Think Happy!

Over at the Aikiweb forums, there was a discussion in October, prompted by the question: ‘What does your Aikido practice teach you that your religious/spiritual/philosophical practice teaches you that makes you a better person?’

Some of the answers were so enlightening that I thought they merited discussion on this blog. The question that they provoke for me is, would the answers be the same if we swapped ‘Aikido’ for any other work at self-improvement that involved healthy exercise, co-operation with others and a heavy does of fun?

Anyway, here are some of the answers to the question…

What does your Aikido practice teach you that your religious/spiritual/philosophical practice teaches you that makes you a better person?

“That I am not alone.”

“It teaches me to treat complete strangers who inflict pain on me as friends.”

“Working with others with their limitations and abilities knowing that their limitations and abilities were/are/could be mine.”

“Compassion”

“That hard work is its own reward.”

“Humbling oneself can be very difficult but ultimately more rewarding”

“To connect with others on deeper and deeper levels.”

“That there is no victory/defeat or win/lose. If anybody loses, we all lose. If anybody has been defeated, then no one is victorious.”

“Aikido practice has mostly reminded me of humanity, being a person, being respectful of life, and joy in its unfolding.”

“It’s not the destination that matters, but the journey along the way.”

“Love”