The Value of Long Term Goals
I am proud to share that I evaluated and earned my Second Degree Black Belt from the Martial Arts Center for Health here in Orlando, Florida. This was a goal I had been working toward for many years and I was happy and relieved to complete this evaluation.
In our Center, students work for the first four years to earn their First Degree Black Belt. There is a well-planned series of steps to the training, with all forms being adjustable to keep each person safe and healthy throughout. After the first degree, students work for the next five years to earn their Second Degree. I earned mine in slightly less time because I “accelerated” my training to be challenged and learn faster. This kept me more fully engaged and was the right choice for me.
I have many goals in my life, both short-term long-term, and this goal in my martial arts training has been one that has meant a lot to me and helped me stay focused and motivated.
For many people, after they finish school, they begin working and often don’t have long terms goals any more. There may be goals for things like purchasing a home or car, going on a vacation, or finding a romantic relationship. These are all fine things to work toward, but most people don’t find themselves with a long term goal for their own health and well-being. Many have a vague “get in shape” goal or try dramatic diets with rare long term effect.
I’m a fan of having some clear goals in mind, both short term and long term. This helps us to stay motivated and keep working on our goals. This can be particularly helpful when we talk about your health. Fitness routines can become monotonous with each day the same and a sense of “hanging on.” Unless you are competing in a sport or create fitness goals, it can be hard to stay motivated and keep working hard. Eating correctly and getting enough rest can also be difficult without some framework to help remember the reasons we are making these choices.
I’m thankful for the training at the Martial Arts Center for Health and for the structured program there. There is a plan for each week, for each class, and for our individual long term goals. The instructors also frequently will ask us, and remind us, to think about where we started and what our goals are. They ask us to think of a goal for each class….”what do I want to focus on today?” And we have these long term goals like my evaluation to keep us working and motivated.
I work with band directors and instructors in the marching arts and I encourage them to have the same philosophy with their programs. If you get in your car and just start driving without knowing where you’re going, who knows where you will end up! If you don’t have an idea of where you want your group to be in five years, then you’re likely to end up most anywhere. Or you may find yourself in 5 years realizing the the program has not grown or changed in any significant way. Certainly you’re teaching and helping your students, but you need a plan for your program to grow and improve. You can’t get somewhere if you don’t know where you want to go!
This is a good time of year to sit down with your team and formulate some goals. These can be for one year, 5 years, 10 years, or whatever you like. But having them stated and written down can be very powerful.
Thank you to the instructors at the Martial Arts Center for Health for encouraging me and supporting me in my work there. This training has changed my life, improving my ability to move, my flexibility, stamina, and focus. I am currently taking classes online, and so could you! YOU could benefit from this instruction also, no matter where you are right now. I hope you’ll contact them to find out more.
Pictured after my evaluation with Instructor Matt
Tim Hinton
January 21, 2022
