Why our kids need to be taught to be leaders and entrepreneurs

Hey everyone!  I would like to write a little bit about leadership, and the importance of teaching kids how to be leaders, thinkers, and entrepreneurs.  The world needs leaders, positive thinkers, and people who find a problem and instead of trying to live with it try to find a solution.  It is an unfortunate truth that so many of today's youth are not leaders; they hope to float along with the current, and when things get difficult they give up.  With that being said, I want to talk about how important it is to educate our kids that this is not the way it has to be!  Especially in the world we live in now where we can share an idea with people across the world with the click of a button!  Unfortunately kids are not being educated on how to be a leader.  We desperately NEED leaders, we need to educate an generation of problem solvers, and I want to write some words to explain why.

So, what is a leader?  Leaders come in infinite different forms, with just as many different skills and abilities.  But there are a few things that, when taught, will allow different people with different skills to become leaders, and for the sake of the future we must find a way for kids to be taught this.  I could spend hours writing about what I think makes a leader, but that is not what I am hoping to express in this post.  My wish is that by the time you finish reading this you will be inspired to become a leader, and teach others to also be leaders, and by doing this we can create a cycle of leadership development that will grow exponentially.

I believe that a few of the key things we should strive to be teaching our youth in order for them to be the exceptional leaders we need are how to be compassionate, how to have an entrepreneurial mindset, and also how to be a good follower.  I think that if people learn these things then they will take the skills they naturally have and apply them to being a leader and work on changing the world for the better. 

The first point I'd like to discuss, which is especially important when first learning how to be a leader, is being a good follower.  Leading is not about just sitting back and telling people what to do or what needs to get done, it is about lifting people up and guiding them.  Leaders get in the trenches and work with the people who they are leading, and they are an active part of what is being done.  When you are a good follower this can be done easily, if you are not able to be a follower it is difficult to do this.  Another important thing to consider is that a leader knows that they may not be the best person to lead in every situation.  Knowing how to be a follower will allow the leader to be able to work with the people they are guiding, as well as allow them to let others take the lead when the time is right.  With this they will be able to seamlessly transition between many different roles in order to be as efficient and effective as possible.

I see many people, both leaders and not, who do not know how to be a follower.  It can be clearly seen with people on sports teams, or in the workplace.  Someone who may be exceptionally skilled in their field, but they are not coachable; they don't know how to follow!  This causes many problems, because no matter how skilled the individual is, life is a team sport.  Michael Jordan said "Talent wins games; but teamwork and intelligence wins championships." I think that this means that we have to be able to work together, which often times means being a follower.  Like it or not we are all in this together, so we need to be able to be both a follower and a leader so that all of the more than 7 billion people on earth can be a cohesive team.  So to develop into the best leader possible, learn how to be a follower first, that way when the time comes that you are called up to lead you are ready!

Having the entrepreneurial mindset is the second point that I think makes the exceptional type of leader that we are looking for.  There have been many book written, videos made, and seminars taught on having an entrepreneur mindset, there is tons of information out there on how to teach people the skills that make a successful entrepreneur, but unfortunately only a small percentage of people take advantage of this materials and utilize these invaluable skills!  I think a big misconception about having the entrepreneurial mindset is that many people think that this means that they quit their stable job, start a business and work crazy hours getting their business to flourish.  Although a lot of people who have the entrepreneurial mindset do this, it is not necessary to having the mindset.  Having the mindset of an entrepreneur means that when there is a problem, or when you see something in life that you know could be better, you don't just accept it.  An entrepreneur will take this problem and find a solution; they go outside of the norms, think outside of the box and find a solution.  They have a work ethic unmatched by people who have the mindset of the "old way" and don't quit.  Failure is a learning experience, a bump in the road not a dead end.  Why are they like this?  Because they have a magical trait called PASSION!  They want things to be better, they know they can be better, and they wont stop until they are the best they can be.  It is so important for our leaders to have this mindset engrained deep in their being.  Leadership without the entrepreneur mindset often just turns dreaming; wishing for something without the follow through to back it up. 

Another invaluable trait that we need to foster in our future leaders is compassion towards others.  This is something that is too often not taught when teaching people to succeed, we stress the importance of excelling at any cost and too often what happens is we do not cultivate compassion for our fellow beings.  It is my opinion that without having compassion any level of leadership is empty, because leadership that isn't driven by the objective of improving the greater good is a waste of time.  In order to develop the type of leaders we need for there to be a bright future ahead, compassion needs to be right up there with the other leadership traits that we instill in them.  Compassion means the desire to alleviate others' suffering.  Wouldn't you agree that with a generation of leaders who wish to help those in need we could make huge strides in the advancement of mankind?  I strongly feel that compassion should be at the core of any teaching, especially those taught to kids, but it is especially critical for leaders to learn compassion because they are going to be the ones who guide us to our future.  Leadership, like any skill, can be used in negative ways just as easily as it can be used positivity, and because of this it is necessary to educate leaders on the importance of compassion to guide their leadership skill in a positive direction.

Leadership of the future requires people who know how to be a good follower, who utilize an entrepreneurial mindset and are driven by compassion.  Schools don't teach these skills in common core curriculum, but I feel that we must be teaching these traits to our youth.  We have to start making leadership education an integrated part of our youth's upbringing, and the sooner people are taught these skills the better.  Kids are amazing with their ability to learn these traits; they come naturally to kids, and it is absolutely amazing what young leaders are able to do with proper leadership training.  It is one of the most inspirational and motivational experiences when I see kids who use leadership this way.  The difference they make is astounding.

I am a martial artist, and I feel that martial arts is a great way to instill all of these qualities in our young people.  In martial arts the students are trained and required to be good followers first.  They must excel in the art of following and being guided, while at the same time they are expected to lead their junior ranks along the martial path.  Martial arts also instills in its practitioners the entrepreneurial mindset, the ability to think quickly and make decisions in a split second.  Learning to have a fighters heart is learning to think like an entrepreneur.  There is a problem and you must solve it.  Along with learning self defense in martial arts, the students are also taught compassion.  They learn to use control in order to not hurt people needlessly, they learn to serve their community and to always be seeking an opportunity to help people.  All of these are reasons why martial artists are great leaders, and we should utilize this knowledge to bring this same level of leadership training into other activities.  Take a moment and imagine what it would be like if the next generation of doctors, lawyers, engineers, athletes, teachers and CEO's were leaders who made it their goal to lead the world in a positive direction.  Now take that mental imagine and imagine 5, 10, 15 generations from now.  What type of world will it be!?!

A story of a Happy Martial Artist - How Martial Arts Classes help me achieve a true happiness

Happiness, like all things, is a skill that you get better at with practice.  I get the feeling through many conversations I have with people that they view happiness as something that happens to them when certain external circumstances are in place, and that it is something that will just come to them and they can enjoy.  In my opinion, this is the wrong view about happiness.  Happiness is a skill, and your external circumstances only control your happiness if you let them.  It  takes hard work and effort to be skilled in the art of happiness, and it is not easy.  I believe that because being happy is not easy, so many people find excuses for why they are not happy, and they bury themselves in misery because they are not willing to put in the work to be happy.  They claim that they cannot be happy because they do not have a certain car, or that once they reach a certain status or pay level at work then they will be happy.  I think all those types of things are just excuses people make because they do not want to admit that the only thing they have to blame for not being happy is themselves.  Below I would like to talk about how I develop happiness, and then how being a martial artist has given me the skills I use to develop my happiness into a state of being that keeps a smile on my face and in my heart!

Working for Happiness:

Be Disciplined - Being happy takes a shift in the average person's thought process.  To some people thinking in a way that fosters happiness is natural, but I would say in today's society that is unfortunately not the norm.  If you wish to be happy, then you must discipline your mind to control your thoughts.  On a daily, moment to moment basis, you have to think positive yet realistic thoughts.  Express gratitude freely and often, for even the smallest almost insignificant things. One day be grateful that it is sunny, and the next be thankful for the rain.  Thank people for the things they do for you, and most importantly thank yourself.  In order to keep these kinds of thoughts, our minds have to be very disciplined and we have to have constant effort to stay positive, if we let our guard down even for a minute, things like the media and negative people will be quick to drag you down into the depressed thought pattern that is so common these days.  Guard your mind!

Be Physically Healthy - Your health can play a huge role in your happiness!  Workout on a regular basis and your body actually changes chemically to being happier!  Eat healthy foods, real foods, not all this processed junk that most of the world is eating.  The more natural the food the better it is for you, and the healthier it will make you.  Also, make sure you are getting enough sleep!  A lack of sleep will make you physically and mentally less healthy, leading to a greater risk of not being happy!  Exercise, eat healthy, stay active and work on the body you want to have, this alone could be the key to happiness for some people!

Be Around Happiness - Last but definitely not least, be around happiness....as much as possible!  If you surround yourself with people who are negative, unhappy and not seeking to improve, then you are in the wrong place!  Get around people who are happy, and you will be happier.  There are a few ways to do this.  One is to find happy people and spend time with them, and another is to create happy people; there is a lot of joy in helping others be happy!  Helping people be happy and surrounding yourself with happy people will most assuredly increase your own happiness many times over :)

How Martial Arts Helped Me:

Martial Arts Classes teach people discipline, you learn to control your emotions and your thoughts.  Traditional Martial Arts Classes are based on respect and honor, and in the practice of these things you will develop the discipline that it takes to be happy.  

As I am sure you all know, martial arts classes are also an incredible workout.  Classes will get you in great shape and lead to a healthy lifestyle.  I have known many people who when they started martial arts they were overweight, smokers, and had an awful diet.  When they decided to become martial artists they made changes in the way they lived their lives, the results of which made them much happier!

Another great benefit of taking Martial Arts is that in a martial arts school you are surrounded by people who are working on achieving the same things you are!  They are looking for happiness and peace, and will be excited to have you as a partner on their journey!  You will be able to be around people that are happy, and as a martial artist you will be able to help others find happiness as well!  

Martial arts teaches discipline, work ethic and an indomitable spirit, all of which will help you on the journey to being the happiest person you can be!  This new found happiness will improve your friendships, relationships with family and loved ones, and will give you a self culture that is much more conducive to a great life!


Strive on toward happiness!!


 RJ LoPresti

1614 Peachtree Parkway
Cumming, GA 30041
(678) 513-5436
http://www.iLoveMartialArtsGeorgia.com
http://www.iLoveKickboxing.com
https://www.youtube.com/InstructorRJLoPresti

Consistency is a key trait for Black Belts ..... and any successful person

Consistency is a crucial trait to have for success, not just in martial arts but in business, school, relationships, and all other areas of our lives.  As a professional Martial Arts Instructor I am constantly teaching my students to demonstrate respect, to have focus, to practice humility and compassion...the list goes on and on.  But I feel that all of these character traits do not truly become useful until they are backed with the Self Discipline of Consistency.

Take for example a math problem when you were in elementary school.  You could guess a random number, and maybe it is the correct answer.  But can you repeat your success?   Being able to repeat your positive action or behavior is where true success lies.  In fighting we all keep in the back of our minds what I call the "punchers chance"  which is the chance that even someone with little training can take out a champion with a random blow.  The odds are very low that this will happen, and if it did the chance of it happening again are even less.  This person wont become a world champion because they cannot consistently repeat their success, even if they did something amazing one time.  Now we all want to be champions, not necessarily in fighting, but a champion in life in general.  We do not want to just have a minute of glory that came from us getting lucky one time, we want to be able to consistently reproduce our success so that we can take it to new levels each and every day.  

To be consistent we need to have right effort.  We have to be always watchful of the results we are producing and analyzing how and why we are getting those results no matter if they are good or bad.  If we are not getting results that are exceptional on a consistent basis then we need to change, improve and push forward again.  That being said, I have had students and staff members tell me "No one can be perfect every time, we are all going to have our off days."  I agree with that one hundred percent.  Life will always have its ups and downs, good days and bad days.  People of mediocre success will use this as a crutch to have "off days" but successful people take this as a challenge.  How successful people think is that if we know we will have some days that are worse than others, we need to train ourselves to make our worst day better than the best day of everyone else.  Think about that....  Your worst day is better than others best day.  Is that possible?  If you really want to be as successful as you possibly can be then you know that it is.

So how do you practice consistency in our every day lives?  Be relentless on yourself!  Don't let yourself do anything less than amazing.  Is every aspect of your life at a level of awesome that is head and shoulders above everyone else?  If not, correct it now, immediately and completely.  Surround yourself with people that hold you to this level of success, not people who drag you down below what you are capable of.  If you are able to do something right, then there is no excuse to do it any other way!  It amazes me the multitude of excuses people come up with as to why they could not do something as well as they could.  "I was in a hurry." "I didn't think about it." "It was hard."  And on and on.  To me, all these lame excuses are just another way of saying "It is not important enough to me."  And that is fine, not all people are cut out to be successful, but these people have absolutely no right to complain about not being where they want to be in life.  Like the expression goes, you sleep in the bed you make.  If you want to be on another level, then you have to get yourself there!

When one of my students earns their Black Belt, I feel like they have shown that they have the ability to demonstrate the character traits and physical skills needed to be a Black Belt.  At this point it is now the mission of the New Black Belt to demonstrate consistency in their actions.  They have what it takes to be a Black Belt, but now the test is to actually live like one, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.  This is why I feel Black Belts can be so productive and successful in whatever endeavor they take part in, they are attempting to have all the traits that a Black Belt should have in every thought and action....in every ounce of their being. 

These are my thoughts, this is how I feel.  When people come to me with excuses I smile, tell them Iunderstand and encourage them to keep going; in my heart though, I think that excuses are for people who are not strong enough with their discipline in consistency to practice being a Black Belt with every ounce of their being.  We all have the same 24 hours in day, there have been so many people with tons of different disabilities and disadvantages that have found levels of success beyond imagination.... So whats your excuse?!


RJ LoPresti

3020 Old Atlanta Rd
Cumming, GA 30041
(678) 513-5436
http://www.iLoveMartialArtsGeorgia.com
http://www.iLoveKickboxing.com
https://www.facebook.com/InstructorRJLoPresti
https://www.youtube.com/InstructorRJLoPresti

Failure, Success and being a Warrior

Do you find failure to be a scary word? A lot of people are terrified of failure, and I think this fear is unrational and prevents a lot of people from reaching the levels of success that they are capable of. In this quick post I hope to explain why the fear of failure is holding our society back, talk about some techniques to overcome this fear and talk about why in my experiences being a Martial Arts Black Belt I have found that learning the warrior mind set has helped me achieve my goals.

 

A quick Google search of failure will give us this definition: Failure is the state or condition of not meeting a desirable or intended objective, and may be viewed as the opposite of success. Why is that so scary to most people; we are scared of a "state or condition." Nowhere in that definition is there anything about this state being permanent, and as we know from our everyday life states and conditions are temporary. The only way failure becomes permanent is if we give up, so I think giving up is what we should be afraid of, not failure!

The next part I liked about the Google definition of failure is the fact that failure may be viewed as the opposite of success. Failure is the opposite of success,  just like hot is the opposite of cold, or night is the opposite of day. This is the Yin and Yang of life,  failure and success are counterparts, and one could not exist without the other. I like this so much because that means that within success there is failure, and within failure there is everything you need for success. Ask any successful person what they think about failure and I am willing to bet they will tell you that they are successful because of what they learned from failing. Successful people have a different perception of failure, and it is this difference that separates successful people from others. The greatest thing about this is that YOU are in charge of your own perceptions; you can control them!  There is nothing inherently bad about failure, it is only bad if you make it that way by giving up or letting the fear of it control your life.

This brings me to how you can overcome your fear of failure. You need to make a shift in how you think about failure, and life as a whole. There is a massive change that needs to take place in the way to think and how you react to the things that happen to you on a day to day basis. The change in the way we think needs to be from that of an unsuccessful person to that of the successful person. The biggest shift that needs to happen is in our perception of the things that go on around us. Of course our perceptions having to do with success and failure, but also with smaller things as well. An example of this is how you react to the small negative things that happen in your life. If it is raining and dreary outside are you sad, or do you think about the positive things that rain can bring like growth and health in nature. A few ways to change your perception and attitude towards things is to be more grateful, loving, respectful and helpful. If you cultivate these attitudes on a daily basis you'll be able to change your mind to that of a successful person. When this change occurs, you no longer fear failure because your perception of it will be different. You will realize that failure is an opportunity to learn and you become better from it and this will help you reach success.

This brings me to the warrior mindset. In the days of old, warriors lived and died by the state of their mind. If they went into battle assuming they're already lost, of course their thought would become a reality. It is because of this that they developed a spirit that was indomitable.  Nothing could defeat them, and it is this mindset that strengthened their spirit and will to always move forward in the direction of success. I understand that the majority of you reading this are probably not going to be heading into battle. But this does not mean that you cannot develop the warrior mindset. Me being a martial artist, the warrior mindset is something that we cultivate and develop on a daily basis, it is this mindset that will not allow a failure to prevent me from becoming successful in whatever I wish to do. It is all the failures that have made me who I am.  Sure they suck at the time but using the warrior mindset I move forward past any failure and I'm better off for it.

If you set the bar low because you are afraid to fail, you may be able to prevent yourself from failing but you will never reach a success that you are truly capable of.  If you want to reach your greatest potential you must continue to raise the bar until you fail.  Then try again, and again until you make it.  See, the biggest thing that you as a warrior understands is that the difference in success and failure is you.  Failure (and success) is just a state or condition that you are experiencing, so if you can control your perception (meaning if you can control your mind and emotions) then you determine if you will have failure or success.

 

RJ LoPresti
www.facebook.com/InstructorRJLoPresti
www.choeshapkidocumming.blogspot.com/
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www.iLoveMartialArtsGeorgia.com
www.iLoveKickboxing.com

The very wonderfu HapKiDo history I have been lucky enough to enjoy

I started Martial Arts training at the age of 6, and it has been one of the most positive influences I have had in my life.  I am very lucky having had the opportunity to learn from some of the most amazing people not only in the Martial Arts world, but the teachers I have are world famous for so much more!

When I started Martial Arts as a kid, the only reason I had for wanting to do it was so I could be like a Power Ranger, but soon after I began training it became so much more to me.  It was an outlet for energy, a place to make quality friends that were positive influences, and a place where I could learn and develop into a constructive member of society.  HapKiDo quickly turned from a hobby that I did twice a week into a lifestyle that I practiced every second of every day.  I went from being someone who did Martial Arts into a Martial Artist, and once this happened I took off on the awesome and exciting journey of living a Black Belt life and haven't looked back since.  

Grandmaster Choe has taught me so much that it would be very difficult to express the depth of the knowledge that he has passed on to his students in this short blog.  Since I have started learning from Grandmaster Choe I have attended a yearly seminar taught by Grandmaster where I have been fortunate enough to learn areas of the Martial Arts that is only available to a select few people in the world.  The detail, precision and effectiveness of the techniques I have learned is mind blowing!  The physical techniques I learned at all of these events have been fun and developed me into a true Black Belt.  Also, Grandmaster Choe is the world's leading SaSang Acupuncture expert, and the knowledge on this topic that his students learn make what we do complete by not only learning the self defense of HapKiDo, but also how to live a healthier and happier life.  As a student of Chung Mu HapKiDo I am not only learning the awesome and effective martial art of HapKiDo, I am a complete Martial Artist who knows how to live a happier more fulfilled life and share this knowledge with others. 

I feel very fortunate to have the privilege to learn from a TRUE martial arts Grandmaster.  Most of the time when I read about a Master in the Martial Arts they have mastered one area of a Martial Art.  Grandmaster Choe has mastered a wide variety of areas and he is passing all of that information along to the instructors of his schools!

I am constantly grateful to be a part of an origination that is lead by such a knowledgeable individual who is so willing to share!  Any student who is lucky enough to learn at a school under the tutelage of Grandmaster Choe is very lucky indeed!




RJ LoPresti
www.facebook.com/InstructorRJLoPresti
www.choeshapkidocumming.blogspot.com/
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www.iLoveMartialArtsGeorgia.com
www.iLoveKickboxing.com

Respect: The act of giving particular attention

At the HapKiDo School we have a definition for respect that I like a lot.  Our definition of Respect: The act of giving particular attention.  All of our students, children and adults, learn this definition at White Belt.  Respect is a hugely important aspect of a good life, and I like this definition because it is so broadly applicable.  We can give particular attention to thoughts and feelings, events and experiences, anything and anyone.  If we show this type of respect to all aspects of our lives and every experience we have then our lives and the lives of those around us will be greatly improved.

If we are mindful to give particular attention and stay present focused at all times and in all interactions then we will be able to provide a significant opportunity to grow as a collective humanity.  The key to this is to be mindful of the action, and to take the time and effort to give the proper attention to match the situation.  On a regular basis I see people doing things that are considered "respectful' without any particular attention.  At a baseball game for example, when the National Anthem is sung people stand up, take off their hats and put their hands over their hearts.  Those are all respectful actions, but how many of those people do you think give the proper attention to what is actually going on right at that moment?  I would like to think that everyone who would take the effort to stand and put their hands over their hearts are giving particular attention to what they are respecting, but then why do so many people talk and do other things like use their cell phones?  The empty action of respect has become a habit, the action is there but there is no particular attention; people aren't mindful.  If you want to be respectful you must be mindful, otherwise your actions of respect may be empty....and useless.

Respect can be classified into three main directions: Respect to others, Respect to objects, and Respect to Self.  These three work together to create harmony in our day to day life.  Respect to others can be as simple as paying attention to them enough to make sure that you don't bump into them on the street.  It also includes things such as paying attention to how your actions play a part in others lives; is what you are doing contributing or taking away from the quality of their lives?  This is an important thought to anyone who is trying to contribute to the world with their lives.  Respect to objects is also hugely important.  If you didn't give the attention to the objects that you use on a daily basis then life as we know it would be completely different.  Respect to self includes many things such as caring for your emotional and physical health, putting attention into your appearance, and wanting and striving towards success for yourself.  When you have respect for yourself then you will be able to respect others, and you will be able to go far in life!

All of the above examples are just a couple of my quick thoughts into the classifications of respect.  I am sure with a quick Google search you could find books upon books on each of these areas.  The ones I mentioned above are easy things to give attention to, and if you don't show these basic respects in your own life then try doing it for a while, you wont be disappointing!  It is my feeling that people typically think of respect as some extra action that is needed in order to give reverence to something, but to me actions of reverence are more etiquette than respect, and it doesn't become respectful until you give it that special attention, mindfulness.  


RJ LoPresti
www.facebook.com/InstructorRJLoPresti
www.choeshapkidocumming.blogspot.com/
www.youtube.com/InstructorRJLoPresti
www.iLoveMartialArtsGeorgia.com
www.iLoveKickboxing.com
   

Happiness vs. Contentment

I had a discussion with one of my students recently about happiness.  We were talking about different cultures around the world, and we discussed that in all of the areas of the world where the average life expectancy was higher than most other place the people seemed to be over all happier.  We talked about this for a while to try and find out what common threads there were between the people that lived for a long time.  There were some dietary commonalities, but something that was similar in all of the people is that they were active with working to help their families and communities.  The men and women in these areas had a very strong since of belonging and family that kept them working.  I am not talking about working as in a job, but working as in taking care of children, gardening and other activities that promote the common well-being.  After some contemplation I think we discovered what it was that made these people live so long.........

At first the thought came up that these people were just happy, and that got us talking about how many Americans are not happy.  We are so focused on results and goal achievement that we do not do the things that lead to happiness.  This strikes me as odd because I consider myself a pretty happy person, but I tend to focus more on results and goal achievement than on things that are supposed to make us "happy."  The student I was talking with told me he was the same way.  After some more thought we decided that it was not happiness that people need to live long, but it was contentment, or fulfillment.  In all of the areas that people usually lived a lot longer, the people had a strong sense of purpose that keep them active and working towards the well being of people that were important to them.  This fit perfectly along with how I felt, and I have felt this way for a long time but putting it into words when I discussed it with my student was refreshing.

What we realized is that we don't need happiness to be "happy."  We need to feel contentment and fulfillment from what we do; we need to have a sense of purpose.  Too many Americans it seems are working really hard to reach happiness, but the activities that they do on a daily basis to get there do not provide contentment.  I don't think that working 15 hour days makes anyone "happy" but if your work gives you a sense of purpose that leaves you content with the work you have done, then it doesn't matter that we are not happy, because we have something better than happiness; we are fulfilled.  The trick to it then is to find what it is that will give you this feeling.  From my personal experience and from what I have seen from observing others that seem "happy," the kind of life that does this is one filled with passion for what you do, and in every instance I can recall it involves helping others as much as if not more than yourself.  If you can derive fulfillment and happiness from others being fulfilled and happy then it matters very little how "happy" you are by the common standards because you can create happiness for yourself any time by helping others.

“I believe that the very purpose of life is to be happy. From the very core of our being, we desire contentment. In my own limited experience I have found that the more we care for the happiness of others, the greater is our own sense of well-being. Cultivating a close, warmhearted feeling for others automatically puts the mind at ease. It helps remove whatever fears or insecurities we may have and gives us the strength to cope with any obstacles we encounter. It is the principal source of success in life. Since we are not solely material creatures, it is a mistake to place all our hopes for happiness on external development alone. The key is to develop inner peace.”

--Dalai Lama 


RJ LoPresti
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www.iLoveMartialArtsGeorgia.com
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