What Are You Grateful For?
In my lesson of the week, for my Krav Maga Martial Arts students, I spoke about the 5th of our “Blackbelt Superpowers- Gratitude.
Gratitude is such an important power, in so many important ways…
but here are just a few:
1. We get more of what we Focus on. So, when we focus on all of the blessings we have to be grateful for, we get more blessings to be grateful for; when we are grateful for how far we’ve come, rather than focused on how far we’ve left to go, we’re more likely to finish the course… And, hardest one perhaps, when instead of reliving or regretting our mistakes, we are grateful for the lessons from them, we set ourselves up to do better the next time we deal with a similar event.
2. Gratitude works hand in hand with Vision. While we apply time, energy and attention to our Vision for our future, Gratitude for all we’ve already accomplished, and all we already have fuels the journey. It’s particularly useful to take time to be grateful for the Visions we now have, that we once only dreamed of. And, while this is sometimes hard to see, you will find what you’re looking for if you try. If you haven’t done it in a while, stop to inventory how far you’ve come, and be grateful for all the things you prayed and/or worked for that have come true since.
3. A life and attitude of Gratitude is just downright more fulfilling than one without… and grateful people are more fun to be around too.
In closing, I want to be clear that I fail in this area sometimes too.
Just recently I was focussing on areas where I am not as far as I “should be”, regretting mistakes of the past, and wallowing in my own… well, let me just say not in my Gratitude.
But then I spent a day focused on fixing that.
I identified my WIN (What’s Important Next) personally and professionally, and for my team and organization. I meditated about all I have to be grateful for and how far I’ve come, and how far I’ve still to go; but in the healthy and productive fashion of excitement and anticipation of what I will do to get there.
In short, I got up and refocused my attitude and energy- and that whole process is part of what percolated to create my message to you today.
But the point I really wanted to share with the story is that we all get down sometimes.
I’m no different than you in that.
I just do what I teach my students to do, and apply the Blackbelt Leadership lessons to get myself back on track.
Life is 10% what happens and 90% how we react to it.
Everything happens for a reason and serves us well.
If it’s to be, it’s up to me.
Energy flows where Focus goes.
Excellence happens daily, but not in a day.
Well, I could go on and on with them.
But, for now, suffice it to say, I’m grateful for the lessons, and I’m grateful for KMMA.
I’m grateful for you too.
See you soon.
Prepare To Live; Empower To Lead!
Grand Master Stephen J. Del Castillo
Founding Master Instructor, Krav Maga Martial Arts
TampaKravMaga.com StephenDelCastillo.com
About Grandmaster Stephen J. Del Castillo: Grandmaster Del Castillo is the founding Master Instructor of Krav Maga Martial Arts and has been empowering lives in Pasco and Hillsborough Counties since October of 2000. He is a 7th degree Blackbelt, MBA, author, mentor and success coach, a US Army Veteran and a proud father and grandfather. He is married to Ms. Barbara Del Castillo who helps him run the school. Grand Master Del Castillo began his training in the early 80’s and has high level blackbelts in Tae Kwon Do, Karate, Premier Martial Arts and Krav Maga Martial Arts as well as experience in kickboxing, Jeet Kune Do and Jiujitsu. He has high level instructor certifications from BBSI, IKMF, and KMG and has been featured in numerous Martial Arts publications and also Success magazine. He was a competitive sport karate and American Kickboxing instructor until he enlisted in the US Army where he served in the 82nd Airborne Division, where he won an Army Green to Gold scholarship and proceeded to ROTC and the University of Tampa. He was commissioned in 1992 and went on to serve in Germany with the 3rd Infantry Division and then in several other posts in the US until he left military service to pursue his dream of creating KMMA in 2000.
The Krav MagaMartial Arts Headquarters is in Lutz, FL at 1900 Land O’ Lakes Blvd., 33549. Krav Maga Martial Arts serves Lutz, Land O’ Lakes, Wesley Chapel, and surrounding areas.
See stephendelcastillo.com for more information and to order my book, Developing Your Superpower, Meditations on Mastery, Volume 1.
Also, check us out on Fun4TampaKids & on Go2Karate.com