Who remembers the days of the self-help section in the bookstores? The sad shameful purchase that you barely got through the first chapter and it ended up making you feel worse than when you brought it home. Well look no further I’m here to tell you life is messy there is no genius person out there that has it all figured out. We are all just looking for our own balance in life. Sure we pick up tips along the way that make each day a little easier and we search for apps and platforms that promise the shiny new transformation we long for. But they don’t last.
Balance. We want it, we crave it. At Yes.Fit, you can find a little bit each day that will help you achieve the impossible, the unreachable… and yes your own goals that you set for yourself. Mastering showing up and Balance are two personal qualities in the Japanese Bushido tradition.
What is Bushido?
Bushido is a code of conduct that emerged in Japan from the Samurai, or Japanese warriors, who spread their ideals throughout society. They drew inspiration from Confucianism, With particular emphasis on the importance of the family and social harmony, rather than on an otherworldly source of spiritual values, the core of Confucianism is humanistic. The Bushido code contains eight key principles or virtues that warriors were expected to uphold.
- Justice– Adhere to a personal code of conduct.
- Courage– Journal about your fears and how to conquer them.
- Compassion– Do not be too hard on yourself, practice forgiveness.
- Respect– Show self-respect by eating healthy and exercising
- Integrity– Hold yourself to a higher standard through self reflection.
- Loyalty– Stick to your moral convictions even when under pressure
- Self Control– Focus on positive objectives rather than getting lost in negative temptations.
It’s believed that mastering showing up is the most important aspect of discipline, while balance is a result of mastering showing up. To be competent at anything requires one to be technically proficient and efficient, but this alone doesn’t guarantee mastery in any field because, as my dad likes to say: “You’re all show and no go”. In order to get the true benefits of their skills mastery needs to be achieved through practicing discipline and applying it in different areas of your life. Though it’s a little hard to translate, the best way to describe discipline is “the ability to do what needs to be done without any hesitation at all”.
In essence DON’T Think, DO!
You might notice that this translation is missing one important word, which is actually “purpose”. Discipline without purpose becomes a crutch that ends up being used for the wrong reasons. This is why it’s so important to master showing up as well. As we all know, practicing discipline is hard, but it’s also very important.
And, in order to practice it is most effective, we need to apply it in different areas of our lives. One of the most challenging aspects of discipline is having the willpower and motivation to practice, but keeping a long-term goal in mind will give you the fire you need to carry on until mastery is achieved.
Commitment rises above bad days, hectic schedules and volatile emotions. Commitment hangs in there when you don’t want to do it, when you don’t feel like doing it and when you don’t have time to do it. True commitment doesn’t depend on how you feel. It depends on your integrity and on living for the purpose you have set for yourself.
But wait, how do we get the motivation to do things that are both hard and not fun?
We find balance and mastery!
Balance and mastering showing up is about being good at life. It’s about doing the right things in the right way. This article describes how I think you can achieve each of them in your life by taking some ideas from Bushido, with a little bit of my own spin. Balance means that if we miss a day of exercise or lose our way on a diet, we will return to the plan. Mastery means we will practice showing up. That means putting on your shoes and exercise clothes. It means starting by buying healthy foods. It doesn’t mean perfect, it means intent. This is how you build healthy habits.
We will give you the tools you need and add a little bit of fun to the equation. The programs and methods are obtainable and you will stick with it. Getting fit is hard, it takes discipline, but we make it fun and keep you accountable!!
We challenge you to show up everyday.
80% of success is showing up!
Put on your shoes!
The willingness to show up makes us a little braver each time!
Whether you put in 5 minutes or 50 minutes, it’s still showing up.
It is still Committing to be Fit!
