Attitude and Effort..The great equalizer

Onegaishimasu Parents,

Last week we were discussing the differences between being committed to something or just interested and the power of BEING FULLY ENGAGED. By now you have noticed the Keiko TEAM using certain powerful words and phrases in class to help create the proper mental state for success in your child. This is so important because we know their, attitude, and character are fueled by the thoughts, words, and actions they use the most.

Our thoughts and words are the foundation for every success and every failure we have ever had, and will have. They can make or break us. They either set us up for success, or they set us up for failure.

Here’s where it really starts to get powerful. The natural evolution of those thoughts and words as they begin to manifest in your child’s actions, and become their character result in Positive Attitude and Effort. This is so important to your child because we recognize it isn’t intelligence or talent that determine a child’s success…It is BEING FULLY ENGAGED and their Attitude and Effort!!!

It is our attitude toward others and the universe that determines the resulting attitude toward ourselves. If we have a positive, joyful attitude, we most often get get positive, joyful results. Put out a bad, negative attitude and we fail before we begin. Basically the universe gives back exactly what you put out.

Attitude and Effort are the great EQUALIZER in life!! Having a great attitude, and putting in the work will beat talent every time talent doesn't show up prepared to put in the work. Here’s what I mean by that.

At some point in our lives most of us have either played with, or watched that one kid on a team or in school that is so blessed with natural ability, yet only puts in 50% effort, and shows up when he/she “feels” like it… Not very team oriented, not a full commitment, not fully engaged, and certainly not very coachable, or teachable.

Now, think of that one kid that goes out and tries his/her best every single time, pours everything into every minute, is “present” in class, on the field, and lifts those around him/her with their effort and positive spirit! This influence is the highest and purest form of LEADERSHIP!!

What makes them even more endearing is their coachability! You just can’t help but cheer for that person. Learning and development will naturally follow because they have right "CORE" Attitude…It’s inevitable.

Here’s more good news…..You are in complete control of your words, and your attitude. Your words create your attitude, and your attitude creates the way you feel about people and situations. For example, even though we may not succeed in our first, third, or even ten attempts, it helps to understand that it is in our failures we find amazing opportunities to learn and grow. Training ourselves to actually look forward to, and view our failures as tremendous life changing, and positive growth opportunities can radically change our lives, and those around us.

Ask yourself this very important question: “Is it possible to try your best and still fall just a little short of success, or not win?” The answer is invariably YES! Yes it is entirely possible, and it happens every day in the “Real World” however, our success shouldn’t be measured in our wins or victories, but moreover in how we move forward and react after failures. It is in how we react to these experiences, and use them to better ourselves in moving forward that will take us to new levels and help us discover our full potential.

I have always found solace in knowing I tried my best no matter what the outcome, and can be proud of that, even when I came up short!

Does this mean we never have negative thoughts, or become angry and frustrated? Absolutely not, we are human, and negative situations are a reality, however we are the deciding factor. we are in full control. It is our attitude that makes a situation positive or negative. We are in control of how we think and feel, no one else on earth has this power unless we give it away.

Where do negative attitudes come from?

Negative attitudes come from thinking negative thoughts over and over until they become part of your subconscious, part of your personality. They become habitual. Some may not even realize they have a negative attitude because it’s been with them for so long. People tell themselves the same bad story over and over until they eventually become that bad story. Once you have a bad attitude, you expect failure and disaster. Those expectations, in turn, become a magnet for failure and disaster. Then it becomes a vicious cycle: You expect the worst, so you get the worst. Your negative beliefs are reinforced.

Training our thoughts and words to create a positive attitude?

It takes work, but creating anything of value takes work. In order to have a new attitude, you have to create new habits. First off, change your thinking, and the story you are telling yourself by NOTICING every time a negative thought crosses your mind, and immediately replacing it with a positive one until positive thinking becomes habit. You’re merely replacing an old “not so good” habit with a healthy new one, much like replacing smoking with exercise.

Visualize! Highly successful people, including professional athletes, can visualize themselves in winning situations or living their success long before they actually achieve it. Quite literally they are living their dream before they get there.

So there you have it….ATTITUDE and EFFORT mean everything!!!

Take control of your attitude, your state of mind, and you take control of your results!!

Have an Amazing Week

Sensei Chris and

Your Keiko TEAM

Keiko Karate – “Actually we do make Ninjas and Superheroes here………………we turn kids into Ninjas and we turn their parents into their superheroes!”