The power of music

Ludwig van Beethoven used to love to walk through nature and get great inspiration and consolation from it

Dr. Tae Yun Kim often talks about the power of music, how the vibrations of music can influence us for better or worse.  It all depends on who wrote the music, who performs it and what state of mind they were in.

On the way to work this morning, I did something I usually don't do.  I listened to music.  Typically I enjoy the peace and quiet of the car ride, taking in the sights along the way, like hawks, a sunrise, clouds, the river and so much more.

Today though I felt like listening to music, and it so happened that Beethoven's 9th Symphony came on.  I have always liked Beethovens music, but particulary after Dr. Tae Yun Kim pointed out that he wrote - and directed! - most of his works after he was deaf.  He was completely deaf when he composed his 9th Symphony, and it is a very intricate, long, and amazing piece of music, written by a genius.

Dr. Tae Yun Kim also pointed out that Ludwig van Beethoven's life was full of struggle and hardships.  As a young child, he suffered great abuse at the hands of his father, was ridiculed in school for his dyslexia. And even though he went through periods of great depression, he never thought of taking his life, because he felt he had to work harder and faster to get all the music out into the world that was still inside him.

So when I listened to Beethoven's ultimate Masterpiece, I had tears of joy coming down - joy for this music to be born into this world by a master who wouldn't give up.

And joy for Dr. Tae Yun Kim, who's life has also been full of trouble and hardship, and yet she is still giving so much joy and happiness to the world through her work, through books, TV shows and so many other ways.

Please do yourself a favor and listen to Ludwig van Beethoven's beautiful work - I promise you won't regret it!  And once I figure out how to insert or link to this music, I will gladly share here!

The Sun is always there!

Dr. Tae Yun Kim has a way to awaken us to the miracles around us, and what they can teach us.

As I was driving to work this morning, I was greeted by a most beautiful sunrise!  The entire world was lit up and showered with the most beautiful light imaginable.

But as I got closer to work, heavy, thick fog settled in and while at first you could still see the sun, pretty soon all there was to see was, well, not much!

This reminded me of a gem of great wisdom Dr. Tae Yun Kim has shared with us.

"The sun is always there.  We may say, there is no sun today, it's all cloudy or foggy.  But in reality, the sun is there!  We just can't see it!  How often in life do we do that - let our environment influence us and we can't see simple solutions to issues even they are right there, but our mental fog covers it all up.  Remember, the power is in you, it is your personal choice what you do in your life!"

So, today, this Monday, let's not get anything between us and the sun, between us and our goals, between us and what we believe in.

HE CAN DO, SHE CAN DO, WHY NOT ME!

No more excuses!

One more blog about New Years Goals, and how to reach them.  As we know by know, Dr. Tae Yun Kim highly encourages us to not only set goals, but also work towards reaching them, and hold ourselves accountable.

But for one reason or another, sometime we don't seem to be able to do it. Why?  The goals seemed so very important, and somehow, they seem farther away than ever.  Here is a great revelation from Dr. Tae Yun Kim:

"When a goal is taking longer than expected to fulfill, there is a strong temptation to give up and make excuses for failure. Your excuses prevent you from doing the additional work you need to do for ultimate success.  Typically you do know the right thing to do, but you make an excuse!  You make the excuse because somehow you think this is more beneficial than being honest with yourself or someone else.  
Most excuses are fueled by the belief that you can't do what you know you should.  No such thing! Be aware that "I can't usually means I could, but I won't.  

For example, lazy persons most likely have some fear regarding their ability to achieve.  They use laziness to avoid testing themselves and confronting their fear of failure.  

If you find yourself saying "I can't," examine this statement very closely.  It rarely means I am not able.  Most of the time, you can!  You will just have to persevere with continued effort!"
(The Silent Master page 132)

So there you have it straight from Dr. Tae Yun Kim - check yourself and see if you are making excuses - and if you are - how about stopping?

Why it is so hard to get rid of negative emotions

Today's topic might be a little uncomfortable, but it's the beginning of a New Year and we want to achieve the goals we set, right?  So Dr. Tae Yun Kim encourages us to look deep inside ourselves and really get to the root of things.

For example, in her book, "Seven Steps to Inner Power" Dr. Tae Yun Kim talks about why it is not always easy to give up negative emotions.  Let's say one of our goals is to get rid of anger; or to get rid of depression.  Why aren't we successful?  Why is it so hard?  Negative emotions can be as strong as raging water, and just as destructive.

"Bear in mind that to some extent you may enjoy your negative emotional states.  Be willing to admit that perhaps you have found them comfortable, familiar friends.  Yes, on the surface you may say that it's no fun being angry.  But are you sure?  Are you sure there are not payoffs such as, When I am angry I like the feeling of being 'right'; When I am depressed, my husband pays more attention to me. (Manipulating others through negative states is what I call emotional blackmail.)"
(Seven Steps to Inner Power, page 42)

A special surprise!

I thought I would surprise you with this special slide show I found online!  What a treat!

Tae yun kim tae yun kim and tae kwon do from Tae Yun Kim

Nature is our Best Teacher

Dr. Tae Yun Kim uses examples from nature to illustrate her teachings, and does so very effectively.

I am sure you have noticed that you cannot hang on to a sunset.  It comes and goes within a matter of seconds.  It comes in all its beauty and then is done until the next day.  Wouldn't it be very weird if nature was so proud of a particular sunset it tried to hang on to it?

Many trees change their leaf colors in the fall, and then shed the leaves altogether.  In spring, new ones come and cover the tree all over again.  Those trees never keep their leaves just because they did a lot of good during the summer and were so pretty in the fall!  

Nature just knows what needs to be done - and does it.  How about people?  I can't say that of myself. In reading one of my favorite books by Dr. Tae Yun Kim, I found this gem that always keeps me on the right track:

"Clinging to a good picture you have created possibly keeps you from expanding into an even greater good.  Clinging to a disagreeable picture keeps you there!  So, don't hold on to as though it is the final story.  You don't hate, resent, fight, or quarrel with an undesirable situation, and you don't overly love or cling to a desirable situation.  Detachment means you are always ready, open and willing to experience change.  That is how you develop.  You can't develop and grow if you hold on tightly to something you have acquired no matter how good you think it is." (The Silent Master, page 100)

Let's be like nature and let things flow, and be open to positive changes in our lives!

Keeping a pure environment

Great Grandmaster Tae Yun Kim, when sharing her life story, always mentions how she was first introduced to Martial Arts - she saw her uncles training in the morning mist.

As I went outside this morning I saw this beautiful sight, a light fog covering the nearby mountain. The air was crisp and clear and every breath was pure joy.

This complete purity reminded me of what I had just read in Great Grandmaster Tae Yun Kim's book "The Silent Master," a book I had read and re-read many times but still gives me food for thought every time I read it:

"Your mind is the environment in which your ideas, thoughts, and emotions reside.  As with any environment, the goals is to make it as clean and pure as possible.  I often find that people treat their cars better than they treat their minds and bodies.  their cars at least get regular tune-ups, good gas, and careful washing and cleaning.  But the content and quality of their minds - their thoughts and feelings - don't get any attention at all!

Since your Silent Master consciousness is perfect purity, you don't need to work to make yourself pure.  You need to work to eliminate the thoughts and emotions that are impure from your mind and environment.  You will be taking away what isn't you in order to leave what is you shining forth."  

(The Silent Master, page 65)