The 10 Articles of Mental Training

by Kim D.

Another school year - a new after-school activity! This year my son, age 6, chose taekwondo. He had been doing karate on a mini scale at a local gym but saw the taekwondo float in the July 4th parade and thought the outfits were cool (see pic) - so we had to give it a try.  

So far - really good - my son is a silly heart which is an awesome part of his personality that doesn't jive too well when it's time to buckle down and do serious stuff - like school.  Tae Kwondo is a focused discipline which has little tolerance for anything silly. The Grand Master is a black belt 6 dan holder with over 10 year's experience teaching taekwondo in Korea, China, and, of course, here in Texas.

After being called out at his first lesson for talking, looking at himself in the mirror, and not paying full attention to the Master, my son was understandably embarrassed. He hasn't done any of those things since and, thankfully, loves taekwondo.

On Tuesday I noticed a banner on the wall which listed the 10 Articles of Mental Training which I thought was pretty cool and should apply to us all.  Here they are:

1. Loyalty - Be loyal to your country. 
2. Obedience - Be obedient to your parents. 
3. Love - Be loving to your family.
4. Cooperation - Be cooperative with others.
5. Faithfulness - Be faithful to friends.
6. Respect - Be respectful of Master.
7. Honesty - Be honest in personal affairs.
8. Compassion - Show concern for others.
9. Mercy - Never attack without reason.
10. Persistence - Finish what you start.

If we all apply these articles of mental training, daily life will pass more pleasantly and the darker days will be a tad more tolerable - at least that's what I'm telling the kiddo.