The Stranger: Journal Entry # 3

Universalism: My Personal Philosophy

 (I know that I wrote more then 10 however I could not get rid of any of them.)

• I believe in a greater power out there in the universe that has to do with using our mind. If we choose to then you can become in tune with the universe. The universe has its own living power that is around us all the time. This is important to me because this is how I see the world. I have been training in Shin Shin Toitsu Aikido, and without this principle it would be impossible to do this type of Aikido.
•  Look at things positively. If you look at something negatively then it will come back to haunt you later. I find this important because this is how I see the world. If I focus on all the terrible things then I feel down and depressed. However since I view the world positively then I can be happier. This doesn't mean, I don't face the facts of what really happens all around the world just find a way to help the people positively instead of having an endless cycle of negativity.
• Others can only control you if you let them lead your mind. This is true for me. If I let others who are around me take control of my mind then I go crazy and get stressed out because usually this happens when I am under some sort of pressure.
•  Do not complain just do what you have to do, and it will be done faster than you previously believed. I don't have to go to sleep at 1 am, I usually go to sleep around 9:30 pm and still have time to eat dinner and do other things important to me on a night that a project is due. This is what I always do. I do not obsess on how much homework I have for 30 minutes (like freshmen year) I just do it and I get it done.
• Believe in yourself. Do everything with confidence. I find that when I don't believe in myself and I don't have confidence, then I have a harder time doing the same thing that I previously did.
• There is no try there is only do and do not. Only you can make the decision to do or not do. I know this sounds like Yoda but it is true. What point is there to try? That just means you failed at something and didn't accomplish it. This is also what my sensei's in Aikido say frequently. You can either do it, or you can't. There is no in between.
• Have an open mind. Be open to new things. If I didn't do this then I would not like traveling and I would be complaining about classes all the time. This is important to me because if something doesn't make sense to me then I try to have an open mind then I can try to understand why a person wants me to do this or that.
• Don't start complaining till you know the complete details. I notice that people frequently obsess over assignments that seem so difficult but later end up being so easy. For example the Spanish IA was not as difficult as I thought it was, but I complained about it before I got the assignment.
• Be kind to others even when you do not like them. In the end these people might end up being your friend. This is how I made some friends that I thought I would never be friends with. Since I was never mean to them they still respected me enough so when I became more of their friend we became very good friends. This is additionally important because not being kind to people sends off a negative energy which is not good in the end, and probably just creates more drama.
• Do your absolute best. Do not expect more or less. I always do my absolute best or attempt to at every instant in time. This is important to me because when I don't do my absolute best then I belittle myself and make myself feel very small. I don't understand why I thought that not doing my best at that particular instant in time makes me any better or for what reason I didn't do my best.
• Listen to your body. Don't push yourself to far. Relax. I have had injuries because I don't listen or I push myself to hard. Last year I badly sprained my toe right before a big event and still did the event and I still gives me trouble sometimes. I don't think I ever completely healed, however it's too late to do anything about it now.
• Control your mind, it's hard than it looks. Have a calm mind.  (Your mind reflects your body.) I learned this principle in Aikido and this is why I am so disciplined, this is why I do good in school and time management. It is because I control my mind.
• Distinguish when something is right and something is wrong then do the right thing. This is important to me because if I do the wrong thing I have a terrible feeling in the pit of my stomach. Typically if I know something is wrong then I do not do it.
• Do not procrastinate. (Shows you have a weak mind) I am still working on this part of my philosophy. One of my sensei's said that procrastinating shows you have a weak mind. This is important to me because it makes me strive for a better me.
• Your goal for school should be to learn, not to get an "A". If that is your goal, change it. I do not go for the "A" like it seems a lot of people think. When teachers ask me if I'm going for the "A" I tell them yes but that is not my ultimate goal. My ultimate goal is to learn. If I don't learn anything then I feel that I am just wasting time. If end up getting an "A" in the process of learning then that is great, however if I don't that is okay too. Just as long as I did my best.