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Principles stand the test of time. Trends, similar to fads, come and go. Principles are fundamental truths that serve as the foundation for systems of belief or behavior. Trends are the directions in which things develop or change. In martial arts — and life in general — time and trust are two of the major differences between principles and trends. Some trends can be good, but it's principles that most often help you live a life with greater pride and fulfillment. Tim Hawk joins Tim Hoover and Steve Mittman to discuss these things and more.

Tim shares a recent experience where the wrong words were spoken. "Words have meaning and names have power." — Author Unknown "Action speaks louder than words but not nearly as often." — Mark Twain “I AM: Two of the most powerful words, for what you put after them shapes your reality” — Gary Hensel "Some day we’ll be able to measure the power of words … They get on the walls. They get in your wallpaper. They get in your rugs, in your upholstery, and your clothes, and finally in to you." — Maya Angelou

To attack life you must stay physically active with at least some type of exercise. Chelsea Hoover, MS, RD, LDN from Fuel for Thought Nutrition tells us how get the most out of whatever activity it is that you do — martial arts, running, strength training, etc. She talks about coconut water and other natural sources of electrolytes, omega 3s for your joints, beetroot juice, and more.

On this episode Dave, Tim, and Steve discuss the importance of finding a "second" family. Surround yourself with like-minded individuals. Or better yet — surround yourself with positive people who uplift and empower you, and perhaps those you aspire to be like. "Show me your friends and I’ll show you your future." — Dan Peña “You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with.” — Jim Rohn

On this episode Tom, Tim, and Steve discuss these things and more: A reason, season, and a lifetime The importance of finding your true, authentic self What might be the most engaging aspect of a person The question Tom almost always asked a job applicant How we have a lot of false images and projections of people The Scorpion and Frog fable which teaches that a bad person can’t resist their true self “Don’t try to be someone or something you’re not — it’s just a waste of time in which you could be spending perfecting who or what you truly are.” — Steve Mittman, 1994

Last week Tom, Tim, and Steve discussed the book Sacred Pauses by April Yamasaki. This is Part 2 from that conversation. As Yamasaki says — in a fast-paced world full of distractions, these pauses offer ways to find everyday personal renewal. How many of these 18 "Pauses" are part of your life? Creating space Slowing down Becoming quiet Engaging scripture Praying it like it is Getting outside Being alone without being lonely Valuing relationships Giving Praying the Lord's Prayer Making music Fasting Having fun Paying attention Confessing Praying scripture Living simply Ending well

Do you feel stuck in the rat race? Are you unhappily going through the motions in life — feeling unfulfilled, unchallenged, and uninspired? Do you feel as if you're not accomplishing anything unless you're constantly busy? Tom Parker joins Tim and Steve in the first of several episodes discussing "Sacred Pauses" and the importance of creating a type of oasis from the chaos and busyness of life. “And you may find yourself living in a shotgun shack And you may find yourself in another part of the world And you may find yourself behind the wheel of a large automobile And you may find yourself in a beautiful house, with a beautiful wife And you may ask yourself, "Well, how did I get here?" — Once in a Lifetime by Talking Heads

Anna — a black belt student who has been training for over 20 years — joins Tim and Steve to discuss some of the differences between women and men training in the dojo: There are no weight divisions or gender divisions in life — life is not fair Women often have a disadvantage in the dojo when training with men Many men can learn a thing or two from women in the dojo Frustration is a part of our lives — we must deal with it “There's something so special about a woman who dominates in a man's world. It takes a certain grace, strength, intelligence, fearlessness, and the nerve to never take no for an answer.” — Rihanna

2 weeks ago Marc, Tim, and Steve discussed Marcus Aurelius and the Touchstones of Goodness. This is Part 2 from that conversation. More on Marcus Aurelius is discussed, and much of it you can read below. We also talk about: The importance of finding a community where positive growth is cultivated Creating a “current” — a flow of what it is you ultimately want through consistency Marcus Aurelius called them the “Touchstones of Goodness” — Courage, Temperance, Justice, Wisdom. These are guides to what to do, who to be, how to behave, how to respond in every situation — with bravery, fortitude, honor, sacrifice, self-control, moderation, composure, balance, fairness, service, fellowship, goodness, kindness, wisdom, knowledge, education, truth, self-reflection, and serenity. These are the key to a life of excellence, in every sense. “If, at some point in your life,” Marcus wrote, “you should come across anything better than justice, prudence, self-control, courage — if you find anything better than that, embrace it without reservations — it must be an extraordinary thing indeed.” That was almost 20 centuries ago. We have discovered a lot of things since then — automobiles, the Internet, cures for diseases that were previously a death sentence — but have we found anything better? No, we have not. It’s unlikely we ever will.

Tim and Steve talk about the abundance of fear right now. It’s time to replace fear with: Hope Truth Faith Love fearmonger | (ˈfɪərˌmʌŋɡər) (noun) — someone who deliberately spreads fear among people

Marc Berardinelli, Tim, and Steve discuss Marcus Aurelius and the Touchstones of Goodness: Many call them “cardinal virtues” — they have been adopted by Christianity, most of the Western world, as well as Buddhism, Hinduism, and just about every other philosophy They’re called “cardinal" because they originate from the Latin cardo which means hinge It’s pivotal stuff — the hardware upon which the door to the "good life" hangs

There must be a strength that comes from your heart to stand up to the world and still do good things Courage is built around Faith Courage and Faith together create Compassion

Bob Vidoni joins Tim and Steve to discuss one of his favorite profound excerpts from Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind — the book of teachings by the late Shunryu Suzuki. We should always strive to be the best we can be, however, "the best" is relative. If you think you're always going to "win" simply because you're the best, you'll be mistaken. Overcome the pain and grow through facing obstacles There's always going to be something that knocks us back Slow down and don't worry about being the "first to get there" “Slow is smooth, smooth is fast” — Navy SEALs

Tim and Steve talk about sparring in the dojo. When people fight in a controlled atmosphere it’s often best to use that experience to grow from — rather than win. It’s about embracing and purposely losing in the short term — in order to win in the long run. It’s our “Ninja vs Samurai” concept. There’s a time and place for each.

Some of the profound thoughts Bernie, Tim, and Steve share: Strive to not take things personally, and not be concerned with being popular Own your thoughts, your words, and your space — stop renting these Confidence must grow in all different types of situations Controlling fear is a lifelong struggle

Bernie, Tim, and Steve talk about: A simple way to take conflict out of discussions How you are responsible for yourself — and that is all How controlling your ego allows you to make good choices

Like the song “Joy and Pain” this episode reminds us that life’s beauty often comes after pain. Learn through your mistakes One of the biggest fears people have is failure You've got to experience failure before you can succeed Sometimes you must taste the “sour” before you can enjoy the “sweet” “Joy and pain are like sunshine and rain Over and over you can be sure There will be sorrow but you will endure Where there's a flower there's the sun and the rain Oh and it's wonderful they're both one in the same” — Frankie Beverly (Rob Base and DJ E-Z Rock)

Pat Shea has more guts than most. His courage to share a social media post is commendable. It might be what you need to hear. It will resonate with a lot of people, but very few would be as brave to admit the things he says. Listen to this episode and let us know if you can relate. “The most important day is the day you decide that you're good enough for you. It's the day you set yourself free.” — Brittany Josephina

When you want to become great, when you want to make a difference in people's lives, when you want to live a purposeful life — things happen when you want them as much as you want to breathe. Hear the story about the football coach and the aspiring athlete. “If you desire to make a difference in the world, you must be different from the world.” — Elaine S Dalton On this episode we talk about choices, grit, discipline, willpower, and more.

The way you think, the words you speak, and the actions you take — it's all energy. Focus your energy on what you want, rather than what you're looking to avoid. "I will never attend an anti-war rally. If you have a peace rally, invite me." — Mother Teresa