I don't love blogging, but I do see its value and I know how important it is for me to continue even though I am not on the team this year. The problem I have with blogging is how to take all those thoughts and feelings swirling around in my head, make sense of them and then figure out how to put them into words. At first, sharing was extremely difficult and there are still times when my finger still hovers over that publish button wondering.... do I? or don't I??
I think that confidence and growth comes from our ability and willingness to continually step out of our comfort zones. Hiding behind a mask doesn't allow us to be true to ourselves. Even though my mask is firmly in place most of the time, I'm learning to drop it more and more through my blogging. Everything for me is a process and comes with time.
What is is about sharing that is so difficult to many of us? I think it is a feeling of vulnerability as we step out from behind our mask. Exposing our thoughts, feelings, and even mistakes can be scary. Acceptance and a fear of judgement can be powerful reasons to not share. When we do share our thoughts, emotions and ideas, we create open communication. Acceptance and understanding grows, and judgement eventually disappears.
Reflection, acknowledgement and sharing are powerful tools that can have huge benefits for the person doing the sharing and those of us willing to receive. Communication and sharing helps others to feel they are not alone and great ideas and innovations can be discovered through the process. So much can be accomplished through sharing and eventually that mask will no longer be needed.
Give... dig deep, and allow your authentic self to come through.
Michele Ward
P.S. Thank you to Sihing Csillag for sharing this week. Her post caused me to reflect and create this blog.
Sunday, 28 February 2016
Monday, 22 February 2016
Celebration
Another amazing Chinese New Year Banquet has come and gone. Logan and I have attended every banquet since he first joined kung fu 4 years ago and we have always enjoyed the evening and come away inspired and motivated.
If I had to pick a favourite part this year it would have to be the lion/dragon dance along with the I Ho Chuan demo. Second would be the speeches by the candidates which Logan and I always find inspiring every year. Being a member of the sheep team this year was especially memorable because I was able to contribute to hosting this event as well as performing in the demo and the lion/dragon dance.
Performing in the Dragon dance was especially difficult for me. The physical exertion combined with some extreme anxiety at times created challenges for me. Add in a lower back issue 2 days prior to the banquet and I almost had to call it quits. Without the help and support of Sifu Brinker as well as numerous team members, I would not have been out on those mats come banquet day to perform the dragon dance.
I was first inspired to learn the dragon dance through the success and accomplishment of past team members and yet at the same time the idea of 9 people joined together with everyone relying on each other to succeed and accomplish a common goal was terrifying. Not measuring up and letting the other team members down was my biggest fear and a huge contributing factor to my anxiety. And yet it was that same team as well as others that pulled together and provided the necessary help and support to all that needed it. We really did have an amazing sheep team this past year. Thank you to all!
Congratulations to Sifu Krebs, Sifu Fuhr, Sifu Vanderham and Sifu Csillag on your new black belts. Also, congratulations to Sifu Vantuil and Sifu Regier on your black belt promotions. Thank you to Sifu Randy Langner and Sifu Yitzik Csillag for all your hard work and dedication to the dragon dance. We couldn't have done it without you. And congratulations on receiving black belt of the year Sifu Csillag.
Enjoy the year of the monkey!
Michele Ward
If I had to pick a favourite part this year it would have to be the lion/dragon dance along with the I Ho Chuan demo. Second would be the speeches by the candidates which Logan and I always find inspiring every year. Being a member of the sheep team this year was especially memorable because I was able to contribute to hosting this event as well as performing in the demo and the lion/dragon dance.
Performing in the Dragon dance was especially difficult for me. The physical exertion combined with some extreme anxiety at times created challenges for me. Add in a lower back issue 2 days prior to the banquet and I almost had to call it quits. Without the help and support of Sifu Brinker as well as numerous team members, I would not have been out on those mats come banquet day to perform the dragon dance.
I was first inspired to learn the dragon dance through the success and accomplishment of past team members and yet at the same time the idea of 9 people joined together with everyone relying on each other to succeed and accomplish a common goal was terrifying. Not measuring up and letting the other team members down was my biggest fear and a huge contributing factor to my anxiety. And yet it was that same team as well as others that pulled together and provided the necessary help and support to all that needed it. We really did have an amazing sheep team this past year. Thank you to all!
Congratulations to Sifu Krebs, Sifu Fuhr, Sifu Vanderham and Sifu Csillag on your new black belts. Also, congratulations to Sifu Vantuil and Sifu Regier on your black belt promotions. Thank you to Sifu Randy Langner and Sifu Yitzik Csillag for all your hard work and dedication to the dragon dance. We couldn't have done it without you. And congratulations on receiving black belt of the year Sifu Csillag.
Enjoy the year of the monkey!
Michele Ward
Sunday, 14 February 2016
Stress and Anxiety
As I step up and make a conscious effort to participate in life, I am faced with how to deal with my anxiety and how do I manage my stress differently to make this happen. Stress is part of our everyday lives and can affect us positively or negatively. Up until this past year, I always thought of stress in general terms and associated it with a negative feeling. I know now that stress can be positive and come from activities that excite or thrill you, or from doing something that motivates or inspires you and often times there is apprehension or nervousness as well. But a positive benefit, large or small is usually the result.
Negative stress can be toxic to our system when we allow it to build. I can always tell when my stress level is becoming elevated because my ability to cope decreases and my anxiety increases. Also because of the physical effects of negative stress, my motivation and emotional well being are affected as well. A vicious circle is created.
When it comes to anxiety, some of us are more affected than others. My anxiety has always been mild to moderate and I have lived with it for as long as I can remember. Stress and anxiety are closely tied to each other and I know that for me emotional well being is also closely linked as well. I don't want to just learn to manage my stress and anxiety, I want to learn how to be proactive rather than reactive. I want to participate in life, not just react to life.
Just this week I watched a video and heard an interesting idea in regards to stress. By engaging in activities that are outside our comfort zone and adding adventure to our lives, positive stress is added. This positive stress enables us to be able to adapt to the small negative stresses and as a result, we no longer react the same way as we did in the past. Not only do we change the way we react, we can also see it as an opportunity. For example, if you have to wait in a long line, instead of being stressed you can use the time to meditate or engage in some friendly conversation. In fact a simple change in perspective can convert negative stress into positive stress.
Recently my anxiety has become more intense. I thought that I could manage it on my own and that is not the case. There are times when we can not fix things ourselves without a little help. It is time for me to make use of some of the available resources. I have found a natural remedy that will help with the anxiety and reduced energy levels. In addition to taking this natural supplement I can strive to consciously reduce mediocrity and apply mastery and mindfulness to all tasks. I know this will be a process and that there will be success and failure, but the benefit will be reduced levels of negative stress and hopefully increased positive stress.
Michele Ward
Negative stress can be toxic to our system when we allow it to build. I can always tell when my stress level is becoming elevated because my ability to cope decreases and my anxiety increases. Also because of the physical effects of negative stress, my motivation and emotional well being are affected as well. A vicious circle is created.
When it comes to anxiety, some of us are more affected than others. My anxiety has always been mild to moderate and I have lived with it for as long as I can remember. Stress and anxiety are closely tied to each other and I know that for me emotional well being is also closely linked as well. I don't want to just learn to manage my stress and anxiety, I want to learn how to be proactive rather than reactive. I want to participate in life, not just react to life.
Just this week I watched a video and heard an interesting idea in regards to stress. By engaging in activities that are outside our comfort zone and adding adventure to our lives, positive stress is added. This positive stress enables us to be able to adapt to the small negative stresses and as a result, we no longer react the same way as we did in the past. Not only do we change the way we react, we can also see it as an opportunity. For example, if you have to wait in a long line, instead of being stressed you can use the time to meditate or engage in some friendly conversation. In fact a simple change in perspective can convert negative stress into positive stress.
Recently my anxiety has become more intense. I thought that I could manage it on my own and that is not the case. There are times when we can not fix things ourselves without a little help. It is time for me to make use of some of the available resources. I have found a natural remedy that will help with the anxiety and reduced energy levels. In addition to taking this natural supplement I can strive to consciously reduce mediocrity and apply mastery and mindfulness to all tasks. I know this will be a process and that there will be success and failure, but the benefit will be reduced levels of negative stress and hopefully increased positive stress.
Michele Ward
Monday, 8 February 2016
1000 Miles
"A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step" - Lao Tzu. For me this is symbolic of the path that I chose to take at the beginning of the Year of the Sheep. It is no coincidence that one of the requirements is 1609 km or 1000 miles. Every goal is possible from a single step.
Start with a single step and become an active participant in your kung fu, your health, your relationships, your family, your community, the environment and the world around you. By choosing to be an active participant in your own life and life in general, mediocrity becomes a thing of the past. Not only does mediocrity decrease, we also gain the ability to prevent difficulties, sense disorder coming and manage it in advance. Participation in life is a key element to pursuing mastery.
I have gained a greater understanding this past year of what it means to not live with mediocrity and to pursue mastery. I have begun to connect the dots between what I've accomplished and done throughout my I Ho Chuan year, and how it translates to all areas or my life. One day at a time, one moment at a time, one step at a time.
Welcome monkeys to a brand new exciting year!
Michele Ward
Start with a single step and become an active participant in your kung fu, your health, your relationships, your family, your community, the environment and the world around you. By choosing to be an active participant in your own life and life in general, mediocrity becomes a thing of the past. Not only does mediocrity decrease, we also gain the ability to prevent difficulties, sense disorder coming and manage it in advance. Participation in life is a key element to pursuing mastery.
I have gained a greater understanding this past year of what it means to not live with mediocrity and to pursue mastery. I have begun to connect the dots between what I've accomplished and done throughout my I Ho Chuan year, and how it translates to all areas or my life. One day at a time, one moment at a time, one step at a time.
Welcome monkeys to a brand new exciting year!
Michele Ward
Monday, 1 February 2016
Good Fortune!
Logan and I were presented with an opportunity to attend the Ging Wu Chinese New Years banquet on Saturday night. This opportunity came to us in the form of a gift of two tickets, given to us by Sifu Csillag. Thank you, Sifu for this wonderful Act of Kindness! We had an amazing time. The performances were inspiring to watch, the food was great and the company was perfect. We had a great group of people from Silent River at our table. Great conversation, and lots of laughs! In addition to the performances and food, we were lucky to have our very own tea leaf reader sitting at the table. Thank you Mrs. Csillag for your entertaining fortune telling. Who needs fortune cookies? Tea leaf reading is much more fun. And if that wasn't enough, we had a door prize winner at both of the tables which I understand hasn't happened in a very long time, if ever. Logan was also given a dragon by Sifu Brinker, which was made out of numerous little red packets, intricately folded and glued together. What an amazing souvenir of a perfect evening. Thank you!
When you are on the receiving end of an act of kindness, it really does help you to understand the importance those acts of kindness can have, and increases awareness and the desire to have a positive impact on others.
Thank you, and good fortune to all!
Michele Ward
When you are on the receiving end of an act of kindness, it really does help you to understand the importance those acts of kindness can have, and increases awareness and the desire to have a positive impact on others.
Thank you, and good fortune to all!
Michele Ward
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