Out of Fear and Into Peace of Mind, Body, and Soul
I started teaching here in the Idaho Falls/Rexburg area a year and a half ago. I launched this organization to empower those who feel victimized to crime, bullying, and other injustices. I am proud to say that we have hit number 50 in our student roster.
We've been working hard at teaching our students how to prevent and deal with violence. It is a very unfortunate world we live in where bad things can happen to good people and vice versa. We live in a world full of fear. Fearmongers like Glenn Beck have a ridiculously large number of followers. It is our job here at Applied Martial Arts to make sure that people get a firm grasp on reality. We don't have to live in fear, especially when we are prepared.
I will now teach some concepts on how to live peaceably without fear.
Mr. Mark MacYoung teaches the principle of letting people have "rent-free space" in our heads. Anyone who would discourage you from progress in any form does not deserve rent free space in your head. The only kind of people you should let inside should be those who deserve a place in your life. Your parents, instructors, teachers, and friends don't pay rent-free space. They have already paid, or are currently paying, rent inside your head. You should give these people their respect. Everyone else can go to hell.
Wallowing in fear, discouragement, depression, etc. from people who should mean nothing to you is a form of slavery. Your mind becomes a slave to the idea that someone thinks ill of you or that a situation could be better if it wasn't for this or that.
Never blame anybody for the crap that happens to you and don't choose to be a victim of circumstance. You have the ability to create your own environment inside your head. Make it a positive one. People may talk shmack about you, persecute you, tease you, etc., but it's up to you to decide who pays the rent inside your head. These jerks do not deserve a space.
I turn 25 years old in March. I have seen more than my fair share of crap in this business. I've been attacked. I've seen success and failure in my students. I've seen some weird creatures who are attracted to this kind of lifestyle. I've seen grown men kiss ass and play girly, political games as they fight for a grandmaster's validation. I've seen broken bones. I've seen tears, blood, and sweat. I've seen how politics can hurt reputations and sever ties. I've received death threats. I've been called out to fight more people than I can count.
Shall I go on?
My point is simply this: WHY am I still doing this? Because I love my students. Master Brian Eckman has taught me the importance of forgetting about personal ego and concentrating whole-heartedly on the success and progress of the student. He didn't teach it to me in words. He exemplified it through action. Why am I still here? Because I bask in the success of my students. When I hear success stories I proudly smile. When I see a struggling student hit a major breakthrough I rejoice.
Let the right people hop on your bus. Throw out the rest. Put the right people in the right seats. Don't let your mind wander. Don't let idleness turn into weakness of character. Suck it up and take responsibility. Learn from the best and retain what you learn. Give credit where it's due and don't dwell on ugly past experiences. Those experiences should be validated and learned from but should never be a focal point of any activity in which you engage yourself.
If you are one of my students, rejoice with me because our organization has hit a breakthrough and we are ready to handle whatever comes at us. We are prepared warriors awaiting fierce battle. Our armor is our minds. Our shield is our training. Our sword is our vigilance.
Live in peace, not fear.
Patrick Asay
Head Black Belt Instructor
Applied Martial Arts