Aikido is generally practiced as a physical means of conflict resolution. Sometimes, not often, someone attempts the same conceptualization in verbal conflict with others. For Aikido to truly change us as individuals, we need to apply the principles of Aikido to our own internal conflicts of negative emotions and thoughts.

When we are physically attacked, we are taught not to resist but to blend with the attack. Yet, when confronted with conflictual thoughts and emotions, we tend to resist, deny, and forcibly attempt to restrain, suppress, and repress them. Perhaps it would be better to join, maintain connection, and blend with them so we can find the center that generates them.

If you relax, breath, and stay connected to the feelings of fear or anxiety, you may discover the negative fantasy about the future that you use to create it.

If you relax, breath, and stay connected to the feelings of anger, you may discover the pain beneath the need to protect yourself by striking out.

If you relax, breath, and stay connected to the feelings of pain, you may discover that you are taking something someone else has said or done as a personal statement about you instead of accepting and understanding what they are telling you about them.

If you relax, breath, and stay connected to the feelings of guilt you may discover a sense of conscience for something you have done wrong or a sense of being manipulated because someone else is getting what they want and want you to be accountable and responsible for it rather than get it themselves.

If you relax, breath, and stay connected to the feelings of depression, you may discover that you are negatively sorting the past from a spectator position.

If you relax, breath, and stay connected to feelings of inadequacy, you may discover that you have refused to accept a mistake or your own humanness and turn it into an identity judgment.

Learning to blend with negative emotions helps us discover the negative thoughts that create them. Learning to blend with the negative thoughts allows us to discover how we create our suffering and pain. Learning to blend with the suffering and pain allows us to discover how to disciple the mind and change our thoughts. Learning to take responsibility and accountability for our negative feelings and thoughts allows us to become response-able for creating positive thoughts, feelings, and behaviors.

Albert Einstein once said that the type of thinking that creates a problem is never the type of thinking that solves it. To change our lives we need to change the mind. Relax, breath, and blend with it.

Thanks for listening, for the opportunity to be of service, and for sharing the journey. Now, get back to training. KWATZ!