Aims and Objectives - An Evolving Process

[Jonny Say]

Dear All


I wanted to start this thread to share some of my recent breakthroughs as far as using Aims and Objectives in our training. I hope others will chip in and share their experiences so we can all benefit.

To set the scene a little; since I began my training I strived to use aims and objectives based on the recommendations of Sigung and my Seniors. For a long time I struggled with tying things down and I never felt happy with them. This is a problem I found that was shared by other kung Fu brothers I spoke with and thus a reason for this thread. Only recently I feel Ive started to get the hang of it and here are a few reasons why:

An Evolving Process

I always felt that I would suddenly work out the perfect list of aims and objectives. So I would make a list then throw it away, then make another then throw it away etc. What I didn't realise was that it is a continually evolving process which is changed and modified at relevent times. Just the act of writing something down can bring clarity and help one realise what they really want. Now I just have a continually evolving list which I add to or subtract from as appropriate.

A Simple and Honest Process

What I found is that one musn't make the list of objectives too long. I used to be able to write endless lists of skills and ideas I wanted to work on. The most important thing is, like all our training, keep our list simple direct and effective. That way it is more attainable and we can update it as we achieve things.

This is where honesty to oneself comes in. I found I had to ask the question what do I most want to achieve above all else from my training? Then what objectives and sub objectives are going to be the building blocks to achieving this vision. The answer should be simple and honest.

The Importance of Time Frames and Tests

Ive also found it is of utmost importance to be definate with the time frame, and when it comes around use a suitable test to decide whether you've achieved it. No worries if we don't achieve the outcome, it may be a simple case of being over ambitious and needing more time or at worst needing to examine our method to see if anything was wrong.

Re-read Your Notes

Ive found that its important to reguarly re-read your notes to keep in mind what your training. Most of us appreciate that our state of mind forms our world, so if we keep our vision fresh in our mind it will manifest more and more till we realise the aim. This also links to the importance of always having good thoughts and the concept of "arrival of the heart". We must believe in our hearts that we can achieve our vision then we will reach it.

Weakness to Strength

I also found it useful to look at my weak areas within the art, or what wasn't working. Then to create objectives to change these areas to strengths. For example if we keep getting hit by kicks then we need to create an objective to counter them. We then focus on this untill countering kicks becomes our strength.

Examine all Areas

I also found it useful to look at every part of my practice and honestly think why I chose to train a certain exercise, and what I wanted to achieve from it. For example instead of just moving around in stances everyday, I asked what specifically do I want from this? That way we have a focus to all things we train, and we maximise our time to achieve what we want.

Im sure many can appreciate that the more courses we attend with Sigung the more possible gifts we have to train, so we must maximise our time using aims and objectives. There is no point in endlessly practicing many sequences if we don't know exactly what we want to achieve from them.

These are a few initial points.

Some of this is old ground but its an area that I feel is very important. It can be the difference from training haphazardly for some time unsure of exactly what we want to train, to having a focussed quality training session where we know exactly what we want to achieve.

All the best

[Hubert]

This is a great post, Jonny, thanks for that.

[Grimlock]

Thanks for starting this thread, Siheng (is that the appropriate term? I think we are kung fu cousins)

You've raised many excellent points that you've broken up for clarity. I'd like to use my aims/objectives process as one example of how they can be successfully applied. Corrections/improvements/thoughts are of course welcome.

First of all, I have a round of lessons every 3 months, so that is a natural time for me to evaluate my progress and revise my aims and objectives. The more I think about this time frame, the more I like it. 3 months is plenty of time to make noticeable progress towards your objectives, but at the same time, it is short enough that there is no real pressure to make the perfect objectives and practice routine.

Yes, I said objectives AND practice routine. To me, developing both of them is part of the same process. Just like aims are measured by discovering and reaching the objectives that support them, I think objectives are achieved by figuring out things to practice that support them and practicing them. When you develop your objectives and practice routine at the same time, not only do they support each other better, but you naturally develop the right number of objectives. This is because if you have too many objectives then you will have too much to practice!

Next, I turn to my Sifu and my own experience to figure out my objectives and practice routine.

My Sifu knows my aims and how best I can achieve them, so I can trust that any new material he gives me is important and will advance me towards my goals.

So I talk to my Sifu about how to incorporate the new material into my practice routine. The added benefit of this is that he can tell me parts of my current routine that I can drop or practice less frequently -he can help me prioritize my practice material. This is a huge benefit that is not often mentioned.

I think about how the new practice material fits into my aims and objectives. If I'm not clear on it, I can ask my Sifu about it. So far, it's been very clear. While I would practice whatever my Sifu gives me to practice anyway, I think I get better results if I know how it fits in with my aims and objectives.

My Sifu also corrects my patterns. I make mental notes of any corrections I am given, and fixing each one becomes an individual objective for the next 3 months.

I can also form objectives based on my own experience. Maybe I notice that I'm having trouble with a specific sequence or pattern. Or maybe I just want to really deepen a skill. These are great ways to develop objectives.

With these kinds of things in mind, I sit down and write my objectives and training routine for the next 3 months. Again, I find that this works best if I do both at the same time. I don't try to list ALL of my objectives and then write my complete practice routine, but instead, I write some of my objectives and then the pieces of my practice routine that support them, along with time estimates. Then I write some more objectives and the pieces of my practice routine that support them. Or maybe I remember something that I practiced with my Sifu and add that to the routine and add its objective to the list. This way, my practice routine fully supports my objectives, so I keep my objectives in mind just by practicing my routine!

This is something some people my not understand when we talk about keeping our objectives in mind and then about not worrying about them. When I actually practice, I don't really think about my objectives. I don't sit in horse stance repeating "must get to 15 minutes" in my head like a mantra. I just practice the way I've been taught and don't worry about my objective. So if my objective is a 15 minute horse stance, I might then devote part of my practice to zhan zhuang in horse stance where I increase my number of breaths by 1 every 3 days. When I actually practice it, I set my number of breaths for that session and just do my zhan zhuang. If my practice supports my objectives, I can be confident I am making progress just by practicing. I do still review my objectives from time to time, but this way, I never see ones that I have forgotten about!

I know what I have just described is rather kung fu centric, but I adapt the same process for non-kung fu objectives. I find something I want to improve, create an objective for it, figure out how to practice it, and then practice it every day.


Best,

Chris

[Jonny Say]

Thanks Hubert and Chris for the replies.

Thanks Chris for sharing your own experience, it was helpful for me and Im sure for others.

3 months is plenty of time to make noticeable progress towards your objectives, but at the same time, it is short enough that there is no real pressure to make the perfect objectives and practice routine.

I also use 3 months, often for smaller objectives related to combat effeciency. You can get a real feeling of how your progressing in this time.

Yes, I said objectives AND practice routine. To me, developing both of them is part of the same process.

This is a very important point which I draw peoples attention to. They both feed into each other and so are a part of the same vision.

Next, I turn to my Sifu and my own experience to figure out my objectives and practice routine.

I think this is another important point, one's Sifu is in the best position to help you with your objectives. Chris's points on consulting your Sifu are very important. Normally your Sifu will have either achieved, or be in a very good position to advise on how to achieve, one's aims and objectives.

I write some of my objectives and then the pieces of my practice routine that support them, along with time estimates. Then I write some more objectives and the pieces of my practice routine that support them.

In my own training notes I like to have the list of things I am training and the the fine points written as bullet points next to them so I am clear what Im working on. I also have my objectives written next to them so Im clear on how they relate.

This leads on to an important point I was going to make and Chris talks about:

This is something some people my not understand when we talk about keeping our objectives in mind and then about not worrying about them.When I actually practice, I don't really think about my objectives.

First you Scholarly work through your training routine. This time is done seperate to your actual session; you prepare your practice session, the fine points you are working on and your objectives. Then when it comes round to training you let go of these thoughts and enter a chi kung state of mind. Now and again during your session you might "intuitively" remind yourself what your working on E.g "use flowing force, relax and enjoy your training" but you retain a chi kung state of mind during training.

Then later on you may look back at what you've been training and study the art, reflecting on what you need to work on.

Ps Im not sure what you would call me, my Sifu is your Sifu's junior both having learned from Sigung.


All the best

[Ray]

Dear Sihing Johnny,
Great post. What I personally do is go over my aims and objectives during morning prayer as well as being grateful and happy over the good I accomplished yesterday. What this does is gives one a genuine sense of progress and meaning in one's life.

Yours truly,

Ray

[Jonny Say]

Dear Brother,

This is a very good way to keep ones aims in mind, thank you for telling us.

Through our prayers and spiritual practice we can greatly increase our effectiveness in reaching our aims. This links to the relationship between our aims and objectives and how they link to our daily life, which Im planning to write about when I get a chance. Anyone else feel welcome to share your views and experiences.

Best wishes

[cnholmes]

I also found it useful to look at my weak areas within the art, or what wasn't working. Then to create objectives to change these areas to strengths.

Jonny,

What you have shared here is very valuable. It exists in the business world as Gap Analysis. You look at where you are, compare it to where you want to be and the difference gives you the steps to take to get there, and so your goals and objectives. Its a very powerful technique I rely on in my work, and has many applications in life.

Chris

[drunken boxer]

Hello Siheng Jonny,

Nice to talk to you again, albeit electronically

I think this is a brilliant thread, a couple of things in particular got me thinking:

Haphazard training - I have wasted a lot of time in various endeavours through a haphazard approach, where despite a lot of effort (honestly) I didn't get far. The effort was unfocused. This is the main thing setting proper aims and objectives has helped me with - focus.

Another problem I struggle with is thinking "I'd like to rewrite my aims and objectives but I'm so busy..." even though I know doing so will actually save me time!

An evolving process - I used to just have a vague set of objectives loosely stored in my head, this was better than none, but not great. Then I finally set about trying to write down the perfect set of objectives, but never achieved it and ended up getting frustrated. Finally I realised, treat it like a living document, something that isn't perfect, but is a dynamic work in progress and thats when I had success (it was invaluable in helping me get a new job).

I think this process were it evolves, changes and flows with the changes in ourselves and the world, is very 'Taijiquan'! I hope so anyway...

If that sounds a bit flowery, to explain more practically, I have a compulsion to want to finish things I've started... which is alright unless I've started the wrong thing, and despite realising this, still feel the compulsion to finish it. This has caused me to waste much time in martial arts and elsewhere. But realising the aims and objectives should be an evolving process has helped, but conversely has also helped avoid the other pitfall of never finishing anything I've started.

In this thread you have given me a LOT of food for thought on how I can make improvements - so thank you!

The main thing you have alerted me to that I might have been doing wrong, is not setting timeframes. At the minute I only have timeframes for things were it is essential to have them, for instance "I need to achieve so-and-so by the time of the course in march" etc. Where there exists no date I haven't created one.
So in that sense my aims and objectives have become vague again. This is the first thing I will take away with me now to improve them. Thanks again!

Paul

[Akemi]

I'd just like to thank Jonny and Chris Siheng for their contributions to the thread.

I've just spent the last hour working on my personal aims & objectives. You inspired me!

I will write more later on the subject, and now ask for some concrete examples of my seniors .

Off to class,

[Ray]

Dear Brothers and Sisters,
This is a fine thread. I am however a bit confused on how to set up a time frame for some of my own personal aims and objectives. Right now I am focusing my training on "flowing" and I just want more energy, vitality, and mental clarity to do everything I need to do directly and effectively. I generally always feel great after training although today and yesterday I feel like I may be wearing myself down with my activities.
The only standard I have for measuring this aim is to be able to perform Sinew Met in the standard mode smoothly. I haven't done Sinew Met, standard or otherwise for some time mainly because of a cold and an intuitive sense to practice more Lifting the Sky.

Thanks for reading.

Yours truly,

Ray

[Jonny Say]

Dear Brothers and Sisters

Thanks for that information Chris, very interesting and will link nicely to my post on daily life.

And also thanks to Akemi, it would be interesting to hear how you get on.

Now to Paul's response which again has alot of useful information in it.

Hello Siheng Jonny,

Nice to talk to you again, albeit electronically

Hey Paul, good to hear from you to, we will have to meet up again soon for some training.

Haphazard training - I have wasted a lot of time in various endeavours through a haphazard approach, where despite a lot of effort (honestly) I didn't get far. The effort was unfocused. This is the main thing setting proper aims and objectives has helped me with - focus.

So true, and something many of us have struggled with. When I compare the results from focussed training to haphazard sessions, when I used to just plough through endless material, the difference is huge.

Another problem I struggle with is thinking "I'd like to rewrite my aims and objectives but I'm so busy..." even though I know doing so will actually save me time!

Another one I struggled with. Its true that it saves us so much time as we can achieve the benefits of our training in much faster times. I find if I create 30mins or so to sit down and go into a focussed and relaxed chi kung state of mind I can work things out very effectively.

An evolving process - I used to just have a vague set of objectives loosely stored in my head, this was better than none, but not great. Then I finally set about trying to write down the perfect set of objectives, but never achieved it and ended up getting frustrated. Finally I realised, treat it like a living document, something that isn't perfect, but is a dynamic work in progress and thats when I had success (it was invaluable in helping me get a new job).

Again so true. We often judge ourselves too harshly and expect too much when really we just need to follow Sigungs advice and perform any task to the best of our abilities, even writing down aims and objectives. It is an evolving document that will be part of our training until we reach the higher stages of formlessness.

I have a compulsion to want to finish things I've started... which is alright unless I've started the wrong thing, and despite realising this, still feel the compulsion to finish it. This has caused me to waste much time in martial arts and elsewhere. But realising the aims and objectives should be an evolving process has helped, but conversely has also helped avoid the other pitfall of never finishing anything I've started.

The will to see a vision through is a real strength, we have to have "arrival of the heart" to achieve any difficult task. We also have to be honest and realise when an endeavor may be "wrong" and when its time to "take a step back". Again something I have to remind myself of as I tend to be very obsessive once I set a vision.

The main thing you have alerted me to that I might have been doing wrong, is not setting timeframes. At the minute I only have timeframes for things were it is essential to have them, for instance "I need to achieve so-and-so by the time of the course in march" etc. Where there exists no date I haven't created one.
So in that sense my aims and objectives have become vague again. This is the first thing I will take away with me now to improve them. Thanks again!

I think time frames are very important if we want to train Smart. Setting objectives before you attend a course is a really good way. But if there is no course to measure against then time frames help to keep our training on track amongst other things. One way is to consult one of you seniors who will have achieved some of your objectives, then they may help giving a realistic time frame. The other thing that helped me was don't let the fear of not achieving an objective stop you from setting a time frame. If the time frame is wrong then this is no problem, we just re-assess and decide how much more time is needed or whether our method is incorrect.

All the best

[Jonny Say]

Dear Ray

Thank you for your reply.

I am however a bit confused on how to set up a time frame for some of my own personal aims and objectives. Right now I am focusing my training on "flowing" and I just want more energy, vitality, and mental clarity to do everything I need to do directly and effectively. I generally always feel great after training although today and yesterday I feel like I may be wearing myself down with my activities.

So you have aims for your Chi Kung practice, but how to create objectives. Firstly I would look at these aims and see what will make you achieve them faster. In my opinion here it is related to skills in practice. For example; I would set a 3-6month objective to achieve a deeper and more relaxed chi kung state of mind, relax deeper physically and let go more. Just by writing this down will spark the seed that you wish to deepen your chi kung practice. Then you just gently and intuitively run through this advice as you begin your chi kung practice, remembering how Sigung talks us through it on a course.

Then in 3-6months you can assess if you feel more relaxed and focussed during training and whether your general day to day state feels better and closer to achieving your aims.

Also I would draw your attention to Sigung's book Chi Kung for Health and Vitality, as this has the most excellent advice for setting Chi Kung aims and objectives, including time frames.

The only standard I have for measuring this aim is to be able to perform Sinew Met in the standard mode smoothly. I haven't done Sinew Met, standard or otherwise for some time mainly because of a cold and an intuitive sense to practice more Lifting the Sky.

Here could be a chance to set another objective. It could be to be able to practice and gain the benefits of Sinew Metamorphosis in 3-6months time. So you would map out a training programme where you would focus on lifting the sky twice a day for 5 months, working on deepening the skills you have been taught by Sigung and cleansing for health. Then in the 5th month you may try Sinew Metamorphosis once a week and assess after a month wether you are getting the benefits from it such as added vitality.

[Jonny Say]

Relation to Daily Life

Dear All

I would like to now share some observations and realisations in relation to aims and objectives and our daily lives.

It is useful at this point to remember the different realms of Kung Fu that our aims and objectives can be classified under:

Combat Efficiency
Health and Fitness
Character Development
Mind Expansion and
Spiritual Cultivation

Invaluable Direction

When we examine our daily lives we can get the major direction for formulating our aims and objectives. Shaolin Kung Fu should enrich our lives for ourself and for others. This can be enhanced by skillfully using aims and objectives.

For example we may decide that we wish to develop the qualities of Warrior Spirit, specifically to increase our courage and confidence as our aim. From this point we can examine our training routines and direct them towards this aim. Here we might set appropriate objectives to increase the time we spend in Zhang Zuang and the quality of this time so as to increase our internal force. We can easily measure if this has increased in our training and in life (can we channel more force into our strikes, have we solider arms and bodies, are we more focussed and relaxed in our stance, are we more confident when speaking etc.)

We may choose exercises such as flicking fingers, which are particuarly good for developing courage, and develop objectives from here. We may even decide that we need to do more cleansing first or "take a step back" before we focus on increasing our force, and set the appropriate objectives and training routine to improve our health.

Specific to Daily Life

We may even set aims and objectives where by the training is focussed within daily life. An example of this would be the aim to always think good thoughts. We would then set objectives like changing bad thoughts to good - every time a negative thought comes up we either smile from the heart and let it go, or we replace it with a good thought. Another objective would be to spend the time when we are walking alone (to a bus, work etc) thinking good thoughts about our lives, friends and family. We can then assess in 6 months time whether our general state of mind is more positive, open and joyous.


Within our Hobbies

As Chris (Holmes) Sisook pointed out earlier the same method is used in the business world. The advantage we have over this method is as well as applying this method to our work we have the added bonus of being able to apply a chi kung state of mind. This relaxed and focussed state means we will be more efficient at problem solving, and once the vision is set it will occur quicker as thoughts in this state will manifest.

We can use the aims and objectives method to apply to our hobbies such as music. You may set your objective to be able to play Jazz Guitar in 3 years. You would then set relevant objectives such as learning "basic patters and stances" ie basic chords and notes, then leanring "basic sequences and sets" such as learning rock guitar and scales then you would start to specialize on more difficult "sets" before going for the "Dragon Form" of Jazz guitar!! We can then use the sparring methodology to introduce addition, subtraction, internal and external change untill we can improvise and solo with our instrument.

All the best

[Grimlock]

There is an incredible amount of excellent information in this thread, Jonny! I didn't realize you planned a series of posts -I can't wait to see what comes next!

I particularly like your points about the Scholar Warrior ideal and the 3 Arrivals fitting in with this process. I had never thought of that before, and it's another great example of how nicely all this stuff fits together.

Ray,
Thanks for making that point about including aims and objectives in your morning prayer. My daily vows actually include some of my daily life objectives. Although I've only being doing that for a short time, the benefits are already noticeable. As an example, I have had some problems balancing different parts of my life, especially focusing a bit too much on my professional life. I now find myself balancing my life much more easily, and it actually feels easier to get everything in! At this rate, I won't have to test the whole sleeping from 8PM to midnight schedule!

[Ray]

Hey Grimlock,
More power to you, buddy. ^_^ We'll train together someday. ^^ Promise.

Regarding the prayers, what I find especially helpful is visualizing things as progressing from short term to long term. For instance, I pray and remember the good I did yesterday and resolve to succeed in my studies and perform well in my new job today, then I remember that this is so I can aid my family financially, and pursue my goals of becoming a great healer and tai chi practitioner which is to fulfill some Buddhist vows I make. This gives me a sense of genuine progress.
After taking in Sihing Johnny's insightful posts I realize that setting things within a time frame is important. Indeed, I now realize more clearly how Sifu was able to teach people skills so quickly in his courses was also because of his understanding of setting aims and objectives.
What I plan to do tomorrow is to take a blank notebook and write down three aims I wish to achieve and a time frame (probably three months) to examine if I have made any progress. I think keeping the aims simple and not have too many is good. I'll write down how things are at the present, and after three months I'll check to see if I have made the improvements I wanted. I also plan to have this notebook only for this specific purpose and to treat it carefully.
I'll remind myself of my aims daily when I conclude my practice in prayer.