aspect, you love them, you're emotionally connected to them.  There is the negative aspect, you don't want them to be hurt.

Motivate yourself through emotion.  Find what drives you in your goals and hi-lite it until it is a burning fire.

Recommended Reading: Authentic Happiness

Sensei Ono, Shinka Martial Arts
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Mental Toughness: How to cultivate the ability for sustained concentration

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Being able to master the technique of sustained concentration is essential to get awesome things done.  Only the mediocre (at best) is ever achieved in a state of distraction.

So how to cultivate this skill, other than "practice"?

One way that I have found, is through achieving the state I like to refer to as "fighter's focus"

That is, taking the mindset that I am in a fight for my life, and applying it to solving a challenge, or brainstorming; and maintaining that focus for about 20 minutes.

When I apply this technique, I find that I get the equivilant of 3 hours, to several days worth of information in a very short period of time, as my brain achieves a laser-point focus for a short period of time.

Just as you would not answer the phone, get up for bathroom breaks or snacks, listen to music or chatter mindlessly during a fight for your life, so too, would you apply this same stance to your brainstorming.

This is an exercise of solitude and intense focus, not a creative jam session with friends or colleagues.  Let nothing deter you, or distract you in this time.  Most emergencies will be fine in 20 minutes.  Turn off the ringer, go to the bathroom, have a drink of water and a handful of almonds, and begin with a very basic question.

ie: "How can I increase the connection in the lives of my friends, family, associates, workplace, business, community, and myself?" and write, and write, and write.


Recommended Reading: Focal Point

Sensei Ono, Shinka Martial Arts
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How to raise your blueprint (money, life, love etc)

SECTION 1: 1.3.1.2
We all have a blueprint for our lives, based on our beliefs, values and habits.

You want to very quickly master your control over your life.  This is often best achieved through mastering your finances, as money, properly managed, provides time.

While it is difficult to simply say, please ask yourself "what is my comfortable level of finances?" the fact of the matter is, you are as rich, as you are comfortable being.  We all are.

So, we must raise this blueprint.  We must take what we are, and upgrade it, constantly.  The trick is in the positive habits.

Some excellent resources on this subject can be found at:
Passionate Passive Income

Recommended Reading: You were born rich
Recommended CD set: Millionaire Mind Intensive

Sensei Ono, Shinka Martial Arts
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How to operate from objective reality

SECTION 1: 1.3.1.1
Imagine you are a little stressed about something, and someone asks how you are doing.

Do you exaggerate the problem?  Or worse, when you ask yourself how you're doing, do you thrive on the stress & attention you get from even the smallest problem?

What about on the other side, do you inflate positive things & feelings in your life, so that others will be impressed?

In order to achieve awesome, one must find that mental balance of objectivity.  Be able to look at yourself and be objective (not judgmental).

You're 2 lbs overweight, not "soooo fat".  You're working hard, not "in a mountain of paperwork."

Take stock of where you are, and be okay with that.  You've got a plan already, work within it, and objectively adjust your course along the way to ensure success.

Recommended Resource:  Leadership & Self-deception

Sensei Ono, Shinka Martial Arts
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How to have Mental Toughness Part 3

SECTION 1: 1.3.1c
In order to have an awesome mind, you must also:

31) Be optimistic
32) Be enthusiastic
33) Love what you do
34) Be motivated by love
35) Be motivated by fun
36) Be forgiving
37) Be generous
38) Be humble
39) Be honest
40) Have great ideas
41) Learn to create win-win deals
42) Be at peace with yourself
43) Be persistent
44) Learn to give & accept praise
45) Be accountable
46) Master your state / vibration
47) Learn to reward yourself
48) Learn how to say "no"
49) Rid yourself of the need for approval (of others)
50) Recognize that mastery is a journey, not a destination.

Sensei Ono, Shinka Martial Arts
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How to have Mental Toughness Part 2

SECTION 1: 1.3.1b
In order to have an awesome mind, you must also:

16. Become cooperative
17. Practice curiosity
18. Be confident
19. Evolve competing into creating
20. Respect, but do not let yourself be hindered by, criticism
21. Always have choice
22. Love meta-cognition
23. Be okay with delayed compensation
24. Achieve balance in work & play
25. Be coachable
26. Be creative
27. Have a clear conscience
28. Be decisive
29. Master self discipline
30. Redefine how you win & lose

Sensei Ono, Shinka Martial Arts
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Forward

As a martial arts teacher at Shinka Martial Arts, and as a passionate student and teacher of self actualization, self improvement, and "increasing the awesome", I tend to get the often facetious question of just "how to get awesome."

This book is the result of me taking these requests seriously, and taking the time to extrapolate the concept of awesome.  In effect, breaking it down into ingredients and coming up with a step-by-step recipe for becoming the best version of yourself you could be.

To save on space, I've used the phrase "awesome" to describe the state of ultimate success in every area of your life.  From fitness to mindset to finance to relationships etc.  In essence, ultimate health + ultimate wealth + ultimate happiness + ultimate lifestyle + ultimate potential = "Awesome."

(its just easier to say "awesome")

So what then, is... "the key to awesome?"

Read on :-)

Sensei Ono, Shinka Martial Arts