Ilchi Lee Meditations

As New Year's Day approaches, you may be thinking hard about resolutions to make for the upcoming year. However, you should consider that any positive lifestyle changes you want to make should be lasting.

Eating healthier or exercising more take dedication. It's important that you keep this in mind, and avoid thinking about your new habits as being temporary, since this is an oft used tactic for individuals to get themselves through a day of eating little more than salad, fruits and lean proteins.

The problem with this way of thinking is that it usually leads to a relapse of unhealthy behavior. As a result, you may want to plan how you will carry out your resolution in a more realistic light. For example, if you have a sweet tooth or a penchant for salty snacks, allow yourself an occasional frozen yogurt or handful of nuts or pretzels to get your fix.

Think of your personal growth plan as a guide toward enlightenment and betterment. Your personal success story is largely dependent upon your dedication to this plan.

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Individuals who are crafting their person growth plans may at times feel stuck. They know they want to achieve certain things in their lives, but how are they supposed to go about reaching these aspirations?

For many, the most expeditious route to their dreams may be martial arts. These ancient practices teach individuals about the importance of self-discipline and confidence. Through the process of mastering a martial art, individuals may find their personal growth goals become much more attainable.

These types of practices do not need to be all about violence. This may have been the reputation they have developed over the years, but there are numerous varieties of martial arts that do not involve any type of actual aggression. The purpose is simply to use the body to focus a person's attention.

By mastering a set of physical actions, a person learns how to devote their mind to a singular purpose. This can have a wide range of benefits in everyday life and help people reach their most ambitious goals and aspirations.

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In life, the highest desire of most people is to find a romantic partner or to develop a supportive network of friends. However, Korean culture and customs have a phrase that suggests these connections can actually be counterproductive to individuals who have a personal growth plan.

The term Gong-Shim translates to "empty mind, heart or core." It is used to refer to a state of mind in which a person no longer desires personal attachments. Instead, these individuals prefer to put all their energies in life toward the public good.

By living a life free of emotional attachments, a person is able to focus all of their attention on improving the lives of those around them without allowing their decisions to become clouded by personal desires involving family or friends. In this way, one's work can be completely selfless.

Few people ever achieve this state of mind. One of the most difficult things in life can be letting go of personal desires and living free of attachments. However, this is one of the only possible paths toward truly working for the public good.

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Most of the time, people perceive things that are empty and devoid of content to be worthless. Only things that are filled with content are generally viewed as being valuable. However, Korean culture and customs take a different view of the matter.

The Korean phrase gong literally translates to "empty." It is often used in the context of a person's mind. However, rather than describing a person who simply doesn't know anything, it often indicates that an individual has been able to clear their mind of distracting and unnecessary thoughts. This is considered desirable.

The human mind can only hold so much at one time. Therefore, those who never take any time to clear out their old thoughts and ideas may soon find there is no room for new ones. Every once in a while, it is important to clear some mental space and achieve an empty state of mind.

This is one of the most effective ways through which an individual can achieve their personal growth plan. Just about everyone has things they want to achieve in life. However, it can be difficult when they are never able to progress past the thoughts they had last week. Emptying the mind on a regular basis can be an important part of developing as a human.

For people to understand the benefits of a clear brain, they may need to completely change the way they look at the world. In Western society, it is common for people to take the view that more is always better. But sometimes less actually is more. Developing a better understanding of this is one of the keys to personal development.

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One of the most important things for individuals – especially those who are looking to grow as a person – to keep in mind is what makes them special. The Korean calligraphy alphabet has one saying in particular that addresses this.

The phrase "chun-ji-in" refers to the three aspects of humanity that separate the species from all others walking the Earth. The first part, "chun," translates to heaven or sky. It is included in the phrase to remind individuals that they are part spiritual beings and that they should keep their hearts open to high aspirations.

Secondly, "ji" refers to the Earth or land. We are all terrestrial beings, and this connection to nature should be considered a basis for all of our activities and motivations. Without a connection to the ground we walk on, our lives would have no foundation, and therefore would fall apart.

Finally, "in," with its reference to humanity, reminds individuals that the two previous elements come together in humans to form something very special. Neither the spiritual or the earthly should be given precedence in an individual’s personal growth plan. Both aspects of humanity are equally important.

These are important concepts to remember, as in life it is easy to be carried away too far in one direction. Often, people allow their sensual pleasures to consume their mind, or they get carried away with dwelling on their own imaginings. While a certain amount of either is beneficial, too much of anything is never good.

Therefore, individuals who are pursuing a personal growth plan should keep in mind that they are equal parts spiritual and terrestrial. Working to develop both aspects of their nature may be important to developing as a complete human.  

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Within each and every individual lies a complete and true being that is the foundation upon which the rest of existence is built. This inner-self is true and honest. It is described by the term Bohn, which comes from Korean culture and customs.

Translated, Bohn means origin, foundation or essence. When it is applied to a person, it describes their inner-self, who is the basis for every action they take and thought they think. While most people may not be very familiar with this entity, it informs all aspects of life, and coming to understand it better may be at the heart of any personal growth plan.

During the course of the day, most people do not stop to think about how their inner-self is interacting with the world around them. They simply go through the motions of their daily routine, at times almost on autopilot. This is fine, and in some ways even beneficial. But conducting one's life in this manner may leave little room for personal growth.

Introspection and self-examination are important parts of developing as a human and reaching higher levels of consciousness. For anyone who believes there is more to life than going through the motions of daily routines, this is particularly important.

Author and philosopher Ilchi Lee has described a person's true inner self as an inextinguishable flame whose purity and completeness cannot be touched. Imagine the benefits of drawing closer to this type of power. Think of how life-changing and mind-altering that experience could be.

It may take some time and work for a person to finally discover their true inner-self, but when they do stumble upon this entity, the benefits are often immense.

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Within each and every individual lies a complete and true being that is the foundation upon which the rest of existence is built. This inner-self is true and honest. It is described by the term Bohn, which comes from Korean culture and customs.

Translated, Bohn means origin, foundation or essence. When it is applied to a person, it describes their inner-self, who is the basis for every action they take and thought they think. While most people may not be very familiar with this entity, it informs all aspects of life, and coming to understand it better may be at the heart of any personal growth plan.

During the course of the day, most people do not stop to think about how their inner-self is interacting with the world around them. They simply go through the motions of their daily routine, at times almost on autopilot. This is fine, and in some ways even beneficial. But conducting one's life in this manner may leave little room for personal growth.

Introspection and self-examination are important parts of developing as a human and reaching higher levels of consciousness. For anyone who believes there is more to life than going through the motions of daily routines, this is particularly important.

Author and philosopher Ilchi Lee has described a person's true inner self as an inextinguishable flame whose purity and completeness cannot be touched. Imagine the benefits of drawing closer to this type of power. Think of how life-changing and mind-altering that experience could be.

It may take some time and work for a person to finally discover their true inner-self, but when they do stumble upon this entity, the benefits are often immense.

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Everyone has a different path to follow to achieve their personal growth plan. For some, it may include going to school to become a doctor. For others, it may mean climbing to the top of a mountain in order to get in touch with their inner personal self. Regardless of the individual circumstances, this path represents a person’s Tao.

In Korean, the team literally translates to “the way.” It is used to refer to the path that each individual must follow in order to achieve their life purpose. Korean culture and customs say that each person has a different Tao, and discovering this path is one of the most important aspects of life.

It can take a person decades to uncover their Tao. In American culture, people often tend to think that an individual should have their life purpose figured out by the they graduate high school. However, the concept of Tao recognizes that discovering one’s true passions involves much deeper reflection than this. This means the process can take many years.

Some people are old and gray before they learn what Tao truly means in their life. However, this does not mean they have wasted the intervening years. It simply means that the discovery of their Tao was a little more difficult to earn. This is alright, as the highest hanging fruits are often the sweetest.

So individuals should not worry if they go through a significant portion of their adult lives without feeling as though they have discovered their personal growth plan. Even if the discovery comes late, it is still worthwhile. Persistence and vigilance are what really matter. Through the exercise of these personality characteristics, an individual may even come to discover their Tao.

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There is a strong power in the universe that cannot be directly felt or seen. Yet its effects are far reaching and can have a significant influence over the activities that take place on the Earth. This force is known as ki energy, and learning how it can influence life can have a major impact on a person's personal growth plan.

Ki energy surrounds everything. It is in each person, just as it flows through plants, animals and even inanimate objects. It is as ever-present as the air we breathe and as constant as the tides of the ocean.

However, ki energy can be a difficult thing to describe to another person. Its effects are intangible and its nature is insubstantial. It doesn't have a particular look or feel to it, but it is always there, influencing the things people think and the actions they take.

Therefore, people should make efforts to discover the true nature of ki energy for themselves. Reading about it in a book seldom does any good and there is only so much a personal growth expert can tell a person about it. These sources can provide a person with guide posts that may lead them toward a discovery of what ki energy really means, but the individual must take the steps themselves.

Because ki energy is so influential, it is important for all individuals to undergo these types of spiritual journeys. During the process of discovering the true nature of ki energy, a person may also discover their own true nature, leading to personal growth and spiritual fulfillment.

Not everyone discovers the true nature of ki energy in their lifetime. However, for those who do the rewards are many. It is a worthwhile undertaking that help a person in many ways.

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As humans, we occupy a unique place in the universe. We stand tall above the creatures that walk on the ground, yet are not quite at the celestial level of more spiritual beings. The Earthly animal world and the ethereal spiritual world have combined within humans to create something magical and special.

This intermingling of the spiritual and the Earthly is reflected in the Korean phrase in-jung-chun-ji-il. This term is important and has survived into modern Korean culture. Translated, it means “Heaven and Earth become one in humans.” It refers to the unique place occupied by people on the chain of being.

When you think about it, there is a lot of significance to this status. Our minds and intellect bring us closer to the spiritual world through thinking abilities that are unmatched in the rest of creation. However, we still retain many of our animal urges. These serve to remind us that we are still far from angelic.

In life, it is important to find a balance between these two aspects of human nature. To deny either one is to deny what makes a person human. It would be a refusal of half of the self. And as Abraham Lincoln once said, “a house divided against itself cannot stand.” He was a wise man.

Accepting one’s full self is one of the most important parts of putting in place and accomplishing a personal growth plan. It is impossible to truly move forward in life if all you accept is your intellectual self. Similarly, denying one’s spiritual side can leave a person feeling empty and hollow.

Man’s dual nature has vexed humanity for generations, but simply accepting it can play an important role in personal growth.

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