Is your goal delusional? Let’s say you label your goal as delusional. If you attain 50% of your delusion, it’s not a delusion. Half of what you dreamt about became true. Even achieving 10% makes it real. How you perceive your goal is huge. As long as your goal is possible and you are physically able to build your knowledge and skills and work with others, I say go for it!
Tag Archives: Health
Any progress is good progress.
On your challenging days, any progress is good progress. I want you to remember this. I wish you the best in everything you do.
Filed under Business, Career, Entrepreneurship, Law, Mental Health, Mindset, Motivational, Writing
Shadow Work to Heal Your Anxiety
I’m in the process of healing my mind, body, and soul.
My goal is to transform into a Jon who has more inner peace.
I realize my anxiety has compromised my career performance at times.
Also, I have to stop my past trauma with bad people from destabilizing my emotions.
These are my weaknesses, or as psychiatrist Carl Jung would say, my shadow in my unconscious. I am facing my shadow and hugging it, therefore, bringing it into my consciousness and healing it.
I will increase my mindset practices and physical fitness.
I will take a day or two off from work every week. The constant hustle is not healthy.
This new healthier Jon will rise in 2024. 
Filed under Business, Health, Mental Health
2022 Honolulu Marathon
I finished my 15th Honolulu Marathon on December 11, 2022!
Use your body to manage your mind.
Use your body to manage your mind. Deep breathing, meditation, running, strength training, walking, and exposure to nature can help you when you feel stressed, anxious, or depressed.
In between my work sessions, I exercise to manage these emotional challenges. If I don’t, they drain me and cloud my vision and productivity.
#exercise #health #mentalhealth #mindset #stressremedies #anxietyrelief #anxietyremedies #depressionrelief #innerpeace #stressrelief #depressionrelief #depressionremedies
#psychology #neuroscience #personalgrowth #positivemindset #positivemasters #selflove #personalcare #hawaii #hawaiilife #hawaiilifestyle #positivevibes #productivity
Filed under Blog, Exercise, Health, Mental Health, Mindset, Motivational, Positive Living, Psychology
6x Exercise for 2022: Ran 4.14 miles in Waikele (Ran 16.9 miles total for 2022). 🏃♂️
After darkness took over the world, a thousand birds embarked on a treacherous journey to find the rising phoenix to bring order and peace. After much suffering from the journey, only thirty remained. The rest gave up. The thirty birds realized that they themselves are the rising phoenix. 🕊🦅🕊🦅
Stories can transform your psyche. In turn, you can change the world. 😃
Pictured is my 6th exercise for 2022. I ran 4.14 miles in Waikele (Ran 16.9 miles total for 2022). 🏃♂️
Filed under Blog, Creative Writing, Exercise, Fiction, Health, Inspirational, Journal, Life, Life Coach, Mental Health, Mindset, Motivational, Philosophy, Positive Living, Psychology, Writing
Stack Your Skills!
In the past, I’ve talked about stacking our skills over many years and mixing our skills to cross over to other sectors and subsectors of our economy.
For instance, writing, research, reasoning, problem solving, transactional law, speaking, psychology, government affairs, and such can be used in entertainment, aviation, energy, and many other sectors and subsectors of our economy.
10,000 hours of work in one area can be applied to another. Even if your project did not bear the fruit you hoped for, the skills you developed are the true value from that experience. Moreover, the lessons you learned from the failure and process are added to your knowledge and experience. These are things that can only be learned from experimentation and iteration.
I love learning, trying, experimenting, and iterating. It gives me stress, but it can give me a huge dopamine rush when I get an a-ha moment.
The following text from Mastery by Robert Greene @robertgreeneofficial is very motivational:
“If we keep practicing, we gain fluency; basic skills are mastered, allowing us to take on newer and more exciting challenges. We begin to see connections that were invisible to us before. We slowly gain confidence in our ability to solve problems or overcome weaknesses through sheer persistence.”
Stay positive my friends. Don’t let your cognitive distortions ruin your momentum and abilities. You got this!
In this picture, I completed my 111th Exercise for 2021 on 10/10/2021 by running 3.38 miles in Waikele (Ran 337.15 mi. total for 2021).
#learn #study #studies #work #productivity #productivitysystem #productivitytips #productivityadvice #productivitysystems #growthmindset #mindset #psychology #philosophy #personalgrowth #personaldevelopment #positiveoutlook #exercise #fitness #sports #mentalhealthawareness #health #healthyliving #healthylifestyle #healthgoals #motivational #keepgoing #hawaiilifestyle #hawaiilife #behappier #choosehappiness
Stack Your Skills!
In the past, I’ve talked about stacking our skills over many years and mixing our skills to cross over to other sectors and subsectors of our economy.
For instance, writing, research, reasoning, problem solving, transactional law, speaking, psychology, government affairs, and such can be used in entertainment, aviation, energy, and many other sectors and subsectors of our economy.
10,000 hours of work in one area can be applied to another. Even if your project did not bear the fruit you hoped for, the skills you developed are the true value from that experience. Moreover, the lessons you learned from the failure and process are added to your knowledge and experience. These are things that can only be learned from experimentation and iteration.
I love learning, trying, experimenting, and iterating. It gives me stress, but it can give me a huge dopamine rush when I get an a-ha moment.
The following text from Mastery by Robert Greene @robertgreeneofficial is very motivational:
“If we keep practicing, we gain fluency; basic skills are mastered, allowing us to take on newer and more exciting challenges. We begin to see connections that were invisible to us before. We slowly gain confidence in our ability to solve problems or overcome weaknesses through sheer persistence.”
Stay positive my friends. Don’t let your cognitive distortions ruin your momentum and abilities. You got this!
In this picture, I completed my 111th Exercise for 2021 on 10/10/2021 by running 3.38 miles in Waikele (Ran 337.15 mi. total for 2021).
#learn #study #studies #work #productivity #productivitysystem #productivitytips #productivityadvice #productivitysystems #growthmindset #mindset #psychology #philosophy #personalgrowth #personaldevelopment #positiveoutlook #exercise #fitness #sports #mentalhealthawareness #health #healthyliving #healthylifestyle #healthgoals #motivational #keepgoing #hawaiilifestyle #hawaiilife #behappier #choosehappiness
Love Lost is Love Eternal
Love lost is love eternal.
It lives on in a timeless realm.
Written by a soul who has long departed.
Experienced again by those who seek it.
– Jon Riki Karamatsu, 8/4/2021
Poem time! Love can live on forever in spirit. It can also live on eternally when you write about it and share it with others. ❤
This is a picture from 9/19/2021 when I completed my 102nd Exercise for 2021: Ran 3.54 miles in Waiklele (Ran 303.62 mi. total for 2021) and 54th strength training – 200 crunches and 200 push-ups at home in Waikele. ♂️
#poem #poems #poetry #poet #poets #writing #writers #writingcommunity #readers #readersofinstagram #readingcommunity #writinglife #creativewriting #creativework #creativity #lovelife #romance #romanticpoem #deepfeelings #deepthoughts #emotional #hawaiilifestyle #hawaiilife #exercise #fitness #sports #runnershigh #runningtherapy #personalgrowth #mentalhealth
Filed under Art, Blog, Creative Writing, Love Story, Poems, Positive Living, Quotes, Writing
Running is a super practice!
Running is a super practice I have control over. It helps my mind, body, and soul. The deep breathing alleviates my stress and anxiety. Sometimes, it’s meditative. Other times, I get ideas. I especially enjoy listening to upbeat music while running to keep me motivated. The sunlight revives me. The sky, clouds, trees, grass, and flowers relax me. Everything about running makes me feel good. I’m super grateful to be able to enjoy this activity so much.
This is a picture of me on 9/10/2021 when I completed my 100th Exercise for 2021: Ran 4.08 miles in Waikele (Ran 296.8 mi. total for 2021). At home, I executed my 52nd strength training for 2021 with 200 crunches and 200 push-ups.
Filed under Blog, Exercise, Gratitude, Health, Mental Health, Mindfulness, Mindset, Motivational, Passion Projects, Positive Living
Exercise & mindfulness are 2 practices I do to manage my stress, anxiety, and occasional sadness.
I enjoy admiring the beautiful #landscape of trees , flowers, plants, and grass as I #run ! 
Exercise and mindfulness help me to care for my mental and physical health. Add listening to music to these activities and you have a triple threat against your cognitive distortions.
On July 14, 2021, I executed my 82nd #exercise for the year by #running 3.52 miles. I ran 250.09 miles so far for 2021. When I returned home, I completed my 40th strength training for 2021.
Filed under Blog, Exercise, Goals, Happiness, Hawaii, Health, Life Coach, Mental Health, Mindfulness, Mindset, Motivational, Passion Projects, Psychology, Quotes, Writing
How many hours of sleep do you need to be productive?
This is an audio clip from episode 5 of the Positive Masters Show podcast – Get Better Sleep in which I go over 7 strategies to sleep better. How many hours of sleep do you need to be productive? For me, I need 7 hours of sleep to be able to crush my goals for the day.
Enjoy the Positive Masters universe at www.positivemasters.com for mindset and business practices, motivational writing and podcast, and apparel and accessories with inspirational designs and mantras to boost your happiness and counter any anxiety, sadness, or anger you may be facing.
Filed under Health, Life Coach, Mental Health, Mindset, Podcast, Positive Living, Sleep, Writing, Youtube
Sleep helps your mood, productivity, and health.
Sleep is so important because it helps our mood, productivity, and health. Click the Youtube link above to listen to the audio clip from episode 5 of the Positive Masters Show podcast – Get Better Sleep in which I go over 7 strategies to get sleep better.
Visit the Positive Masters universe at www.positivemasters.com for mindset and business practices, motivational writing and podcast, and apparel and accessories with inspirational designs and mantras to boost your happiness and counter any anxiety, sadness, or anger you may be facing.
Filed under Uncategorized
First COVID-19 Vaccine Shot
I got my first COVID-19 vaccine shot today from Hawaii Pacific Health at Pier 2 in Honolulu, Hawaii. A couple of moments I became emotional seeing everyone helping each other and thinking of those who passed away before the vaccine.
#covid19vaccine #covid19vaccines #covid19 #coronavirus #pandemic #hawaiipacifichealth #health #healthcare #gratitude #grateful #thankful #mindful #mindfulnes #hawaiilife #hawaiilifestyle #hawaiiscene #hawaiistagram #instahawaii #hawaiicommunity #honoluluscene #oahuscene #oahu #honolulu #hawaii
Years don’t mean as much as the days.
Years don’t mean as much as the days. What you do daily is what makes your years.
Consistency is key. Whether you’re working on your mind, body, or soul, put a little bit of effort daily. Over time, it adds up.
Schedule your work and exercise in your calendar and in an app that you can share with your accountability partner. At the end of your day, count your wins and journal it. I journal mine in the notes section of my Google calendar that syncs with my MacBook Pro and Galaxy smartphone. I also write it in my Day One, a private journal on my MacBook Pro. Third, I write it in apps with my accountability buddies such as my friend’s Discord server and my other friend’s Google Sheets.
I make my productivity a game. I add up my wins every day. I give myself one win for every accomplishment. For difficult long-term projects that takes deep work and is challenging to sustain for 60 minutes, I give myself 1 win for every 30 minute-session of work and 2 wins for every 45-minute to 60-minute session of work.
Give yourself a win when you spend quality time with your loved ones as well. I dedicate a day a week for my loved ones.
By the end of the year, I’ll have thousands of wins. Last year, I accumulated 4,337 wins.
I also have a list of monthly goals that I tackle. I quantify my monthly goals with a percentage of goals I accomplished. My monthly goals keeps me on track with my annual goals.
When I attain a certain amount of wins or a high percentage of monthly or annual goals, I reward myself with a treat like a great celebration meal for short-term goals and a fun product for my long-term goals. I’m constantly adjusting my game. You can set the rules for your productivity game, but make sure it’s challenging. Have fun!
Visit the Positive Masters universe at www.positivemasters.com for mindset and personal growth practices, motivational writing and podcast, and apparel and accessories with inspirational mantras to boost your happiness and counter any anxiety, sadness, or anger that you may be facing.
Filed under Blog, E-commerce, Goals, Inspirational, Life Coach, Mindset, Motivational, Philosophy, Productivity, Quotes, Writing
2020 Honolulu Marathon
I’m wearing my 2020 Honolulu Marathon finisher shirt and medal! The race was virtual in December 2020 due to Covid-19. I love the teal colors, my campaign colors when I was a politician. Running outdoors is my favorite exercise. It’s a great way to relieve stress, sadness, and anxiety. I’m going to wear this shirt today as I undergo my work sessions on my latest project that I’m excited to work on every day! Have a great day! ❤
#honolulumarathon #virtualmarathon #marathon #running #run #exercise #health #mentalhealth #personalgrowth #mindset #motivational #keepgoing #positivemindset #psychology #therapeutic #stressrelief #anxietyremedies #stressremedies #anxietyrelief #innerpeace #honolulu #oahu #hawaii #hawaiiscene #honoluluscene #hawaiilife #hawaiilifestyle #littlejoys #smallwins #choosehappiness
Filed under Events, Exercise, Health, Mental Health, Mindset, Motivational, Passion Projects, Positive Living
2020 Virtual Honolulu Marathon
On December 9, 2020, I completed my 2020 Virtual Honolulu Marathon @honolulumarathon. I finished my 13th consecutive Honolulu Marathon. ❤
#honolulumarathon #honolulumarathon2020 #2020honolulumarathon #marathon #running #run #exercise #virtualmarathon #virtualhonolulumarathon #runnershigh #jog #jogging #oahu #hawaii #hawaiiscene #honoluluscene #oahuscene #hawaiilife #hawaiilifestyle #happy #happymoments #goals #2020goal #2020goals #funexercise #funrun #808life #808scene #health #personalgrowth
Filed under Blog, Exercise, Health, Mental Health, Mindset, Positive Living
Life is finite and precious. Do all that you want to do.
Life is finite & precious. Do all that you want to do. Put them in your calendar & execute on them! I mention this a lot, but I feel strongly about pursuing & experiencing all that you want in your life with a sense of urgency.
Yesterday morning, I called the ambulance for myself because while I was cutting vegetables, I was feeling light-headed, nauseous, & a numbness & tingly feeling in my hands, arms, & face. I thought I was going to pass out. The paramedics checked me & said that my vital signs were good. My mom took me to my doctor to get further tests. My vital signs were again good. I gave blood for more tests.
My sister Mia, a medical doctor & Assistant Professor for Stanford University told me that I may have put my mind & body under stress.
This experience has further motivated me to get as much of my work done on my passion projects before I die, but to also take breaks to relax & enjoy life. Go hard on your vision my friends, & take time off to have some good down-time! ❤
#health #mentalhealth #personalgrowth #mindset #family #lovedones #gratitude #grateful #mindfulness #preciousmoments #simplepleasures #goals #goal #dream #dreams #dreambig #vision #lifestrategy #careerstrategy #rest #sleep #passionprojects #motivationalquotes #motivationalwords
Filed under Blog, Goals, Health, Life Coach, Mental Health, Mindfulness, Mindset, Motivational, Passion Projects, Philosophy, Quotes, Writing
4: Positive Masters Show Podcast – Work on passion projects that make you happier & healthier – Audiogram
This is a clip from Episode 4 of the Positive Masters Show – Matching Your Passions With Your Projects. Below are a few mottos that you can apply to your exciting passion projects!
- Work on passion projects that make you happier and healthier!
- Work on passion projects that fuel your purpose!
- Work on passion projects that make you produce more than you consume!
Pictured is our Resilience Mantra Dark Unisex T-Shirt and Dream Cloud Mantra Mug, great to motivate you to pursue your passions! You can purchase the Resilience Mantra Dark Unisex T-Shirt here. You can buy the Dream Cloud Mantra Mug here.
Subscribe to our podcast on your favorite podcast platform and our Positive Masters Youtube Channel.
Enjoy the Positive Masters universe at www.positivemasters.com for mindset and business practices, motivational podcast episodes and writing, and apparel and accessories with inspirational mantras to boost your happiness and counter any anxiety, sadness, or anger that you may be facing.
In the future, we’ll be offering online courses to strengthen your mindset using psychology, philosophy, mindset practices, and lifestyle practices. We’ll also have online courses to help you turn your passion project into your passion business using legal documents, government programs, and business tools.
Thank you!
Filed under Blog, E-commerce, Happiness, Life Coach, Mental Health, Mindset, Motivational, Passion Projects, Podcast, Positive Living, Productivity, Quotes, Youtube
1: Positive Masters Show – Set Aside Time to Absorb the Beauty of Nature
In this clip of episode 1 of the Positive Masters Show podcast, I share with you on how good it is for your mindset to set aside time to absorb the beauty of nature. The full episode of “1: Positive Masters Show – 3 Daily Gratitude Practices to Boost Your Happiness!” is available on the Positive Masters Youtube Channel and on all major podcast platforms. Feel free to like this audiogram and subscribe.
Enjoy the Positive Masters universe at www.positivemasters.com for mindset and business practices, motivational podcasts and writing, and apparel and accessories with inspirational mantras to boost your happiness and counter any anxiety, sadness, or anger that you may be facing.
Stay tuned, in the future, we will be offering online courses to strengthen your mindset and to turn your passion project into your passion business using legal documents, government programs, and business tools. Thank you!
With Warmest Aloha,
Jon Riki Karamatsu
Filed under Blog, E-commerce, Gratitude, Happiness, Life Coach, Mental Health, Mindfulness, Mindset, Motivational, Podcast, Positive Living, Psychology, Quotes, Writing, Youtube
“Episode 2 of the Positive Masters Show – How Working on Your Passion Projects Can Increase Your Joy and Purpose!” is now available on the Positive Masters Youtube Channel and all major podcast platforms where you can subscribe to our show.
“Episode 2 of the Positive Masters Show – How Working on Your Passion Projects Can Increase Your Joy and Purpose!” is now available on the Positive Masters Youtube channel and all major podcast platforms where you can subscribe to our show. In this episode, I go over the following:
1. Defining Passion Projects
2. Different Types of Passion Projects
3. Reviewing the Things You’re Passionate About
Of the 70+ practices that I do, working on my passion projects give me a reason to look forward to the next day, even years ahead. It also fuels my drive to better this world in some small. And when I’m in darkness, it keeps me progressing with more knowledge, skills, and relationships. 😊
Click the Youtube link above to listen to this podcast episode on the Positive Masters Youtube Channel. 🎧
Experience the +positive masters+ universe at http://www.positivemasters.com for mindset and business practices, motivational podcasts and writing, and inspirational apparel to boost your happiness and counter any anxiety, sadness, or anger that you may be facing.❤
Stay tuned, in the future, we will be offering online courses to strengthen your mindset and to turn your passion project into your passion business using legal documents, government programs, and business tools. 💻
📝
Thank you!
Filed under Blog, Business, E-commerce, Entrepreneurship, Happiness, Inspirational, Life Coach, Mental Health, Mindset, Motivational, Podcast, Positive Living, Quotes, Writing, Youtube
1: Positive Masters Show – Expressing Your Gratitude for the Process of Making Your Coffee
In this clip of episode 1 of the Positive Masters Show podcast, I share how you can be grateful for many things & experiences throughout your day such as the process of making your coffee.
The full episode “1: Positive Masters Show – 3 Daily Gratitude Practices to Boost Your Happiness!” is available on the Positive Masters Youtube Channel here: Positive Masters Youtube Channel & on all major podcast platforms.
Pour your favorite hot beverage into our Positive Masters’ Spilled Pink Milk Logo Mug to launch your day forward with positivity! This mug is available for purchase here: Spilled Pink Milk Logo Mugs
Experience more of the +positive masters+ universe @ www.positivemasters.com for mindset practices, motivational writing, business development strategies, & inspirational apparel to boost your happiness & counter any anxiety, sadness, or anger that you may be facing. Stay tuned, in the future, we’ll be offering courses to strengthen your mindset to boost your happiness & courses to turn your passion project into your passion business using legal documents, government programs, & business tools to increase your joy & purpose.
Thank you!
Filed under Business, E-commerce, Entrepreneurship, Gratitude, Life Coach, Mental Health, Mindset, Motivational, Podcast, Positive Living, Psychology, Quotes, Youtube
Stones with heartwarming messages placed under our mailboxes during these challenging times with COVID-19.
Stones with heartwarming messages placed under our mailboxes during these challenging times with COVID-19.
After a 5-mile run in my cozy neighborhood in Hawaii, I saw these stones with heartwarming messages placed under our mailboxes. 😃
The white stone says, “Happiness can be found even in the darkest of times if only one remembers to turn on the light.” “Live Love Laugh” is written on the two pink stones. The purple stone says, “love.”
Thank you to whoever or those who wrote this. It really touched me. I’m sure my neighbors loved them too. ❤
With Warmest Aloha,
Jon
+positive masters+
Enjoy the +positive masters+ universe at www.positivemasters.com for mindset practices, motivational writing, business development strategies, and inspirational apparel to boost your happiness and counter any anxiety, sadness, or anger you may be facing.
Filed under Blog, Community, E-commerce, Gratitude, Happiness, Hawaii, Inspirational, Mental Health, Mindfulness, Mindset, Positive Living, Quotes, Writing
Listening to a loved one going through hardship can make a positive impact on that person’s life.
Listening to a loved one going through hardship can make a positive impact on that person’s life.
Listening to a loved one going through hardship can make a positive impact on that person’s life.
Have you ever been through those tough times when you had someone to listen to you. It wasn’t about being told what to do or how to solve your problem. Many times, you know what you have to do, or you have strategies on your next moves. Just having someone there listening to you felt comforting right.
Wishing you well!
Enter the +positive masters+ universe at www.positivemasters.com for mindset practices, motivational writing, business development strategies, and inspirational apparel to boost your happiness and counter any anxiety, sadness, or anger you may be facing.
Filed under Blog, E-commerce, Happiness, Inspirational, Life Coach, Mental Health, Mindset, Motivational, Positive Living, Quotes, Writing
I hold the warmth of your lonely soul – Part 2
I hold the warmth of your lonely soul.
I hold the warmth of your lonely soul.
Let your fears go.
Let them fly away and dissipate.
That’s how we’ll make our escape.
– +positive masters+, Jon Riki Karamatsu, Poem, 6/22/2019 –
You can be physically lonely, and you can be mentally lonely. Your fears can control your mind. You may keep them within you because you don’t want anyone to see your vulnerability. However, by talking about your fears to someone who is understanding, that person may be able to help you to take the necessary steps to push away your perception of your fears, which are often distorted. Talk therapy or psychotherapy with an understanding person can help you break out of your blown out of proportion perception.
In nonattachment, a practice developed in Buddhism, feel your negative emotions but don’t let them be attached to you and bring you down. In the Eightfold Path, the first of the eight practices is to have a right understanding, which is to do your best to understand the truth. Ask yourself, “What is the truth to your fears?” Are your fears real, or are you imagining them? For example, if you’re telling yourself you’re not good enough to succeed, is that really true? No, you’ve succeeded before. Yes, you’ve failed in the past, but that was a part of the process of your growth that led you to succeed again. When you look back in your life, you’ll identify how you’ve made your comeback from your failures. You see, your fears are often filled with things that aren’t true. Don’t let your fears be attached to you. Understand your fears, and let them flow through you so you don’t get held back by them.
Another mindset practice that we mentioned in previous blog posts is the middle way practice that was also developed in Buddhism, which is to stay in the middle of your life’s journey. In this case, by staying in the middle way, you’ll be able to see your extreme perceptions of your fears at a distance to the side or both sides, but you can move past them as your proceed down the middle path.
Combine the middle way practice with psychotherapy, cognitive therapy, nonattachment, and right understanding as an arsenal of tools to overcome your fears.
I wrote the poem pictured in this blog post over a year ago. In it, the protagonist tells his lover to let go of her fears after she bravely reveals them to him (psychotherapy and non attachment). He not only keeps her warm physically, but mentally and spiritually.
With Warmest Aloha,
Jon
Enter the +positive masters+ universe at www.positivemasters.com for mindset practices, motivational writing, wealth development strategies, and inspirational apparel to boost your happiness and counter any anxiety, sadness, or anger you may be facing.
Filed under Blog, Buddhism, E-commerce, Life Coach, Mental Health, Mindfulness, Mindset, Motivational, Nonattachment, Positive Living, Psychology, Quotes, Writing
Write down all the good things that happened in your day.
Write down all the good things that happened in your day.
Write down all the good things that happened in your day. By doing this, you’ll get boosts of good feelings. This daily practice also reminds you of all the wonderful things in your life.
Enter the +positive masters+ universe at www.positivemasters.com for mindset practices, motivational writing, and apparel with inspirational mantras and designs to boost your happiness and counter any stress, anxiety, sadness, or anger that you may be facing.
Filed under Blog, E-commerce, Gratitude, Happiness, Journal, Life Coach, Mental Health, Mindfulness, Positive Living, Psychology, Quotes, Writing
I’m so proud of my younger sister Mia who is an ER doctor during this pandemic with the Coronavirus.
I’m so proud of my younger sister Mia who is an ER doctor during this pandemic with the Coronavirus. She is pictured in light blue scrubs, 4th from the right.
I’m so proud of my younger sister Mia who is an emergency room doctor specializing in emergency healthcare for children in San Francisco, California. Mia is the middle child in my family, with me as the oldest and my sister Lara, a civil engineer in Honolulu, Hawaii, as the youngest. Since Mia was in elementary school, she said she was going to grow up to be a doctor. From back then, I had a strong feeling she was going to achieve her dream. My sister is also an amazing mother of three little girls, a great soccer player who played college ball at Loyola Marymount University, and a fantastic example of determination as shown by her ability to undergo so many years of learning that includes years of specialty training beyond her medical doctorate degree from the John A. Burns School of Medicine at the University of Hawaii at Manoa. In this recent picture, Mia is wearing light blue scrubs, fourth from the right with some of her colleagues, all of whom I’m proud of as well.
Every time I watch the news on television and see the healthcare workers helping patients, I get emotional. I start to cry when I see patients and healthcare workers die from the Coronavirus. Despite the danger, doctors, nurses, and other medical workers volunteer to go to the Cornavirus hot spots, and a number of them have come out of retirement to help where they’re needed or at their local medical centers. Like the world has been saying day in and day out, our healthcare workers are truly our heroes. We entered this world with these heroes by our side, and we’ll leave this world with them by our side. To all of you serving in the healthcare sector, thank you from the bottom of my heart.
This is a new series at +positive masters+, showcasing people making a positive impact on others. I’m starting close with my sister Mia.
Enter the +positive masters+ universe at www.positivemasters.com for mindset practices, motivational writing, and apparel with inspirational mantras and designs to boost your happiness and counter any stress, anxiety, sadness, or anger that you may be facing.
Filed under Blog, E-commerce, Family, Positive Living, Quotes, Writing
Don’t scold yourself or others for falling short of your standards.
Don’t scold yourself or others for falling short of your standards.
Cognitive Distortions – Part 8
Don’t scold yourself or others for falling short of your standards.
Do you find yourself telling yourself, “I should’ve done this” or “I should’ve done that”? These type of words and the tone of them can create unnecessary frustration in your life. When you have goals, it’s human to fall short at times. No one achieves everything they want. Take a closer look at your journey and all the knowledge, skills, and relationships you’ve gained. Don’t you think all of them are wins? They are!
Now, the same goes for how you judge others. Don’t scold them for falling short of your standards. I repeat “your standards,” which could be blown out of proportion (another cognitive distortion). Instead, look at all of their gains, which you may have overlooked because of your frustration. Again, as humans, we won’t achieve everything we want to accomplish, but we all can grow from our journey. Appreciate yourself and others for the journeys we undertake.
Sending love and positive energy to you!
Pictured is our Monkey Mind Logo Dark Unisex Hoodie in the color black to remind you to be mindful and to control your cognitive distortions such as scolding yourself and others for falling short of your standards. Like the Positive Masters say, “Be present at all times to be constantly aware of your thoughts so your mind leads you to your best actions.” You can purchase this hoodie here: Monkey Mind Logo Dark Unisex Hoodies.
Enter the +positive masters+ universe at www.positivemasters.com for mindset practices, motivational writing, and apparel with inspirational mantras and designs to boost your happiness and counter any stress, anxiety, sadness, or anger that you may be facing.
Filed under Blog, E-commerce, Happiness, Life Coach, Mental Health, Mindset, Positive Living, Psychology, Quotes, Writing
Creativity makes your soul happier.
Creativity makes your soul happier.
I recently watched The Florida Project on Netflix, a movie by Sean Baker about the innocence of kids making the most of their lives despite being poor. I cried. No matter what problems you have, there’s so many other people facing tougher challenges. What an amazing movie, with both playful humor and heart-wrenching drama!
My heart melts for the children going through so many difficulties. Resiliently, many of these kids are still able to find ways to have fun. In my second novel, I wrote about the adversities the children in Iraq faced after the invasion by the U.S. I’m still pitching this story to the literary industry.
I feel for all of you going through tough times. I believe some of your greatest work can come from your emotional pain. If you have something creative you enjoy working on, whether it be drawing, creative writing, craftsmanship, fixing-up vehicles, acting, singing, filmmaking, music production, interior decorating, making crafts, cooking, developing games, photography, software programming, sculpturing, pottery, or anything that sparks joy in your soul, keep doing it when you have time. In fact, make time for it. Creativity makes your soul happier. I love you guys!
With Warmest Aloha,
Jon Riki Karamatsu
+postive masters+
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Don’t believe your distorted emotions are the truth.
Don’t believe your distorted emotions are the truth.
Cognitive Distortions – Part 7
Don’t believe your distorted emotions are the truth.
Don’t believe your distorted emotions are the truth. For example, you make a mistake and tell yourself, “I feel like an idiot; therefore, I am an idiot.” No you’re not an idiot. You made a mistake. Everyone makes mistakes. In that case, everyone is an idiot. Please. That’s simply not true.
Let’s say you broke up with your lover, and this is the third time you’ve had a serious relationship. You tell yourself, “Since this is my third break-up, no one will ever love me.” Again, your emotions are grossly exaggerated. You have many potential partners out there, and if they had an opportunity to know you, many of them could fall in love with you.
Stay positive! You are wonderful! Sending positive energy to you!
Enter the +positive masters+ universe at www.positivemasters.com for mindset practices, motivational writing, and apparel with inspirational mantras and designs to boost your happiness and counter any stress, anxiety, sadness, or anger that you may be facing.
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Try tweaking your personal life and business to make a pivot.
Try tweaking your personal life and business to make a pivot.
Try tweaking your personal life and business to make a pivot.
A couple of days ago, I walked around my neighborhood with my friend Claire Ann Niibu @bizcoachclaire who I’ve known since our time as students at Pearl City High School. She’s a business coach who consults in person and offers online courses such as accounting at www.bizcoachclaire.com. We shared our latest happenings in our lives. “I feel like I reached my limits,” I explained. Throughout 2020, I’ve been feeling so overwhelmed and worn down with my business projects and personal challenges. To top it off, like many of you, the Coronavirus has made things worse. How can I feel like this when I apply so many psychology, philosophy, and mindset practices in my life? I share these practices on my personal blog here at www.jonriki.com, on +positive masters+ blog at www.positivemasters.com, and on +positive masters+ and my social media platforms. Yes, I still go through my ups and downs. In my most challenging times, even with the full force of all the mindset practices I utilize, sometimes all I need is a motivational comment from a friend to snap me out of my dark cloud.
Claire told me to try to make some tweaks in my life and business. Using the word “tweak” total shifted my perception of what I needed to do. Rather than being overwhelmed by the huge mountain I have to climb that’s way out in the distance, I started seeing the different trails in front of me. Maybe, I’ll take a different path, or heck, I should go off of these paths and travel where no one really goes. I’ll wear different shoes with more support. As I hike, instead of only listening to music, I’ll mix in some motivational podcasts. Hmmm, these tweaks are making the journey more fun! I’m noticing the little yellow flowers in the green meadow swaying with the breeze and the puffy white clouds floating across the light blue sky. Reaching the top of the snowcapped mountain is just a bonus. It’s the journey that makes life interesting.
Likewise, I need to see the beauty of my journey in my career. I love learning. Therefore, I have to uncover exciting knowledge that will spark fresh ideas. I get a high off of building new skills. Thus, I need to push the boundaries to try different things that will develop the skills that I need to execute on my ideas. Yup, trial and error, that’s how we evolve. Numerous of iterations and tweaks – that’s what we need to do to keep moving towards our dreams.
Wishing you the best in your journey of personal growth!
With Warmest Aloha,
Jon Riki Karamatsu
+positive masters+
Enter the +positive masters+ universe at www.positivemasters.com for mindset practices, motivational writing, and apparel with inspirational mantras and designs to boost your happiness and counter any stress, anxiety, sadness, or anger that you may be facing. ❤️
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To live in the present, you must move with time. The magic happens when you consistently move with time.
To live in the present, you must move with time. The magic happens when you consistently move with time.
I came up with the following quote early in the morning of April 2, 2020 when I thought about how important it is for your conscience to be moving in step with time and to not be stuck in your depressed past or ahead in your anxious future:
To live in the present, you must move with time.
The past does not move. Neither does the future.
Whatever you experienced in the past, stays there.
As for the future, it remains still, waiting for you.
The magic happens when you consistently move with time.
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Flower Therapy & Color Therapy!
Orange Kalanchoe flowers for flower therapy and color therapy!
On Sunday, February 23, 2020, I won these orange Kalanchoe flowers from playing bingo at an event hosted by the Jodo Shu Hawaii Fujinkai, a women’s organization within Jodo Shu Hawaii. It’s a beautiful succulent plant for your home or garden.
When you care for other living things such as flowers, you get a good feeling and a sense of accomplishment. A dopamine rush lifts your spirit.
Orange can be an uplifting color with its attention-grabbing brightness, which is perhaps why it is often used in marketing. Orange can make you feel happy and energized!
What are your favorite flowers? What are you favorite colors? Use flower therapy and color therapy to alleviate your stress, worries, depression and/or anger.
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I seek savior in ages of critical thought.
I seek savior in ages of critical thought.
I’m so lost.
I have one foot in the living,
while the other foot is out.
I seek savior in ages of critical thought.
– poem, +positive masters+, Jon Riki Karamatsu, 3/3/2020 –
At times, you may have conflicting feelings that pull you in opposite directions. In this poem, I refer to your feeling of wanting to get away from everything; yet, you’re still wanting to be a part of it. You’re frustrated with the bad things in the universe; yet, you greatly appreciate the good. If you’re feeling this, I understand. I go through these periods too.
Critical thinking – philosophy has helped me to calm my racing mind and fears. For example, Stoicism and Buddhism has been beneficial for me when managing any suffering I face because these practices help me to accept that suffering is a part of the process of living as a human. By accepting it, I’m more able to direct my mind to work on things that I have control over and to appreciate the good things in my life. Also, reading about the tremendous suffering that a number of philosophers had gone through, some of which were for speaking their thoughts and hypotheses, has motivated me to endure my own suffering.
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No event, good or bad, defines you. You’re a continuous flow, constantly learning and evolving.
No event, good or bad, defines you. You’re a continuous flow, constantly learning and evolving.
No event, good or bad, defines you. You’re a continuous flow, constantly learning and evolving.
Enter the +positive masters+ universe at www.positivemasters.com for mindset practices, motivational writing, and apparel with inspirational mantras and designs to boost your happiness and counter any stress, anxiety, sadness, or anger that you may be facing. ❤️
To counter your anxiety or depression, take one small action at a time, and reward yourself for taking these actions.
To counter your anxiety or depression, take one small action at a time, and reward yourself for taking these actions.
To counter your anxiety or depression, take one small action at a time, and reward yourself for taking these actions.
When you’re anxious or depressed, you may freeze-up and find it difficult to do your work or even your basic tasks. Instead, you think about your worries or painful memories. When you’re unable to do anything to help yourself progress, your worries or sadness increases because now you have added stress for all the things you haven’t been able to keep up with. As a result, your anxiety or depression compounds, pulling you deeper and deeper into darkness.
People expecting your work, may take it out on you, not knowing the struggles you’re dealing with: death of a loved one, major illness, financial troubles, separation from your lover, failure of a project, etc. When such people put you down or attack you, you fall faster and faster into what seems like infinite darkness.
By taking one small action at a time, you start putting the brakes on your free fall into darkness and begin to boost your energy to counter the negative forces so you can move upwards. By taking small actionable steps, you’ll distract yourself from that internal dialogue of self denigration. With each small action you accomplish, you’ll feel a burst of dopamine, a happy chemical in your brain that gives you pleasure for your accomplishments. Your self-worth returns. You begin to dispel your distorted thoughts. Now, you’re rising upwards, away from the black hole of anxiety and depression.
When I say, “Do a small action,” I mean break down a task into smaller bite-size actions, scheduling a half-hour for each action in your calendar. Over the course of your day, these bite-size actions add up, and by the end of the day, you’ll see a bunch of stuff you accomplished on your calendar. Use your calendar as a tool to ignite your booster engines that will push your momentum upwards. Personally, I enjoy using my Google calendar, which syncs with my laptop and smartphone. It’s an excellent tool for my productivity practices and reigniting my progress when anxiety and sadness freezes me.
My friends, if you’re going through anxiety or depression, I feel you. I hope this article or some of my other ones can be of help. Sending positive energy to you.
With Warmest Aloha,
Jon
Enter the +positive masters+ universe at www.positivemasters.com for mindset practices, motivational writing, and apparel with inspirational mantras and designs to boost your happiness and counter any stress, anxiety, sadness, or anger that you may be facing. ❤️
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The highest calling for a human is to live a virtuous life.
The highest calling for a human is to live a virtuous life.
The highest calling for a human is to live a virtuous life. One can reach this way of life through mindset practices, psychology, philosophy, and/or religion. There is no single right way to reach a virtuous life. All that matters is that one is able to reach it.
To be virtuous or morally excellent, one is compassionate, empathic, patient, and loving, among many other great qualities. Virtuous people handle adversity in a calm and collected way because of their heightened awareness of their every thought and every action. We can attain this by holding ourselves accountable, not because of fear of any repercussion, but because it is the right way to live. By working on ourselves daily, we can maintain our mind with right thoughts that leads our body to do right actions since we are constantly aware that everything we do will affect ourselves, others, and our environment.
On the other hand, for many of us, it can be overbearing to exert a lot of effort every single day on numerous mindset practices, deep analysis of the cognition and behavior of ourselves and others, or critical thought. It is so much easier for some of us to be told what is right and wrong through our fear of the wrath of a god or gods, the fear that good and bad things will happen to us depending on how we behave, or the fear on whether or not Santa will bring us gifts based on our past behavior. You see, religion can play a huge role on directing the masses to live virtuous lives just as well as practitioners of positive mindset, psychology, and philosophy. Social science and physical science are increasingly answering more and more questions and replacing religions; however, religion can still work together with science to help more people live virtuous lives. After all, the end goal is the same – for all of us to be happier, kinder, and better humans.
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You don’t have control over external things that happen to you, adversity or fortune. The only thing you have control over is how you react to it.
You don’t have control over external things that happen to you, adversity or fortune. The only thing you have control over is how you react to it.
You don’t have control over external things that happen to you, adversity or fortune. The only thing you have control over is how you react to it.
Observe how people around you react to good things. This is an easy observation, they’re generally pretty happy, or at least pleased.
The true test on their abilities is when things go badly. Do they panic? Do they yell? Do they take out their frustration on others? On the other hand, are they calm and collective? Do they move forward in a constructive way? Do they make others around them feel like everything will be okay?
Which type of experience do you enjoy more? Now take a look at how you react to good things and bad things. How do you behave? How are you making those around you feel? Choose your practice, for it will determine your legacy.
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In order to see all the wonderful things around us and dispel our cognitive distortions, we must fully live in the present.
In order to see all the wonderful things around us and dispel our cognitive distortions, we must fully live in the present.
In order to see all the wonderful things around us and dispel our cognitive distortions, we must fully live in the present. 😊
– +positive masters+, 2/23/2020, Jon Riki Karamatsu –
You have to be fully present if you want to go into your mind and dispel your distortive thoughts that make you anxious, sad, and angry. You have to be fully present if you want to consistently see all the great things in your life.
Pictured is our Angry Explosion Beanie in navy color to encourage you to fully live in the present and manage your anger. Life is too short and too important to be angry, most of which aren’t worth getting angry over. You can purchase this beanie at www.positivemasters.com!!
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If you want to be happy, you have to work on your mindset daily so it becomes natural.
If you want to be happy, you have to work on your mindset daily so it becomes natural.
If you want to be happy, you have to work on your mindset daily so it becomes natural. Through your positive lifestyle practices, boosts of joy become automatic, like breathing air.
Below are some of my favorite practices to keep my mindset positive:
1. Be grateful for all the good things.
2. Be fully present to enjoy the good things.
3. Have empathy for others.
4. Get enough sleep.
5. Exercise.
6. Write from your heart.
7. Spend time with your positive loved ones.
8. Gain new skills and knowledge.
9. Read, listen, watch, and/or interact with positive content.
10. Listen to uplifting music.
———-
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Every day, when I wake up from my sleep, I tell myself, “I’m so happy to have another day in this world!”
Every day, when I wake up from my sleep, I tell myself, “I’m so happy to have another day in this world!”
Every day, when I wake up from my sleep, I tell myself, “I’m so happy to have another day in this world!”
Gratitude is my favorite practice. If you can master it, you’ll see yourself being much happier.
———-
Enter the +positive masters+ universe at www.positivemasters.com for mindset practices, motivational writing, and apparel with inspirational mantras and designs to boost your happiness and counter any stress, anxiety, sadness or anger that you may be facing. ❤️ The hoodie in the picture above is available for purchase at https://positivemasters.com/collections/hoodies-sweaters/products/angry-explosion-logo-dark-unisex-hoodies.
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Time doesn’t stop. Our friend, death is cheering us on to live a happy and fulfilling life!
Time doesn’t stop. Our friend, death is cheering us on to live a happy and fulfilling life!
I do my best to make the most of every step in my life: childhood, teens, young adult, and adulthood. I cherish every moment, every stage of my life.
I try my best in everything I do: sports, community organizations, education, art, politics, law, business, and most importantly, time with my loved ones. I’m excited to learn more and provide value for others.
I make time to be with my loved ones.
Time doesn’t stop. Our friend, death is cheering us on to live a happy and fulfilling life!
———-
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Don’t filter out all the positive things in your life when something bad happens to you.
Don’t filter out all the positive things in your life when something bad happens to you.
Cognitive Distortions – Part 3
Don’t filter out all the positive things in your life when something bad happens to you. By doing this, you focus only on the negativity. No, always allow all the good stuff in your life into your conscious mind. Stay positive!
———-
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If you can fully embrace the unpredictability of your death, you will truly live in the present and appreciate every moment before you now.
None of us can predict when and how we will die. If you can fully embrace the unpredictability of your death, you will truly live in the present and appreciate every moment before you now.
None of us can predict when and how we will die. If you can fully embrace the unpredictability of your death, you will truly live in the present and appreciate every moment before you now.
– +positive masters+, Jon Riki Karamatsu, 1/20/2020 –
On Thursday, January 17, 2020, my mom called my cell phone. Her voice was filled with elation and joy, “Mia got the job at Stanford University!” My younger sister Mia is a trauma care doctor, a partner of a group of medical doctors at California Pacific Medical Center at San Francisco, California.
“Oh man, I’m so happy! I’m so happy for her! This is awesome!” My voiced cracked with joyful laughter.
My mom continued, “Earlier, I heard dad cheer, ‘Wohoo!’ probably when Mia told him the good news!” My dad was talking with Mia on the phone before my mom. For those of you who know my dad, this type of celebratory action by him is extremely unusual. He’s normally stoic and logical, fitting for a former electrical engineer who helped build and fix nuclear submarines and warships at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.
Mia fulfilled a dream of my mom’s mom, my grandma Ellen Sakai. When my two sisters and I were little, she told us that we should become doctors. She emphasized how important doctors were. Grandma also told many of her other grandchildren this.
One Summer, while I attended Summer classes at the University of Hawaii at Manoa, majoring in political science, I was living with her and grandpa Tadao Sakai at their small home on Citron Street, in the heart of McCully, Honolulu, Hawaii. Grandma and I had another one of those talks about whether or not I would become a medical doctor.
“Grandma, I plan to go to law school.”
“Ah, lawyers are dime-a-dozen,” she answered.
“I’m not going to be a regular lawyer, I’m going to be President of the United States.”
I smiled as my grandma laughed away. “No one knows you,” she said while continuing to laugh, “You have to be like Jon Yoshimura (a Honolulu politician who became the Chairman of the Honolulu City Council and had a segment on the local news station called “Ask a Lawyer” where viewers got their legal questions answered.). Why don’t you become a doctor?”
Years later, when Mia participated in the white coat ceremony at the John A. Burns School of Medicine, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Grandma Sakai’s face was filled with pride and joy. So was the expression on my grandma Bessie Karamatsu’s face, my dad’s mom. There was immense pride among all of us, my dad, mom, baby sister Lara, and I. To serve others as a medical professional is a great calling. Every single one of us needs a doctor. We all get sick. We all will die. It’s our doctor who will help us when we face every illness and disease, and ultimately, our death. It’s not just the skills and knowledge that our doctor continuously develops, but the empathic and caring words that he/she says to us that will help comfort our suffering.
Just as my sister Mia was embarking on an exciting new path of medical care practice, public speaking, and research and development to create new healthcare services and products at Stanford University, I picked up the book “When Breath Becomes Air,” an incredible memoir by Paul Kalanithi, who at the age of thirty-six, on the verge of completing a decade’s worth of training as a neurosurgeon and neuroscientist, was diagnosed with stage IV lung cancer. One day he was a doctor treating the dying, and the next he was a patient struggling to live. And just like that, the future he and his wife had imagined evaporated. When Breath Becomes Air chronicles Paul’s transformation from a naïve medical student “possessed,” as he wrote, “by the question of what, given that all organisms die, makes a virtuous and meaningful life?”
As I read “When Breath Becomes Air,” I felt a deep sadness on how Paul Kalanithi’s potential was cut short from cancer, which mixed with the happiness I felt for my sister Mia who will be heading to Stanford University, starting this Summer to expand her medical career as a practitioner and researcher. The connection, Stanford University, made Paul’s story and my sister’s story very real, on top of them being the same age. You see, Paul did amazing work for Stanford University before he died. In addition to his work in the operating room as a neurosurgeon, he was a neuroscientist in a lab at Stanford University, where he worked on neural prosthetic technology that would allow paralyzed people to mentally control a computer cursor or robot arm. I kept thinking on how Mia and many other doctors will continue on their trajectory, something Paul would have loved to do.
I read this book in two sittings. His journey opened my eyes. I was in awe of the work neurosurgeons and neuroscientists do. It wrenched my heart as he struggled with his emotions and logic when faced with extremely difficult situations that brain trauma patients and loved ones of the patients face such as deciding whether to keep a patient alive knowing that the patient could risk losing knowledge of one’s self and everyone and everything around him/her. Without this function, a person loses his/her purpose. The innocence and excitement felt by Paul and his fellow medical classmates were replaced by fatigue, stress, and death after they ventured into their different residency programs at hospitals and medical centers across the country.
Paul’s writing brought me into his world as if I was with him through his every struggle. I loved it when things seemed to be getting better for him and his wife. I chuckled at his humor. When he cried, I cried. I had to pause from my reading numerous times as tears streamed down my cheeks. In fact, I cried as I wrote this article in a Starbucks coffee shop in Waikele, Hawaii packed with people. That’s how impactful Paul’s book has been on me. He wrote it as he was dying, racing against precious seconds. I felt every word of his as if he was talking to me.
In the past, I’ve written numerous times about death and how embracing it can motivate us to be appreciative of everything we have and make the most of our life. However, unless I face my own dying moments, I won’t fully understand what it’s like to be dying, whether it’s quick and instant or slow and gradual. Likewise, none of you will know until it’s your time. Well, Paul, through his writing shows us exactly what he was feeling as he moved towards his death. His experience became my experience. I could see myself in his life and by doing so, I felt myself experiencing death surrounding me. I will forever keep Paul’s book close to me, opening it every time I stress about challenges for my businesses or clients, financial hardship, public ridicule for my failures, and facing prison time for my driving under the influence case, all of which look so small in comparison to dying.
I’ve lost a lot of loved ones over my lifetime. Last year was especially hard with the passing of my aunty JoAnn Matsumoto (My mom’s cousin and a former elementary school teacher), family friend Eric Kanemoto (My soccer coach, Cub Scout Master, Intermediate School teacher for metal shop, and my dad’s close friend. He and my dad coached my soccer teams, led the cub scouting program I was in, volunteered in the parent and teacher association for my Pearl City High School, and worked together on many other projects. They enjoyed talking with each other and the simple pleasures of life), and uncle Glenn Karamatsu (My dad’s younger brother and co-founder of a civil engineering firm in Hawaii). Reading “When Breath Becomes Air” has helped me cope with the deaths of my loved ones.
I love life. I’m extremely grateful to have an opportunity to try many things while I’m alive. I’m super appreciative of my dad, mom, sisters, nieces, nephew, relatives, and friends. And I’m thankful to be able to speak to you. As I move closer towards my death, I hope I’ll be strong, vulnerable, joyful, sad, and loving. After all, I went through it with Paul and felt his breath become air.
Love your life and make the most of it.
Dr. Paul Kalanithi, a neurosurgeon and neuroscientist, wearing his white coat.
——-
I dedicate this article to Paul Kalanithi’s wife Lucy, daughter Cady, mom, dad, siblings, family, and friends.
Paul and Lucy Kalanithi at their wedding.
Dr. Paul and Lucy Kalanithi with their daughter Elizabeth Acadia.
Dr. Paul Kalanithi, Lucy Kalanithi, and their daughter Elizabeth Acadia.
I also dedicate this article to my dad, mom, sisters, brothers-in-law, nieces, nephew, extended family, and friends.
To read Paul Kalanithi’s “When Breath Becomes Air,” click here: When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi.
Enter the +positive masters+ universe at www.positivemasters.com for mindset practices, motivational writing, and apparel with inspirational mantras and designs to boost your happiness and counter any stress, anxiety, sadness or anger that you may be facing. ❤️
When something bad happens to you, don’t conclude that it will happen to you over and over again.
When something bad happens to you, don’t conclude that it will happen to you over and over again. This is what mental health professionals call “overgeneralization.”
Cognitive Distortions – Part 2
When something bad happens to you, don’t conclude that it will happen to you over and over again. This is what mental health professionals call “overgeneralization.”
For example, you break up with someone and you believe that no one will ever love you. Or you find a dent on the door of your car, and you tell yourself, “I’m always getting dinks on my car” when you’ve only had two dents on your car in twelve years of driving almost every day.
Enter the +positive masters+ universe at www.positivemasters.com for mindset practices, motivational writing, and apparel with inspirational mantras and designs to boost your happiness and counter any stress, anxiety, sadness, or anger that you may be facing. ❤️
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Don’t have an all or nothing thinking. Stay positive!
Don’t have an all or nothing thinking. Stay positive!
Cognitive Distortions – Part 1
Don’t have an all or nothing thinking. Stay positive!
The following are a couple of examples of an all or nothing mindset: “I didn’t get accepted into the university that I wanted so I’m a failure” or “I lost my election because people don’t like me.”
All or nothing is the basis for perfectionism. Such thinking makes you feel worthless because of a failure or imperfection. Absolutes don’t exist. If you force your experiences into absolute categories, you’ll always be depressed because whatever you do will never measure up to your exaggerated expectations.
Pictured is our Positive Sign Logo Unisex T-Shirt. We designed the positive sign on the shirt to remind you to keep training your mind to be positive. We want you to withstand your tough times and be happy a great majority of your life!
Enter the +positive masters+ universe at www.positivemasters.com for mindset practices, motivational writing, and apparel with inspirational mantras and designs to boost your happiness and counter any stress, anxiety, sadness, or anger that you may be facing. ❤️
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Take vacations to recharge yourself!
Take vacations to recharge yourself! Studies have shown the importance of taking vacations from work to reduce your stress.
Take vacations to recharge yourself!
Studies have shown the importance of taking vacations from work to reduce your stress. Even a staycation or simply staying at home to rest and do the things you enjoy like reading and writing can be extremely beneficial for your health.
I recently took time off during the Holiday Season to spend time with my family and friends. I do my best to be present so I can make the most of every moment with my loved ones. It was especially nice to be with my loved ones who came to Hawaii from California.
Enter the +positive masters+ universe at www.positivemasters.com for mindset practices, motivational writing, and apparel with inspirational mantras and designs to boost your happiness and counter any stress, anxiety, sadness or anger that you may be facing. ❤️
Filed under Blog, Branding, E-commerce, Happiness, Uncategorized
In a dispute, not everyone will believe the facts. Keep doing what you can, but don’t let your stress destroy your health or suck the joy out of your life.
In a dispute, not everyone will believe the facts. Keep doing what you can, but don’t let your stress destroy your health or suck the joy out of your life.
If you’re facing a dispute or litigation, all you can do is present your side of what happened. After that, it’s up to the trier of fact, whether it be a mediator, arbitrator, judge, or jury. If they side with you, great! However, if they don’t, tell yourself that you did what you could. Continue to do what you can, but don’t let your stress destroy your health or suck the joy out of your life.
My friends, I know it’s tough. The truth will always live in you. Your life means a lot to those who love you.
With Warmest Aloha,
Jon
Enter the +positive masters+ universe at www.positivemasters.com for mindset practices, motivational writing, and apparel with inspirational mantras and designs to boost your happiness and counter any stress, anxiety, sadness or anger that you may be facing.
I ran my 12th Honolulu Marathon!
I finished my 12th Honolulu Marathon on Sunday December 8, 2019. In this picture, I have my Honolulu Marathon medal, Honolulu Marathon Finisher t-shirt, & shell necklace.
I ran my 12th Honolulu Marathon on Sunday December 8, 2019! Here, I picked up my Honolulu Marathon Finisher Certificate at the Hawaii Convention Center on Monday December 9, 2019.
I ran my 12th Honolulu Marathon on Sunday December 8, 2019! Here, I picked up my Honolulu Marathon Finisher Certificate at the Hawaii Convention Center on Monday December 9, 2019.
I ran my 12th Honolulu Marathon on Sunday December 8, 2019! I’m super grateful for my mom dropping me off near Ala Moana Beach Park at 5:00 A.M. and then picking me up later at Kapiolani Park where we finish the race. She’s been doing this for me for the past 12 races.
On Monday December 9, 2019, I picked up my finisher certificate at the Hawaii Convention Center wearing my finisher t-shirt.
My sister Mia convinced my sister Lara and I to run this marathon in 2008. I’ve continued running this race ever since as an encouragement for me to continue exercising.
For 2020, I plan to increase my cardio and strength training to the level I was at 2017 and prior. My business projects have been struggling so I’ve been focusing so much of my time on work and neglected my exercise. I’m so pumped up to increase my training!
Have fun exercising!
With Warmest Aloha, Jon
Filed under Blog, Exercise, Goals, Gratitude, Happiness, Health, Inspirational, Life Coach, Mental Health, Mindfulness, Motivational, Positive Living, Productivity, Writing
To lower your stress, anxiety, depression, or anger, lessen your consumption of the news.
To lower your stress, anxiety, depression, or anger, lessen your consumption of the news.
To lower your stress, anxiety, depression, or anger, lessen your consumption of the news. 🎥📺📰📻🖥️💻📱
The news is filled with negative stories and gossip, stuff that will make you stressed, anxious, depressed, or angry. I stopped watching the news since 2015. 🙅🏻 I feel this has been beneficial for my mental and physical health.
However, once in awhile, I research news on the Internet regarding niche subjects that is fun or practical such as business, weather, or sports from my alma mater universities: University of Hawaii and Gonzaga University. When people I know die or a storm is approaching, I usually see these stories popping up on social media, through word of mouth, or notifications on my smartphone. 😊
You know yourself well. If the media is bringing you down, turn them off on all your devices and focus on things that lift you up! ☝️⬆️
With Warmest Aloha,
Jon
+positive masters+ is an e-commerce store at www.positivemasters.com that provides mindset practices, motivational writing, and apparel with mantras to boost your happiness and counter any stress, anxiety, sadness, or anger that you may be undergoing. ❤️
Shop at our store by clicking here: www.positivemasters.com!! 🛍️
We have a Holiday Season Sale of 50% off and free shipping for the entire store from 11/29/2019 to 12/11/2019! 🎄🎁
JON RIKI KARAMATSU 