Taking the Time for You

By Eric Scott

The Martial Arts Perspective

I have a great job. I teach full-time, and get to use martial arts and self-defense as a vehicle for personal development for kids and adults. The youngsters get it that they are meant to be learning full-time, and their mother and father invest in them. The parents are rather more of a challenge when faced with their own personal development. On occasion adults would prefer to sacrifice than put aside the time for their own development plan. Some adults think it's egotistic - that learning and personal development is a luxury.



Lifelong Learning

Learning is not a luxurious excess , but it is a pastime; but learning is the only leisure activity that offers a return on the investment of money and time. We're most of the way through 2015. My clients hear it from me at least once per month. Next year will be the same as this year, excepting these three things - the people you have met, the books you have read, and the things you are better at. Human connections, knowledge, and skills.

Beginning an Israeli Krav Maga self-defense program is enfranchising but might not be for everyone, but the plan has to include something that is challenging and time-bound. One issue is that the types of goals we can set and enjoy don't appear brave. But the truth is that if we are not growing a little, we are dying a bit.



A Basic Development Plan:

I don't get preachy with adults, but when I am getting questions, I share an example of what I do each month:

Read one book per month on an engaging topic

Make a short list of work and personal abilities I'd like to work on, and do it. Not moving mountains, tiny things. Lynda.com can be a great resource for this. I learned video editing, which is great for private and business. There's a boom in learning possibilities for anything you'd want to learn - including my online Krav Maga programs.

Put the phone down and strike up a fascinating conversation with somebody at the cafe once every week, and spend 20 minutes learning about what he or she does. It's the most simple place in the world to have a genuine conversation, without having to "network. " (Yuck)

The months roll by and I I never have time I'd like. Neither will you. It's gratifying to understand I am making a tiny bit of progress at a time, which is coincidentally also the key to progress in self-defense skills.

About the Author:

Eric Scott is a pro martial arts instructor and founder of Self-defense Global . Self-defense Global offers gear, coaching, and training missions for a safer life. He offers a free video introductory class which has additional info than most paid programs including a week of video lessons, and a free electronic book.