WAH LUM®

Are you the type of person who keeps track of their macronutrients with a nutrition app, uses a fancy fitness watch for steps and activity, or maybe goes old school with a paper planner?

All of these have value because they give us a moment to think.

But a challenge is getting caught up in the exact metrics of our training. We want the perfect routine, with the exact number of reps to reach our goals. 

Taking a moment to think and plan is incredibly valuable, but have you noticed that if something is truly valuable to you, it shows up in multiple places?

Look around your life right now.

• If you care about learning, books begin to pile up around the house.
• If you care about people and community, gatherings start to happen naturally.
• If you care about health, you suddenly find yourself walking more or making better choices without having to force it.

The same thing happens in your martial arts training.

If you value your Kung Fu or Tai Chi skill, you will find a way to practice… even if you can’t make it to the Temple to train. Someone who values movement will always find time to stretch, practice their forms, or simply play.

Your values leak into your behavior. 

This explains why overly complicated training systems or extreme diets almost always fail. They try to force a set of behaviors without ever addressing your underlying values. If you don’t actually value the outcome, no chart, tracking app, or new program is going to save you.

But once a value is clear in your mind, the system becomes incredibly simple. You don’t need external motivation to do the things that truly matter to you. They begin to show up on their own, seamlessly blending into your day.

I like to get steps in when I do yard work or am cleaning up around the Temple. I don’t need a complex system to make it happen; I value the movement, so the behavior follows.

I also value the amount of money I spent on the pants I currently own, so I usually turn down the extra serving of cookies or cake (not always! but usually).

Take a moment to look at your daily habits today. What values are leaking into your behavior right now?

See you in training,

Sifu Oscar

 

P.S. Make movement a value. People often fail to start training because they think they need a complicated system to begin. You don’t. You just need to show up. If you are ready to build a new habit, here are 2 ways I can help:

1. See it for yourself: The best way to understand Wah Lum is to see it in person. Comment with OBSERVATION and we will set up a time for you to come visit a class.
2. Start from home: Comment with FOUNDATIONS and I’ll send you the details for our 21-day remote prep program.