What will it take to be free? Study the Pacem Art of Freedom.
I once did an analysis within the martial arts club that I was a member, to see how far students got within their training. What I found was very telling. In our club, belt colors for each level were: white, yellow, green stripe, green, blue stripe, blue, red stripe, red, black stripe, black.
The numbers showed that a large percentage of people quit without even getting their yellow belt and the drop out rate continued into the higher belt colors. Only 1% of the students who started, managed to get through the training to obtain their black belt. 99% of the students quit.
The reasons are varied. Lots lose interest, don't like the hard work, perhaps they even got injured. Rather than talking about why they quit, how about we discuss what it took to succeed instead? What does it take to be that 1%?
When I first started, I was still very depressed and suicidal. I thought it would help me with the mental discipline to heal. I quite after about a month. A few months later I went through my surrender and started the healing process in earnest. Part way through that process I started training again. This time I wanted to do it for the health benefits and to help support the healing process that I was going through. The first 3-4 months were really rough as the emotional baggage came flowing out. I would literally be sitting on the floor bawling my eyes out as my body could no longer contain all the sadness and pain that I stuffed inside for 33 years.
There were many times where I did not feel like going. But I forced myself to go, no matter how crappy I was feeling. By the end of the night I felt good and I was glad that I went. I then started training even more, by attending every class the club put on. Yes, I even went to the kids class. I trained at first with a room full of 6-10 year olds and then I started helping out too. I was putting in 9 hours a week and healing every step of the way.
As with everything in life, there tends to be a spot where we plateau. I've seen it in projects and I've even experienced it in my training. I got to the point where I felt I was not improving any longer and the routine was getting boring. Being a black belt was still a long ways away and I was stuck in the middle of the class. I was tempted to quit many times, but I decided that I would continue my training because it was still benefiting my health. It was a tool that I used to maintain my emotional, physical and mental health that I worked so hard to recover from.
To help me through that slump, I decided to be of service to others and help people. That is when I had the opportunity to take over teaching the kids class as the black belt and a dear friend of mine, decided to take a step back. I had the confidence of Grand Master James Lo to teach this class, so I stepped in and took over. It was one of the most rewarding experiences I've had during my training. No greater feeling in the world than to see the eyes on my students faces when they achieve an accomplishment that they had no idea they could do.
Flying side kick for my black stripe, broke two boards at once.
There was also a dear friend who was a black stripe for years and so I encouraged her to get her black belt. Except she only remembered a few of her patterns as she helped with the kids classes as well. So we spent hours going over all her patterns to get ready for her promotion. Another student joined us as she too was promoting. During promotion night they got up and did spectacularly well. That is when Grand Master Lo surprised me and asked me to step up and do mine. I was shocked as I was not supposed to be promoting for my black belt for at least another six months to a year. But there I was, one of the rare cases in the club to get a black belt so quickly. Teaching classes is when my training really started and that is when my spiritual insights started to come. That is when the true spiritual healing started to take shape.
March 23, 2004 - Black belt promotion breaking three cinder blocks.
Why am I sharing this story and what does it have to do with freedom? Well, I found the process for freedom to be almost identical. Lots of people want a form to fill out, sign on the dotted line and they are free. But that is not what freedom is. Freedom requires emotional, mental, physical and spiritual health & balance. It is a lot of hard work and gutting through the tough times. Freedom will test you over and over to make sure that this is REALLY what you want.
This is not an easy process and it is not possible to accomplish freedom when holding onto a lot of trauma, dogma and crap. Without realizing it, I've been training for my black belt for this Pacem Art called Freedom for nearly 15 years. As there are very few living Pacem Art Grand Masters or black belts, it is tough to gauge whether I got my black belt or not. There is no formal test or ceremony that tells me whether I've accomplished that goal or not. The big test will not be when people ask me to train them. I've had many over the years. Just like the martial arts, they quit and fail to obtain their black belt. The best test will be when I've helped somebody get their own black belt in the Pacem Art of Freedom and they start training others to do the same.
Just as "Martial" is the Latin term for "War", "Pacem" is the Latin term for "Peace".
The Pacem Art of Freedom is something that I've worked hard to train myself to be proficient. What I do is tougher than what most of the other 'teachers' out there teach and tougher than the Martial Arts too! Some of those Pacem Arts teachers actually teach Martial Arts masked as freedom, which is dangerous and deceitful! The Pacem Art of Freedom requires peace, patience, prosperity and several leaps of faith into the arms of Spirit. It encompass full range of health on all levels and demands a change in life style and outlook on life.
I know deep in my spirit that we are all capable of accomplishing much more than what we currently do. I know that this is tough work too. There are lots of things that happen to distract or persuade us to go a different direction. However, I am dedicated to getting my Black Belt in the Pacem Art of Freedom, more so than I was to getting my Black Belt in Martial Art of TaeKwonDo.
Broke the board with my jumping front kick held over my head by fellow black belt.
If you are indeed interested in the Pacem Art of Freedom, then you may want to attend the Spirit Mind Retreat being held on the shores of Battle Lake in Alberta, May 19-21st. The training is intense, but integral to freedom and peace that is starting to sweep over this planet. We are not going to be breaking bricks or boards, but we will be breaking a lot of barriers that we hold in our minds and hearts that limit our capacity for freedom and living life to its fullest! See you there!
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The path to freedom has not been easy for any of us. We seem to jump forward and then adjust to the new things we are encountering, and then when we are ready, and allow it, our next leap forward happens. I am finding that it is painful and exhilarating at the same time. I have also found that on this journey of freedom and growth, we may have to leave some people behind. As I do that, I thank them for the time we had and lovingly let them go. It is good for me and good for them. .. and it can be painful.
I loved this post. I felt some strong emotions about your journey; and my own. It's an honor to share the journey with you.
You are absolutely correct my friend. It is tough and rewarding! I've had to say good bye to friends and family as neither of them were prepared to support the journey that I was on. You have been one of those friends who stuck through it all for the last ten years we have known one another. Still going strong! <3 It is an honor and privilege to share the journey with you as well.
I have truly come to appreciate and value what you post here. It has opened up some very necessary dialogues for growth.
The journey to freedom can be so daunting. Often feeling like I am at my limit, then the overwhelming wave of surrender and peace. The effort is so worth it.
To be in the top 1% ... ahhhhhh :)
Would love to attend your workshops. Perhaps one day!
Love and peace to you my friend.
It would be so neat if the timing worked that we attend together! Much love @earthmother 🌹🌹🌹
Oh yes it would! Could you imagine!!!??? Xoxo
Well! It's on my radar to attend ASAP. As soon as the timing works out. Would be really serendipitous!!! And, probably pretty raw and messy tbh 😂
One day it would be great to meet you. Having you at a retreat would be an extra bonus! When my initiative gets going I have no doubt that people will donate the funds to get people here by plane, train or automobile!
I have no ID, so train? walking? LOL but i will get there!!!
train for sure! Beautiful ride. Well worth the time to take that trip.
The path to freedom is not easy. There are many obstacles. And the journey is never-ending. Just like life. We can never become complacent for when we do, someone is there to place another obstacle in front of you, to challenge you.
Indeed you are correct. Vigilance and persistence is my life motto and it serves me well in this art form as well.
I'm finally getting around to reading posts from those I value the most. You were first on the list. I've been using an auto voter but it's a crutch and I miss what important people post. Anyway, going to change that. Can't neglect your community . But I wanted to tell you too how grateful I am for the Steem delegation you gave me back in the day. Glad you were inspired to do so. It has made an enduring positive change in everything. Thank you. Oh, and I'm going to look into this Pacem Art practice. Never heard of it. Blessings.
Just catching up on all the comments as I've been away for nearly a week. Thank you brother for those beautiful comments. I'm moved to hear how grateful you are and I'm glad that it is helping you.
You have not heard of the Pacem Arts as I invented the term. :) Pacem is Latin for 'Peace' just as 'Martial' is Latin for 'War'. As nobody seems to study the Pacem Arts, I decided to start an idea and movement. I hope your search for peace is fruitful.
Wow! That really is a cool idea. Remember the old TV show... I think it was called Kung Fu or something like that, where "Grasshopper" went around kicking ass but in a peaceful way? That sentence makes me laugh. Anyway, go forth and serve @wwf.
I was wondering where you're going with this. I will attend one of these offerings. But, the upcoming one I am already not free. But, also, i am working to release a tremendous amount of trauma which needs to be let go of beforehand. The time will come. And, it will be good. Thank-you White Walking Feather, for your effort towards being a guiding light along this long and winding path. I trained in TKD, to yellow stripe. I could feel the 'war' in the art. And, opted to focus soley on yoga practice at the time and undewent a lot of (in retrospect) egotistical changes physically. I lost 30lbs in the process but through that craved spiritual growth. Which I thought would bring more peace to me. Years later and through much practice I did grow spiritually and continue to. In the upcoming times, i feel this spirituality will continue to manifest and then once i meet the right Spirits will become my greatest work while alive, stewarding the land. It's a beautiful life. 🙌Namaste!
These retreats are designed to help you release all kinds of trauma, dogma and other stuff that holds us back from our full potential. But I have no doubt that one day you will attend one. I look forward to meeting you one day.
There are lots of art forms out there. Taekwondo is a hard art, where yoga is a soft art. So there is always something out there to fit the interests of most people out there. I'm glad you found yoga and that it helps you out so much! Peace to you, fellow sacred steward of the land!
I definitely have attending one of the retreats on my radar. It will work out when it's meant to! And, i look forward to meeting you too! Ohhh the arts! I love art 🎶🎵 Really nice of you to reply to my comment. I appreciate your support in a good way 😊
Individual freedom is great, and that is a beautiful example of how to obtain that 1%, but equally bevomes a reflection at why there are those who view their past relatives hard work and efforts as to why they deserve to be where they are over the rest of us.
I still stand that independent freedom is the beginning, but if we do not have collaborated freedom by taking the time to listen to the story through the eyes/mind and heart of every being then we will as a unified soul never achieve this potential harmony.
:) Is there a way we can better prepare people to want to handle the hard work to get to freedom?
Are there people who work hard for freedom who have become trapped?
You do a lot, and I'm still grateful for what you have done...
I'm sorry there are douche nozzles in this world that would see your work and want to topple your cards. (I had a "friend" who opened up to me about these feelingd when they saw your work wich made me realize that this process needs to not be promoted but sought for on an individual lvl)
But if those few who have taken the initiative forge together for that balanced fair exchange reality, it can become the true balance to lvl out the worlds current battle against those with the majority of wealth who see those not of the same class as virmin...
I prefer to
Celebrate the hard work, the trade and taming if the soul... not this wealthy "high class" way of living in dependency with slaves to do the house hold chores that as a child many of us were taught to adore..
Anyway rambling a wall of text as usual.
♡
Much love always
honestly i love this... a nice story....
Hi there @borno2527. Thanks for commenting on my blog. As you are new here, you may not realize that short comments like this are often viewed as spam. There are many people here who are looking for engaging conversations to add value to this work and the cryptocurrency as well. Feel free to share why you lost this story and add value to the community that works hard to share value! Peace to you and welcome to the steem blockchain!
love to read it...
Freedom is not easy. Many obstacles and journeys never end. Choice Discounts Some people may have another barrier to challenge you.
Hello @wwf this is a great article thank you for what you doing for this community. Freedom comes with use of free will at all times.
Sometimes we need to do exactly the things we have been avoiding for long to get to that level of freedom.And life crisis is all about forcing the balance upon us and highlighting the lessons we have been avoiding. Healing is all about balancing our life and taking the ownerswhip and resposabilty for it. We call it Martial Arts because there is a spiritual aspect. Overcoming physical and emotional challenges one of the best way to build confidence and conquer our fears. Freedom mean to me free from dependence and our fears and go beyond and that is a continuous process.