A dynamic life and personal responsibility

The interesting thing about practicing free will and having the ability to make your own decisions is that you also become responsible for the outcomes. And yet the tendency in our society is to try to limit human freedom because we don't like the outcomes that we see, so we impose an excessive amount of regulations to limit freedom to make these bad decisions. Yet the way I see it, these regulations do not end up actually helping the situation - they don't trust people with responsibility and thus they try to set up physical barriers without addressing the root issue. 

In the end the only way to improve outcomes is to have people to learn from their mistakes. This means giving them the freedom to make mistakes but then holding them accountable for the outcomes. Not only is this the natural way that people learn, it is also what allows for a dynamic life where one can realize their full potential. 

Goodness must be mined

I believe goodness is like a precious metal, to find it within ourselves it takes an enormous amount of effort to dig, locate and uncover it.

That effort, however, is not something to look at as wasteful or cumbersome, rather I see that effort as one of God's greatest blessings where through our own investment in our spiritual journey we are able to discover a part of ourselves that is noble and righteous. It is an honor to walk that path where one can stand on their own merit in confronting my own demons and choosing to seek God's truth.

The fact that it is a struggle should be looked at with such a heart of gratitude, because the alternative is a path of complacency which is not really complacent but rather leads to degradation and an inevitable slide towards the baser elements of human nature.

Don't forsake your individuality

God gave each person a unique individual character and personal responsibility. This means that each individual will inevitably develop a unique worldview and life philosophy based on their life experiences and how they digest them. 

Why did God design it this way? I believe it is so we can be accountable as individuals to our own conscience as our personal guide and thereby develop a mature character and heart that is based on a personal quest for truth, righteousness and goodness. 

Without this personalized journey for self-realization, and if everyone somehow acquired the exact same worldview and life philosophy, it would be quite easy to just mimic others rather than making that personal effort to seek the truth. It would also make the world much less dynamic and decrease the value we find in human interaction.

In today's world, it is especially important to recognize the importance of individuality and personal responsibility because there is a lack of good role models to try to mimic and so if you do start to rely too much on following someone else, you are likely to be guided in a bad direction. 

Either way the path to true fulfillment is only found when you live a life of taking full responsibility for all your actions. It is a good exercise to always question myself and ask why I am doing what I am doing, rather than going the easy way of relying on what someone else said I should do. It is the easier way but it is most likely also the way that will cause you more long-term regrets. 

What is a healthy dose of challenge?

When training people to become proficient or excellent in a given field, it is natural to question how rigorous or challenging the training process should be. On the one hand, we can recognize that if the training poses no challenge at all to the trainee, it is unlikely that the trainee will be able to improve in his ability. However, if the training is extremely challenging it can seem overwhelming or even dangerous.

I have found that a big factor in determining what amount of challenge is healthy is the perspective of the trainee. Without a level of commitment to learning and growing, the trainee can easily dismiss any amount of challenge as being too much. However, if the trainee is really serious about growing and advancing, even a seemingly overwhelming challenge can be taken as a valuable learning experience. 

This is why utilizing peer influence in group training programs can be effective, because if the bar is set high in terms of demonstrating individuals that excel through very rigorous training, it can naturally help the others in the group recognize that what seems to be an insurmountable challenge is actually a precious learning opportunity.

Lessons gleaned from movies

I love watching movies, but not only for recreational purposes. After watching, I reflect about the deeper messages that the story conveyed. I'm inspired to see that even in movies, produced for entertainment, universal principles and values often shine and touch the hearts of many.

One of my favorite movie series is the "Kung Fu Panda" trilogy. To be honest, I had low expectations when my friends and I decided to watch the first one. But when the end credits started rolling, I thought, "Wow, I'm impressed." The second one was even better, and surprisingly, the third topped them all, and as we all know, that isn't easy to do.

In my perspective, these movies are all about 2 major themes: identity, and destiny. And it is emphasized in the stories about this odd panda that the greatest destiny is one lived for the greater good.

I'll talk particularly about the third movie. If you haven't seen it but plan to, here's a big spoiler alert! If you stop reading here, then I will leave you with a recommendation to watch these movies.

In one of the final scenes of the movie, Master Oogway and Po meet in the spirit realm. They have the following conversation:

Oogway: You finally became the panda you were always meant to be.

Po: But, how'd you know I could?

Oogway: On the first day we met, I saw the future of kung fu, and the past. I saw the panda who could unite them both. That is why I chose you, Po.

Throughout the entire series, Po seems inadequate to become the legendary "Dragon Warrior". Many viewers probably thought that Oogway made a mistake in the very beginning when he chose Po. But Oogway never doubted. Why? Because he saw Po not only as an individual, but as a product of the past, and with the potential for the future. Oogway had experience with the power of chi that the past generation of pandas wielded. He knew Po, as a descendant, came on that foundation, and therefore had the potential to become great.

I believe God sees us this way, too. I believe this is how He guides His providence. None of us are solely individuals - we come on the foundation of our past, standing on the merits of our ancestors. God has led humanity to become better and better through each generation. And as the movie suggests, only through knowing who we are and where we come from can we fulfill our ultimate destiny to better the world for those to come.

-Maruko Breland

The responsibility of leadership

Someone who claims the role of a leader is carrying a heavy burden, if they are fulfilling their responsibility. That is because, to lead others, one has to show the example for others to follow by making more sacrifices and demonstrating greater dedication to a cause. No one will be inspired by a leader that is not making any more effort than everyone else. I guess that is why, in the end, leadership is earned rather than given.

You shall know them by their frutis

"You will know them by their fruits. Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes nor figs from thistles, are they? So every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit." Matthew 7:16

The greatest measure of a man is in his children, because in the ultimate sense, they are the 'fruits' of your life. Today I reflected about this as I mentored some youth in my community.

We did a project where the kids made fruit-kabobs for their siblings. I could understand more why parents are the happiest when their children get along and love each other. It is because they are demonstrating the good fruit of the parents' life-long investment.

Thank God for the family where we can learn these valuable lessons.

It's not over till it's over

During the GPF Leader's meeting adventure workshop, we had an interesting experience during one of the hikes that reminds me about the importance of striving for excellence. 

We were hiking all day, and we thought we may have reached our destination, but we couldn't tell for sure. The map was hard to read accurately and all we knew was that we were supposed to reach the highest elevation point in that area. We had reached a rather high point, but it looked like there might be something a little higher further up the trail. What should we do?

My team discussed and we decided that if we were going to shoot for a goal, in this case reaching the highest elevation, we should give our 100% effort to reach that goal with confidence, rather than going back wondering if we had really reached the highest point. 

And so we trekked on and on, uncertain about how long the hike would last. Yet finally, we did reach a clear end-point, and at the moment we reached the final destination, a heavy snow came through the fog and showered us as if celebrating our victory of reaching the real destination. Everyone on our team agreed this was something profound. 

We should always strive to complete our goals completely, and definitely not settle for a half-hearted effort that we'll look back on with regret.

2/25/2015 Wenatchee National Forest:
Snow came down right as we completely accomplished our stated goal.
It lasted just for the 5 minutes we stayed there and as we headed back it stopped.  

Are you an owner or a renter?

Today I realized that I am a renter. Literally, I am renting the house I live in with some other friends.

And because I am a renter, I have a certain attitude that displays itself in how I care for my house.

For the past few months, I and a few of my house-mates noticed that the tap water and shower was not as hot as it used to be. Immediately, my reaction was to tell the house management about the problem, and wait for them to fix it.

Finally after months of pestering, the management suggested we actually look at the boiler for any leaks. So I checked it this evening, and I found no leaks. Yet I also noticed something that I would have seen a lot earlier if I had bothered to look at the boiler previously. The thermostat knob was set to warm. So I turned the thermostat to a higher setting and a few minutes later, we had hot water again!

The problem was the boiler's thermostat was set to warm instead of hot

This slightly embarrassing incident taught me a valuable lesson about the mindset of ownership versus the mindset of a renter. When there is a problem in any situation, an owner immediately takes responsibility to fix it no matter how tired he is or how inconvenient the solution may be. But a renter complains about the problem and waits for someone else to fix it until he's forced to deal with it.

I also realized that even if I am a renter in my house, I should have the attitude of an owner if I want to get problems fixed a little quicker! I guess this applies to any situation where there are problems that need to be fixed. Rather than just complain about it, I should take responsibility if I really want to get anywhere.

A habit of keeping promises

Keeping promises is a good habit to have. But how do we develop that kind of habit?

It starts by keeping our promises we make to ourselves.

Today I promised I would not get distracted from my work with Global Peace Youth and focus at my workplace. It was hard to stay focused, sometimes I disappointed myself, but I didn't give up and felt that at the end of the day I put in my best effort to fulfill my promise.

We received a delivery of GPF 2014 Annual Reports recently at our Mountlake Terrace office.
Stop by our office to take a look or check them out online:
http://www.globalpeace.org/global-peace-foundation-2014-annual-report

This kind of practice helps me develop the habit of keeping my promises, so next time I make someone a promise, I am probably going to naturally make more effort to keep it.

Have you developed a habit of keeping your promises?

Your weakness is your strength - lessons from S Korea's development model

I was glad to participate in the live broadcast of a forum held in D.C. this morning with the title "The United States, South Korea and Civil Society Cooperation in Global Humanitarian Development". It was a very professional forum and broadcast held in collaboration with the Center for Strategic and International Studies and the Global Peace Foundation.

I was impressed by Ambassador Young-mok Kim's presentation by the extent to which South Korea has expanded its global humanitarian efforts, but especially how they have utilized their unique experience in their reconstruction efforts after the Korean War to offer guidance to underdeveloped countries facing similar challenges in spurring socio-economic growth.

It goes to show that every nation has its times of trials, yet it is in those times that you can see the true spirit of the people and where the greatest innovations can take place that can be an inspiration to all people.

KOICA Pres. Young-mok Kim shared his personal experiences with
Korea's unique development model called "The New Village Movement"

If you get a chance, I recommend you read the summary of highlights from the event on the GPF website to get to know Korea's unique story as one of the few nations that went from being an under-developed country to an official donor country, especially in the span of less than 60 years.

This story also gives me insight into the important role S. Korea should play in relation to the re-unification process with North Korea and how this effort, though sure to be challenging, can be another valuable model for the region and world if the Korean people can demonstrate their noble character once again, which I believe they can.

Think of the future

A lot of times we get stuck in our present circumstances and forget about our long-term goals, especially when we face challenge. However, a mature person always recognizes that long-term goals are worth striving for and are willing to put in the effort to get there, day by day.

Investment is never wasted

Even when we don't feel like we are making progress, our investment is certainly not wasted. Every step forward will one day allow us to reach our destination. This is what I learned today.

Core Values in practice

Today was the second day of our GPF leaders' meeting adventure workshop. I experienced the GPF Core Values in a vivid way today:

Wenatchee National Forest, team strategizing

Living for the Greater Good: My team was doing an orienteering activity to find all the dispersed flags throughout a certain area on a map. We had been exhaustively hiking all day and gotten all the flags except one, and it was my responsibility to lead the team to the last flag. I was motivated to give the team a good experience and victoriously complete the activity in the allotted time to inspire the other teams.

Dream Big: However, I knew that I was also responsible to pick up another team from another location. They called me to request a pickup right when I was about to lead my team to the last flag. I wanted to be responsible to pick up the other team in time, but I also wanted to give my team a victory as well. I determined that I could do both. It was a challenging goal.

Ownership: I realized that the longer I took to make a decision, the longer both teams would lose. John Dickson, not knowing my responsibility to pick up the other team, suggested I run ahead to find the flag while the rest of the team caught up. I decided to go ahead with this idea, knowing in the back of my mind that I needed to find the flag very quickly or the other team would be waiting longer.

Teamwork: I rushed to the supposed location of the flag, but it was no where to be found! In despair, I frantically looked about. Then, to my surprise, seconds later my whole team came rushing around me to cover the area. I later learned that as soon as I had took my head start, the rest of my team, many of whom are over 60, took up my steady jog pace and were trailing behind me. They took on my responsibility instantly and allowed me to go back to pick up the other team without any more delay, even without my mentioning to them at all about my situation. They were united in my desire to bring our team's victory and thus we could successfully find the final flag in time, I found out when I returned.

Do you demand respect or command respect?

"A people unused to restraint must be led, they will not be drove" -George Washington, Jan. 3rd, 1777

George Washington was a person that commanded respect, rather than demanding it. This is why in the records of history, he is remembered as the most critical figure in the Revolutionary War. In fighting for the ideal of liberty and freedom, imposing restrictions and threats upon his army would have quickly dispirited his men and lost the war. It was only through commanding respect through 'leading from the front" - showing the example of self-sacrifice and dedication to the cause as the inspiration for those under his leadership.

The Liberty Bell in Philadelphia (during IYLA USA 2014, August 16th)

This was displayed to me in a vivid image depicted in the book "1776". At the critical battle for Princeton, New Jersey, on Jan. 1st, 1777 George Washington lead the frontal assault on the enemy. Why would he place himself in such a dire circumstance when he was in a post of such importance? Because he firmly knew that the cause of freedom and liberty was at stake in this decisive battle. In that moment, Washington clearly demonstrated that he valued the cause of America more than any institutional position of authority or artificially construed reputation. If this battle could salvage what little hope was left in the American cause, he would not spare any available resource, including his own life, in determining its victory.

And thanks in large part to Washington's noble leadership that day, victory is what resulted.

Leading from the front

There is nothing easier than being a follower. But what the world needs is people who lead from the front, on uncharted territory.

I feel like I'm give a choice every day to either be mediocre and follow the crowd, or take the risk, put in the extra effort, and take the uncharted course.

The second choice is where innovation happens and real value is created, and I want to choose that path daily.

Ingenuity is forged in despair

In the book "1776" by McCullough, I was fascinated to hear about the timing of the completion of the Declaration of Independence. In the midst of the most frantic war preparations America had seen, delegates gathered to draft the most defining historic document of our time. The whole country knew that the full wrath of their enemy would any day be unleashed upon their ill-trained militia-men, yet the assembly in Philadelphia went ahead and signed a statement that made it as clear as day not only where they stood but why. Two days after, as word was being sent throughout the 13 colonies of the nation's consensus on independence, a British fleet of over 100 ships had positioned outside the New York harbor, outnumbering the colonists about seven to one. One can only imagine the distress and urgency of the time.

August 2014: I visited the room where the Declaration of Independence was signed
on July 4th, 1776 with my friends from Pakistan and Indonesia

How is it then, that such a profound piece of literature was able to be authored in a circumstance that would rattle the nerves of any man trying to write a sensible statement, let alone an unprecedented assertion of innate human rights that broke through all prior concepts of governance and civilization? It was only possible with the spirit and ardor of a people so committed to a cause that they turned the distress of the times into fuel for their passionate endeavor to establish their ideal nation.

Imagine if we could have the same attitude in our daily life, taking any setback or adversity as a test of our resolve and commitment to our ideals? Ingenuity and profound achievements are always forged with this kind of mindset, and this can be our lifelong habit if we determine it.

A privilege is a responsibility

A privilege is something that is given to us, not necessarily based on merit, but on trust. Whether it's wealth, social status, popularity, influence, or even plain old good luck, these are privileges God has given us with the hope and trust that we will use them to serve the greater good. In this sense, privilege entails a certain responsibility to be a conduit whereby more people can receive benefit.

Th opposing attitude when receiving privilege is self-centered, where we think that we deserve the benefit ourselves and others do not. Yet if we reflect deeper, we recognize that ultimately nothing in this world was of our doing, but was given to us as a gift with no strings attached. With this view, how can we claim anything we receive as ours and ours alone?

The only sensible attitude is to offer everything with which we are privileged for the lofty purpose of benefiting mankind.

I was privileged to eat this delectable sushi with my parents on New Year's eve.
This is my way of sharing my precious experience with you!

The one person you must always check

The one person I must always watch out for is none other than myself. If I cannot release my own ambitions, greed, lust, and arrogance, how can I take care of or guide anyone else?

That is why the greatest battle is always inside oneself.

Can you feel the winds of history?

 

The signing of the Declaration
of Independence, July 4th, 1776

It's interesting to read about 'historical people', because we can see what it was about their mindset that allowed them to make such a grand footprint in the backdrop of history. 

One thing I have noticed is that historical people usually recognize that they have been given unique and extra-ordinary responsibility and they tremble and cringe at the thought of taking on that responsibility, though in the end they do so full-heartedly. 

George Washington recognized that he was the best fitted American of his time to take the role of commander-in-chief of the American army, yet he acknowledged in private letters the weight of the task and his feeling of being unqualified for the tremendous role, though in the end by all accounts he performed the job spectacularly.

Similarly, I feel that we need to feel the winds of history in our daily actions, recognizing the significance and importance of each moment in the backdrop of eons of human endeavor, if we want to make a significant contribution worthy of being remembered. That perspective and prudence in daily life is the starting point for any historical achievement.