The Will To Do

The Will To Do~ "My will to do springs from the knowledge that I CAN DO. I'm only being natural, for there is no fear or doubt inside my mind." Extraordinary effort, highly emotionalized conditions, or a true determination to win at all costs will release this extra energy. An athlete can actually be so tired, but since the athlete has that will and determination to win, they can keep on almost indefinitely in order to achieve their objective.

The Hero's Journey- The Known and The Unknown

The World May Not Be Sane, But There Is An Order To The Disorder! There is too much that doesn't make sense, too many injustices, too many acts of random violence, too much hate toward one another, and many people believing for every moment that this is the way it's supposed to be. It saddens me to see what this world has become at any cost. How this world has literally turned upside down, and as a whole empathy toward one another has been completely lost. What has happened to this world? The days when people were kind and showed support for one another through the toughest of times. Now a person is praised and is backed up by others when they express hate toward someone who did not meet a certain expectation. Smh...

BUT, with that being said, I also believe that we can still maintain our serenity, our spirituality, and our sanity by remembering that for every act of madness there is always a corresponding act of BEAUTY. That we must be anchors of sensibility, oasis of joy, and guideposts of HOPE in an imperfect paradise...especially to those who need it the most.

I want to share something special that happened to me today. I have always tried to pay attention to the signs and messages that present themselves to me. I do not believe in coincidences. I believe that if everyone could see past the distractions, the hate, and the chaos...they would receive messages of hope and love. It is love that truly wins in the end. 

I first want to say that my heart and prayers go out to Ronda Rousey during this difficult time. I was an athlete since the age of 4, and I can completely relate to the challenges she is facing in sport and in life right now. My thoughts go out to her family...her wonderful mother- AnnMaria DeMars, her sisters Maria Burns Ortiz, Jennifer Rousey, and Julia DeMars. At the end of the day, it is family who will support you and help pick up the pieces when all seems lost. 

This morning as I am working on my computer, I looked over at the book Rousey: MyFight/YourFight (a great book that shows the true emotion and passion of Ronda), which was written by Ronda and her sister Maria Burns Ortiz. This whole situation has been very heavy on my heart since all of this went down on December 30, 2016. To me it is more than just fighting...it is living...it is growing...it is understanding...it is surviving...it is overcoming. It breaks my heart to see others hurt and in pain. I tend to feel other people's emotions, and I try to send tokens of love and hope when needed. So I leaned over and grabbed her book...closed my eyes and just opened the book on whatever page it decided to open up to. Just to see where it would lead me.  I do this all the time with books just to see where I land and what messages are given at that right moment. The book opened to page 77. What a message...Absolutely AMAZING!

First, looking at the special number Seven (and doubles too) is considered a very positive number with a strong message. Symbolizing inner wisdom, intuition, contemplation, understanding, inner strength, tenacious, endurance, determination, development, spiritual awakening. But the main message of double 7 (77) is: 

*To Expect Miracles To Occur In Your Life*  

Hasn't Ronda already experienced all sorts of miracles at her young age of 29? Of course she has... so many accomplishments/achievements at a very young age...but it goes deeper than that. I believe that miracles will continue and always surround Ronda and will always be there to give her hope, light, and love. She must trust her instinct and be confident in all of her decisions. She doesn't need to place a high emphasis on all of her successes, but instead focus on her journey...what she has endured, what she has overcome, understanding herself completely through this process right at this moment. Life always comes full circle. The adventure of life is to LEARN. The purpose of life is to GROW. The nature of life is to CHANGE. The challenge of life is to OVERCOME. The essence of life is to CARE. The opportunity of life is to LOVE. The secret of life is to DARE. The beauty of life is to GIVE. 

As I sat back and read Page 77, I began to cry and was overtaken by so much emotion. Amazing page with such an ironic and powerful message. I won't spoil it and will allow for anyone who is interested to go read that page and the message that was as clear as it gets. I am not sure if Ronda will ever see this blog entry (my hope is that she does), but if not, maybe here family will. If not, there are many lessons that can apply to anyone reading this. We all fall, break, succeed, overcome- this is what life is all about. As I read that page, I began to take notes and felt a very strong push to write this blog entry (fyi, this is something I normally wouldn't do, especially with someone I do not know). Like the saying goes- send out love and positive vibes to the universe and that love and energy will go to where it needs to go. There are always two realities...the one outside of us and the one inside. We must constantly remember there is always far MORE TO LIFE THAN MEETS THE EYE. The universe extends far beyond our limited perception and there will always be something new to discover.

My interpretation of Page 77 is The Hero's Journey

*The Known and The Unknown* 

Each of us has a purpose in life...we all walk down our own paths of life different from one another but intersecting, challenged, interacting with others as we walk down our individual path to the unknown. Initially, things go smoothly for some, while others face bumps along the way. You know your time will come when you will be challenged and tested on your journey (this is all apart of life). Life is a beautiful struggle...experiencing the good and the bad, winning and losing>>>with an understanding that one can not work without the other. Sometimes you have to let life turn you upside down, so you can learn how to live right side up again. You must experience both sides of the coin in order to understand the process. The process of who you are, what you are made of, and knowing that there is more to life than what is in front of you. To be able to see beyond the obvious and to discover what lives deep inside of your spirit...is a gift some may never get an opportunity to experience. The part of you that holds your most dearest things, where love lives unconditionally, and the continuous light that shines when all seems dark. Life is never fair and most times it can be very cruel, but through the process of struggle and loss one begins to see through the illusion of life itself. Love, peace, joy, happiness, creativity, and humor are all gifts that are given freely to bring meaning to your life. With these gifts, you are also given a new power of perception to help you detect what isn't meaningful to your growth and awareness.

Only you hold the key to what matters and what is important. This is your journey...your process. Protect it. The more perilous the way, the more freeing it is, for it is in the throes of true peril that we are usually forced to let go of attachments to what once seemed important in order to DISCOVER WHAT IS TRULY IMPORTANT. Your inner journeys-your searches for meaning, place, purpose, and peace...and your paths are the form of expression your lives take. People will try to stop you from overcoming, others will try to bring you down then raise you up...just to bring you back down again, and some will kick you harder when you are down. But when one side reveals itself another side emerges. 

Believe in miracles and know that they are possible. Hold on to the the people who stand beside you when all seems dark. Embrace the ones that will lay down next to you and won't say one thing but you feel the presence of their love. Feel The Gifts Of Love All Around You. You have passion, you have heart, you have fight...and you have something special and magical inside of your spirit. *The love of the person that you have lived for every single day and continue to live for. That love is with you every step of the way...with every win, every loss, every challenge, every moment. He will never leave you. Miracles are real* 

You are stronger than you think, you have what it takes to do anything/to overcome anything, you have a special purpose in this life>>>that is what truly matters. Life comes full circle. To understand is to connect. The more you understand and experience, the greater and deeper you will connect with yourself and with all that is around you. Recognize the gift that lives inside of you...the gift of love. Remember who you are and where you came from. Never forget what you have endured and what you have overcome in LIFE! Life takes you to unexpected places and you meet unexpected people but finally its LOVE that brings you back home...the point of UNITY, LIGHT, and CENTER. 

Everything happens for a reason (blessings in disguise). You may not understand right at the moment what is happening and why things are playing out the way they are, but in time things will reveal themselves to you (only when it is the right time for you). Truth is everyday life. Create an atmosphere of freedom, so you can live and find out for yourself what is true. Absorb what is useful, reject what is useless and add what is essentially your own. May your daily actions and reflections keep you centered and not distracted from your true source of STRENGTH AND PEACE. The earth that nourishes you, the air that rejuvenates you, the water that cleanses you, and the stillness that calms you. Take the time to turn toward the direction in which your heart is stirring. Have the courage to let tiny seeds of possibility grow and take root within you.

Always hold on to what you believe, reach out to what you want to achieve, and FOREVER SHINE YOUR LIGHT! This is your life- full of love, purpose, passion, and spirit- all the things that make YOU! And Absolutely NO ONE can take that away from you. BE YOU, STAY STRONGER, FINISH YOUR FIGHT!  

BELIEVE

LOVE WINS

The nature of love is one of the most complex things to comprehend. One of my favorite quotes by Bruce Lee is: "If one loves, one need not have an ideology of love." Instead, love--true love--is a state or condition of being wherein the activities of the self have ceased. And in order to experience this state, an understanding of the workings of the self in all of its many varieties of consciousness is required."

You must think of love as a mutual experience of the body and the mind. When you love you must believe on one level that there is something constant about the body (physical constant) and that this physical constant is inherently and intrinsically enduring and tightly "connected" to what you perceive to be the identity of the person you love, the activity you love, or even the object you love.

However, we do change or better yet...we are change, as it is our ability to change with the change. Bruce Lee referred to this as "the changeless state." In order to have success in the people and things you love you must have its experience transcend your physical body...in order for love to evolve, you must experience the powerful emotional state as well.

In the case that the emotion of love is not present, a state of not being able to change with change results in a changed state, this will often lead to "growing apart." We must allow things in our life to evolve in its natural process, which will bring a truly wonderful experience. We must often remind ourselves not to possess or cling to the physical world.

As mentioned, the physical world is itself illusory, you're engaging in non-reality-based behavior, and this will set you up for failure. Instead allow your experience of love to happen naturally, allowing you to "let go" by not clinging to it, you will find that your relationships, goals, everyday activities will not only become more interesting, but will grow into a very strong unity of body, mind, and spirit.

Love can only exist in an environment that is free of ego--where one has forgotten oneself. To Bruce Lee, one did not have or possess "love" but rather lived the emotion in the present to the fullest possible degree and reveled in the experience of it. When love surrounds you, it becomes a tremendous physical, mental, and spiritual experience.

"Love is like a friendship caught on fire. In the beginning, a flame, very pretty, often hot and fierce, but still only light and flickering. As love grows older, our hearts mature and our love becomes as coals, deep burning and unquenchable."-Bruce Lee

You must value happiness and know that happiness in relationships, family, workplace, everyday activities should be derived, not from a whirlwind that involves an extreme emotional state, but from a more balanced relationship/behavior...remember that true Yin/Yang is expressed through temperance and moderation--not by running to extremes.

"Nothing can be secured by extremes...only sober moderation lasts, and that persists through all time. Only the mid-part of anything is preserved because the pendulum (of life) must have balance, and the mid-part is the balance," says Lee.

So I leave you with this thought...allow life to live through you, remember that to get the most out of life lies simply in your decision to live your life with the principle of balance and to learn to cooperate with the natural patterns of our world. Most importantly, let your career, relationships, and daily activities be harmonious expressions of who you truly are.

With Love, Dofitness
 Little, J. The Warrior Within. 1996. Pgs. 64-67.

Flex Ability

Did you know that stretching your legs could improve your muscle performance. According to reports from a Clinical Journal Of Sports Medicine Study, scientist took flexibility and leg-strength measurements of 30 participants and asked them to stretch each leg for 2 minutes 5 days per week. After 6 weeks, they found that the volunteers' flexibility had increased by 35 percent; quad strength had increased by 3.2 percent; and hamstring strength had increased by 5 percent. Stretching is so important in preventing injuries, but most importantly, it helps make your legs stronger by increasing your muscles' range of motion, making joint movement more efficient. And what does all of this mean...MORE POWER!!! So hit the floor and get tough: Broaden your muscles with at least 15 minutes of Yoga or Pilates twice a week. Oh Yeah...One more thought: In Order To Be The Most Fit-Sounded Person (a complete image of health and fitness), YOU Must Separate Yourself From The Average. You Must Achieve Every Part That Makes You Who You Are ...YOU ARE WHAT YOU DO!!! 

Time Is What Life Is Made Of

TIME ACCORDING TO BRUCE LEE:

THE CHANGE IS FROM INNER TO OUTER...WE START BY DISSOLVING OUR ATTITUDE NOT BY ALTERING OUTER CONDITIONS.

THE MOMENT IS FREEDOM. TRY TO LIVE FREELY FROM MOMENT TO MOMENT, LETTING THINGS HAPPEN AND ADJUSTING TO THEM.

THE TRUTH EXISTS HERE AND NOW. HAVE OPENNESS AND FREEDOM...THE FREEDOM TO BE OPEN AND NOT TETHERED BY ANY IDEAS, CONCEPTS, ETC.

TIME IS WHAT LIFE IS MADE OF! USE IT WISELY AND MAKE YOUR MARK ON THE WORLD! :)

SUBCONSCIOUS MIND

"Recognizing the influence of my subconscious mind over my power of will, I shall take care to submit to it a clear and definite picture of my major purpose in life and all minor purposes leading to my major purpose, AND I SHALL KEEP THIS PICTURE CONSTANTLY BEFORE MY SUBCONSCIOUS MIND BY REPEATING IT DAILY!!!!"  -Bruce Lee

Apply this to your everyday world.

Focus On Stretching

How many of you struggle with touching your toes (done the proper way, with legs straight)? Or maybe you just always seem to be tight no matter how much you stretch.

Many studies have shown that people who are unable to touch their toes show a huge amount of poor flexibility which inhibits the ability to build muscle and makes them more susceptible to injuries, especially those involving your lower back.

The reality is that a thin film of connective tissue called fascia surrounds every bone, organ, and muscle in your body like a big sheet of plastic wrap. The fascia unites seemingly separate muscle groups, causing them to function together. One of the best examples of this is "superficial back line," a chain of fascia-linked muscles that run from the top of your head, down your back, and all the way to your toes. The fascia ties these muscles together in such a way that if one muscle is stiff, it can limit movement at any joint up or down the chain. So if you are unable to touch your toes or have a hard time with stretching...the limiting factor could be the muscles of your lower back, in your calves, or even on the bottom of your feet.

All of this matters because stiffness in you superficial back line prevents you from working your lower-body muscles through their entire range of motion. This also leads to poor lower-back posture when you are performing movements such as squats and lunges.

Try to add a stretching routine to your daily regimen and try to include strength exercises that a will help increase your flexibility. You want to focus on stretches and exercises that lengthen and strengthen the back, hips, calves and soles. One important fact is that tight foot muscles can reduce the flexibility of your ENTIRE LOWER BODY.

Health and Fitness. 2007. pg. 148.

It Has Been Said...

Bruce Lee was an amazing athlete and someone who I admire tremendously. He was known for his amazing skills, strength, and quickness in the martial arts world, but was also known for his mental toughness and his philosophy on life...

It has been said that Bruce Lee could:
* Jab his fingers through an unopened Coke can at a time when they were still made of steel.

*Bruce's striking speed from 3 feet away was 500th of a second.

*Bruce once caved in a protective headgear made from heavy steel rods, that had previously withstood several blows from a sledgehammer.

*Bruce could hold an elevated v-sit position for 30 minutes or longer.

*Bruce could use one finger to leave dramatic indentations on pine wood.

*Bruce could break wooden boards 6 inches thick.

*Bruce performed 50 reps of one-arm chin-ups.

Find Your Purpose

WILLPOWER
RECOGNIZING THAT THE POWER OF WILL IS THE SUPREME COURT OVER ALL DEPARTMENTS OF MY MIND, I WILL EXERCISE DAILY WHEN I NEED THE URGE TO ACT FOR ANY PURPOSE; AND I WILL FORM HABITS DESIGNED TO BRING THE POWER OF MY WILL INTO ACTION AT LEAST ONCE DAILY.

INSPIRING WORDS FROM BRUCE LEE

SO MY WORDS TO YOU ARE TO FIND YOUR WILL...FIND YOUR PURPOSE. BELIEVE IN IT...EXERCISE IT AND TAKE ACTION! DISCOVER EACH DAY HOW YOUR PURPOSE HELPS YOU AND SHAPES YOU. AND MAKE IT HAPPEN EACH DAY!

WITH LOVE...DOFITNESS